Microprojects As an Efficient Cross-Border Co- Operation Tool- Example from Euroregion Tesin/Cieszyn Silesia in 2007 - 2013
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RECERC / Article ©Tous droits réservés / Tots drets reservats Microprojects as an efficient cross-border co- operation tool- Example from euroregion Tesin/Cieszyn Silesia in 2007 - 2013 243-244]. Borderlands were moreover often areas of Marek Olszewski1 Hynek BÖhm2 conflicts of various actors, led by different and often competing interests. On the other hand, borderlands Introduction and goals of the paper create the opportunity for fostering openness, respect and understanding for others, enabling building positive Border areas can be described as very colourful relationships overcoming differences. Borderlands territories, as they have been an intersection of various teach coexistence on the basis of partnership, not a interethnic and cultural influences. Historical subordination [Róg, 2001, p. 21 - 40]. consequences and different processes have formed these areas differently than those in the metropolitan or A special role in these regional cooperations is played mainland areas. Groups with various traditions, by a different kind of structures such as euroregions, systems of values, different languages and dialects eurodistricts or working groups. These structures can meet and interact in the borderlands [Kantor, 1989, p. take very different forms, which depend on the degree of homogeneity of the region, its development, status, location along the borders of the Community etc. Their 1 The strategy & development manager for the Olza scope can range from the arrangements for co- Association of Development and Regional Cooperation, operation between local and regional authorities of two the Polish party to the agreement called ‘Euroregion Śląsk or more countries, aimed at the realization of common Cieszyński’(‘the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion’). He has had interests and improving the quality of living in over ten years of experience in both national and borderlands [Lepik, 2009, p 267], to the complex international project management (including project team organization of the cross-border territory [... management), regional development consultancy and Euroregiony, 1999, p. 17]. EU funds play a key role in conducting training courses and workshops on regional functioning of cross-border regions, because they development as well. The author of some articles on cross- enable the implementation of various types of projects, border issues in domestic and foreign scientific journals; including microprojects. These projects have a the make-up editor of the 1st volume of substantial impact on the convergence of societies TRANSCARPATHICA series published by Polish living in each side of the border. They help in Academy of Sciences the Territorial Branch in Katowice overcoming stereotypes, eliminating antagonisms and and the Olza Association. The author and co-author of resentments stemming from the past and help in cross- several dozen analyses, concept & strategy publications on border relations building. the Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion. The member of the Steering Committee of Transfrontier Euro-Institut Microprojects are an instrument, which is not Network. One of the main initiators of establishing Polish- introduced in all INTERREG programmes. Their Czech-Slovak EuroInstitute and its member responsible for implementation in Czech-Polish INTERREG conceptual and research activity as well. programmes has always been valued highly by 2 He works as a researcher and lecturer of human stakeholders at national as well as local levels. geography at the geography department of the Technical Allocation for the microprojects´scheme is 20% in both University in Liberec and as a vice-chairman and project previous 2007 – 2013 as well as a current 2014 – 2020 manager of Institut EuroSchola, an NGO supporting cross- period3. Therefore we would like to have a closer look border co-operation (both in the Czech Republic). He has on the way how were the microprojects implemented in been working for the European Commission and the Tesin/Cieszyn Silesia Euroregion in 2007 – 2013. Our national ministries, coordinating use of the EU Structural main working method will be based on analysis of the Funds. For most of the past eleven years he has been microprojects implemented in the Euroregion until now. working mainly on territorial co-operation projects and We will also add a minor qualitative aspects as we shall successfully completed Doctoral research on multilateral conduct interview with 8 principle stakeholders active in territorial co-operation and governance structures for the field of microprojects implementation – we will cross-border cooperation. He has led several INTERREG address programme administrators, evaluators and funded projects focused on promoting cross-border project promoters. training of teachers and public servants, where he also acted as a trainer, lecturer and course-tutor. He has also I. Framework for cross-border cooperation been involved in moderating and facilitating works leading towards establishment the EGTC TRITIA and in formulating and drafting territorial co-operation strategies 3 In 2014 – 2020 period this is a subject of so called strategies of regions, municipalities, universities conditionality – if 15% of the programme funds are (Conference of Rectors of Silesian Universities) and non- succesfully implemented till mid-term evaluation than governmental organizations. another 5% of funds allocated for the microprojects. RECERC n°1 Spécial Microprojects as an efficient cross-border co-operation tool - Example from euroregion Tesin/Cieszyn Silesia in 2007 - 2013 Marek Olszewski Hynek BÖhm number of cross-border cooperation initiatives The cross-border cooperation has been firmly linked substantially [O´Dowd 2002] and engaging a wide and in some parts of Europe almost even synonymised range of actors. Analyses of CBC generally agree that with a term Euroregion, sui generi “terminus technicus,” member states tend not to engage in cross-border to be used when setting up cross-border cooperation cooperation directly [e.g. Perkmann, 2003 or Schmitt- structures [i.a. Dokoupil, 1999] . Eggner, 1998]. The first cross-border cooperation network, ‘Euregio’, According to Schmitt-Egner [1998], a cross-border was established in 1960 across the French-German region is not only a territory, but is also its engine. This and German-Dutch borders [Dokoupil, 1999, p. 159]. foresees the existence of a specialized body Euregio did not have any direct institutional link to the responsible for cross-border cooperation management, European Communities, but it heralded the later mostly in the form of euroregional secretariats. A formation of other cooperation units which used the title principle task of the Czech-Polish euroregions is the ‘Euroregion’. The euroregion concept has become one management of microprojects ´schemes. of the principal platforms for cross-border cooperation. The existence of differing legal systems, administrative II. Instruments of financial support – structures and competences of relevant partners, Operational Programme of Cross- together with a prevailing modus operandi which is Border Co-operation Czech Republic insensitive to cross-border issues, makes the search – Poland 2007-2013 for an optimal form for cross-border cooperation governance structures difficult. Yet the existence of the The origins of the financial support for cross-border European single market, based on the four freedoms of cooperation (CBC) date back to 1989, when 14 groups movement, reinforces the imperative to design suitable of projects amounting an equivalent of 21 million ECU governance forms for cross-border cooperation. As were implemented. These projects aimed at solving regards the post-communist countries, cross-border structural problems related to border areas. Truly integration at the regional level started to be discussed systemic approach to the financing of cross-border in the early 1990’s. In 1991 he first cross-border cooperation begun with the launch of INTERREG structure with participation of „old“ and „new“ Europe programs [Branda, 2013, p. 18]. Table 1 brings an countries was created: Euroregion Nisa-Nysa-Neisse, overview of support provided within the framework of established as a trilateral body by regional authorities cross-border cooperation programs in programming of Germany, Poland and Czech Republic periods from 1990 to 2013: (Czechoslovakia in 1991). The INTERREG programmes, launched in 1988, aim to support the completion of the single market through cross-border cooperation. These programmes have had a substantial impact, helping to increase the Table 1. Allocation of cross-border cooperation programs in various programming periods European INTERREG I INTERREG II INTERREG III Territorial Co- operation (ETC) (1990−1993) (1994−1999) (2000−2006) (2007−2013) Number of programmes 31 79 72 89 Allocation (in billions of EUR) 1 3,6 5,8 8,7 CBC programmes in Cross-border co-operation INTERREG I INTERREG II INTERREG III the framework programmes of ETC programmes Nr of CBC programmes 31 59 53 79 Nr of programmes of sea-regions 4 16 14 23 thereof the number of programs on the internal 22 31 24 44 borders the number of programs on the external 9 2,8 29 35 borders Allocation for CBC 1 2,6 4 64 Remarks: - nr of transnational co-operation programmes: 79 = 52 (European Territorial Cooperation CBC) + 12 (Instrument for Pre- accession Assistance CBC) + 15 (European Neighbourhood and Partnership Instrument CBC); - nr of programmes of sea-regions thereof: 23 = 17 (European Territorial Cooperation CBC) + 6 (European Neighbourhood