Charles University in Prague Faculty of Social Sciences Institute of Political Studies
Charles University in Prague Faculty of Social Sciences Institute of Political Studies Master’s Thesis Breaking Down Barriers: Euroregional Cooperation of the Czech Republic Author: Bc. Karen Benko Subject: IEPS Supervisor: PhDr. Zuzana Kasáková, Ph.D Academic Year: 2013/2014 Date of Submission: May 14, 2014 Declaration of Authorship I hereby declare that this thesis is my own work, based on the sources and literature listed in the appended bibliography. The thesis as submitted is 130,962 keystrokes long including spaces, i.e. 51 manuscript pages excluding the initial pages, the list of references and appendices. Prague, 14.05.2014 Bc. Karen Benko 2 Acknowledgement I would like to express my gratitude to my supervisor, PhDr. Zuzana Kasáková, Ph.D, for her guidance during the writing process. 3 Abstract: Cooperation between people of different nations has existed throughout Europe for centuries on an informal basis as borders have shifted and power has found its way into different hands. During the European integration process of the 1950s, this cooperation was formalized with the creation of the Euroregions, or cross-border regions. These regions were formed to promote common interests and cooperation to counteract barriers and benefit the people residing in the area. The Czech Republic is currently a member of 13 different Euroregions either exclusively or with multiple neighboring countries: Poland (7), Austria (3), Germany (4), and Slovakia (2). Of these 13 regions, four – Silva Nortica (Czech-Austrian, 2002), Bílé-Biele Karpaty (Czech- Slovak, 2000), Silesia (Czech-Polish, 1998), and Egrensis (Czech-German, 1993) – have been chosen to further evaluate how the creation of Euroregions has facilitated regional development.
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