The governance of regional networks in the process of European integration (original) (raw)

Regional strategies of European integration

2023

IntegraNon, as defined by Alain Buzelay, can be described as a framework of desired, organized, and united interdependencies between states that could cope with globalizaNon (2014, 286). These interdependencies can be managed between states, but ideally, they should also be managed between territories of all scales. This definiNon contains an intergovernmental, mulNlevel governance approach, which can be further specified as the CommiKee of the Regions understands it in its opinion CDR 274/2008: "MulNlevel Governance means coordinated acNon by the Union, the Member States and regional and local authoriNes based on partnership and aimed at defining and implemenNng EU policies. This modè of governance implies the shared responsibility of the different levels of power involved and is based on all sources of democraNc legiNmacỳ and representaNveness̀ of the different actors involved". Lastly, it is necessary to recognize that the EU consists of a set of funcNonally connected and hierarchically ordered internaNonal regimes. From this it follows that the EU consNtutes a very dense system of insNtuNonal arrangements in which the member states must constantly confront each other to find common guidelines in every policy area. This paper iniNally asks the quesNon of how European integraNon is developed insNtuNonally. To address this issue, an in-depth look at subsidiarity, as the rule of competence that guides the European process of conNnuous poliNcal confrontaNon over legislaNon, will be invaluable. ConNnuing the reflecNon quesNon, the historical process of European territorial integraNon will be menNoned, trying to point out the criNcal points addressed during the course. Regional policy will be analyzed as a response to the growing challenges posed to the European Union. the regional commiKee and cohesion policy will be analyzed in their funcNonal development within the framework of European integraNon.

Regional Integration and regional development? - Concepts and empirical relevance

Regional integration has altered the spatial dimensions of regional activities. The purpose of this paper is to discuss the impacts of regional integration frameworks on the regional division of labor and growth potentials and address the impacts on targets and instruments of regional policy. The first part of the paper address's the issue from a theoretical point of view. Namely location theories and the theories of economic integration are used to develop an approach for a comprehensive analytical framework of understanding of change and development in regional systems. Based on this framework the spatial change and the derived changes in the instruments and policy tools of regional policy are discussed in a specific context. An empirical study of the Baltic Rim is used to illuminate the theoretical concepts, developed in the first section, focusing on traditional market economies as well as the transition economies of the Baltic Rim. The first part of the empirical analysis addresses the issue of interregional links. This part is based on trade and FDI figures for the Baltic Rim countries. Secondly long term economic growth within the region is investigated, with respect to identify distinct growth patterns within the region. Last but not least a brief overview of the most important political and institutional determinates is introduced in an attempt to use institutional explanation in an overall understanding of the spatial dynamics in a region facing mutual changes in the 1990's. Special attention is on the impacts of the EU system with regard to the regulation of economic activities (Trade, FDI, Industrial and regional policy). The most important systemic changes in the considered periods are: 1. the reintegration of former state trade countries into the western market system, 2. the adaptation of two former EFTA-countries to the comprehensive regional policy system of the EU, and 3. the general pressure toward deregulation and change of the west European and in particular Scandinavian welfare system. The main result of the analysis is that the combination of spatial theory and approaches from the discipline of economic integration can contribute to a deeper understanding of regional change and regional policy in the Baltic Rim area.

Theory and Practice of Regional Integration. Jean Monnet/Robert Schuman Paper Series, Vol. 8 No. 3 February 2008

These monographic papers analyze ongoing developments within the European Union as well as recent trends which influence the EU's relationship with the rest of the world. Broad themes include, but are not limited to: ♦ EU Enlargement ♦ The Evolution of the Constitutional Process ♦ The EU as a Global Player ♦ Comparative Regionalisms ♦ The Trans-Atlantic Agenda ♦ EU-Latin American Relations ♦ Economic issues ♦ Governance ♦ The EU and its Citizens ♦ EU Law

The impact of European institutions on local and regional development

2019

A united Europe is the sum up of how different regions live together and find common perspectives. This does not fit only as a political, social or philosophical idea, but since the creation of the European Union, regional development remains one of the most important cornerstones of the institutions of EU. Different legislative acts of EU institutions refer something in specific about regions policy, regional development etc, but since 1994 the issue of the regions in Europe has been treated throughout a specific institution: European Committee of the Regions. On the other hand, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Council of Europe is established to make sure that the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government are observed through systematic monitoring and regular dialogue with the governments of the Council of Europe member states. Member states of European Union are also member states of Council of Europe. This paperwork aims to: - Find concrete impa...

KFG Working Paper 7 by Tanja A. Börzel and Thomas Risse "Diffusing (Inter-) Regionalism: The EU as a Model of Regional Integration"

The European Union (EU) perceives itself as a model for regional integration, which it seeks to diffuse by actively promoting the development of genuine (intra-) regional economic and political cooperation, the building of issue-related regimes, and the creation of joint institutions for consultation and decision-making in its neighbourhood and beyond as well as between the world regions and the EU. In this paper, we explore the extent to which EU has sought to promote regional integration beyond its borders. More specifically, we analyze what exactly the EU seeks to export and how it has used its external relations and foreign policy to foster the cooperation between regions (inter-regionalism), on the one hand, and regional cooperation among third countries, on the other. We proceed in three steps. The first part of the paper outlines the mechanisms and instruments through which the EU diffuses the idea of regional integration to other regions and fosters regional integration among third countries. In the second part, we take stock of the EU’s attempts to export regional integration focusing on the mechanisms it has drawn upon. We conclude with some considerations to what extent the promotion of regional integration constitutes a genuine EU agenda for global governance.

Regional Cohesion in an Enlarged European Union- an Analysis of Interregional Specialization and Integration

In a period of globaliza tion of busine ss and industry e conom ic analysis often focuses on international transactions and organizational changes. Competition between key-regions of the world bec omes a m ajor topic in international economics and business. A thorough treatment of the subject requires also an investigation of the internal impacts of globalization in the regions considered. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the consequences of the increasing global orientation of key-sectors of the European econom y concernin g regional cohesion in the Europ ean Unio n. Regiona l cohesion c an be define d in several ways, and the results of investigations of cohesion depends on a wide range of factors. Apart from the indicators chosen the size of the region are the most important. The first part of the paper provides a brief theoretical introduction to the notions of regional coherence. This project concentrates on a certain-in some respects unusual concept of cohesion. The notion of cohesion applied is based on an investigation of patterns of interregional specialization and the spatial division of production systems. The central hypothesis is that increased intra-industry trade (absolute and relative) indicates a formal and qualitatively integration into the global and regional production system. Inter-industry trade reflects differenc es in factor endowment of the countries studied. Based on the historic e xperience from prev ious enlargem ents, the cohe sion of the Eu ropean e conom ies is investigated with point of departure in international trade statistics of the European Union member states. The results and trends are compared with findings in traditional studies of regional cohesion in the European Union. Finally a tentative assessm ent of econo mic cohes ion in an enlarg ed Euro pean U nion-depe nding on different scenarios of enlargement and economic performance of the EU area-is sketched.

Regionalisation Processes as Conversion Outcomes of Economic Integration

2006

In the context of globalisation, regionalisation could be seen as integration at regional level. Trade liberalization, being the first stage in the linear model of economic integration and the main measure of openness of an economy, is an important and complex issue, and regional trade liberalization is even more so. In this context integration is a process toward inter-state security. This paper examines the main aspects of integration phenomena, peculiarities and trends of regionalisation processes with regard to the regional integration and multilateral co-operation discussion, and finally applies the theoretical insights to the case of European integration facing challenges of the recently approximated neighbourhood.