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On Track with Thrace: Exploring Cross-Border Cooperation in the Eu's South-Eastern External Borders

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On Track with Thrace: Exploring Cross-Border Cooperation in the Eu's South-Eastern External Borders ON TRACK WITH THRACE: EXPLORING CROSS-BORDER COOPERATION IN THE EU'S SOUTH-EASTERN EXTERNAL BORDERS MASTER THESIS DUBBEL-DIPLOMA EUROPEAN STUDIES Universiteit Twente and Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster Thesis Supervisors: Prof. Dr. Gert-Jan Hospers and Prof. Dr. Norbert Konegen External Supervisor: Martin Guillermo-Ramírez December 2009 Shira Godfried Master Student European Studies Student Number UT: 0064750 Student Number WWU: 354230 1 ABSTRACT This study has been written in the light of my Masters Degree European Studies at the University of Twente and the Westfälische Wilhelms-Universität Münster, under the authority of the Association of European Border Regions. This thesis was aimed at finding the current missing links in cross- border cooperation in South-East Europe on the basis of theory and best-practices. These missing links were based on three models: the theory of Paasi regarding the institutionalization of a region; the theory of Perkmann in relation to determinants of successful cross-border cooperation within the scope of policy entrepreneurship; and best-practices with regards to elements of successful cross-border cooperation provided by the Association of European Border Regions. These three models are elaborately described in the theoretical framework in this thesis. The field research included looking at to what extent these models could be found in the practice of cross-border cooperation in South-East Europe, more specifically Thrace. Thrace served as a case study as the region is representative for the past and contemporary problems in the entire area. The results were obtained by means of conducting a series of in-depth interviews of a qualitative nature (N=10). As for my conclusions, the results indicated that cross-border cooperation is still at in a developing phase. At the moment, cross-border cooperation mainly revolves around ad-hoc, project oriented relations between municipal and regional authorities from across the borders. This can be attributed to a number of factors, of which the most important are the nature of the governmental systems, problems in trust and the fact that cross-border cooperation is a fairly new concept in South-East Europe. However, the respondents are hopeful for the future. On the basis of these results a number of specific recommendations were made, by which hopefully the current missing links in cross-border cooperation can be addressed. 2 CONTENT Chapter 1: Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 7 1.1 Introduction to the study .................................................................................................................................... 7 1.2 History of the region .......................................................................................................................................... 11 1.2.1 Ancient times ............................................................................................................................................... 12 1.2.2 the middle ages (330-1453) .................................................................................................................. 13 1.2.3 Ottoman rule (1354-1922) ..................................................................................................................... 13 1.2.4 the turbulent 20th century ...................................................................................................................... 15 1.2.5 Concluding ..................................................................................................................................................... 16 1.3 Methodology ......................................................................................................................................................... 17 1.4 Structure of the study ....................................................................................................................................... 19 Chapter II: Theory ........................................................................................................................................................... 21 A History and Geography on the basis of Paasi (2009): ....................................................................... 21 2.1.1 Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 21 2.1.2 Theories on a “Region” ............................................................................................................................. 21 2.1.3 Definition of a Region ............................................................................................................................... 22 2.1.4 Defining criteria of a Region .................................................................................................................. 24 2.1.5 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................... 26 B Practice and Politics on the basis of Perkmann ................................................................................... 27 2.2.2 Cross-Border Regions and Cross-Border Cooperations in Europe ........................................ 27 2.2.3 Euroregions .................................................................................................................................................. 29 2.2.4 Cross-border regions in the external borders ................................................................................ 30 2.2.5 Determinants of successful cross-border cooperation in Euroregions ............................... 32 2.2.6 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................... 37 C Practice and Politics on the basis of key elements in successful cross-border cooperation (AEBR 2008) ................................................................................................................................................................ 39 2.3.1 AEBR ................................................................................................................................................................ 39 2.3.2 Cross-border cooperation in Euroregions ....................................................................................... 40 2.3.3 Key elements of successful cross-border cooperation ............................................................... 43 2.3.4 Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................................... 46 D Conclusion ........................................................................................................................................................... 47 Chapter III: History and Geography of the Region ............................................................................................ 49 3.1: Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 49 3.2: Territorial shape ................................................................................................................................................ 50 3.3: Symbolic shaping ............................................................................................................................................... 51 3.4: Institutional shaping ........................................................................................................................................ 52 3.5: Establishment of the region .......................................................................................................................... 55 3 3.6: Conclusions .......................................................................................................................................................... 57 Chapter IV: Practice and Politics of the CBR’s in South-East Europe ........................................................ 59 4.1: Introduction ......................................................................................................................................................... 59 4.2: Dimensions of a Cross-Border Region ...................................................................................................... 60 4.3: Organizational Development ........................................................................................................................ 62 4.4:Diversification of resource base ................................................................................................................... 63 4.5: Appropriation of cross-border activities ................................................................................................. 64 4.6: Cross-Border cooperation fields on the basis of Best-practices .................................................... 66 4.7: Proximity to the citizens ................................................................................................................................. 69 4.8: Involvement of politicians ............................................................................................................................
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