The aim of this study is to provide a comprehensive view of matters of cross-border cooperation, with the main emphasis on the typology and development of structures supporting cross-border cooperation in a selected region of the Czech Republic (South Bohemian Region). The study focuses on the...

The differentiation in the development of regions remains a major challenge for the working out-of-state industrial and regional policies aimed at balanced and sustainable development. In theory, regional differences between internal and border regions can be explained by differences in natural...

Bulgaria has undergone a remarkable transformation over the past three decades. Despite this transformation and although European Union (EU) membership in 2007 raised expectations of living standards rapidly converging to EU levels, progress on a range of development challenges has been uneven....

After decades of volatile low growth and low investment, Pakistan has fallen behind its peers in key metrics of development. It now has an opportunity to durably take another course. The economy is recovering from the recent crisis as the government has launched an ambitious program of fiscal,...

This Country Partnership Framework (CPF) sets forth the World Bank Group (WBG) strategy for supporting Namibia's goals to reduce poverty and inequality as outlined in its national development plans. Although the WBG has historically had a limited engagement in Namibia, the authorities have...

This Country Partnership Framework (CPF) presents the planned engagement of the World Bank Group (WBG) in Azerbaijan over the next five years (FY25-29). The CPF is guided by the government's strategy for socio-economic development for 2022-26 (SEDS) and the WBG's most recent strategic analysis -...

Armenia, a landlocked country in the South Caucasus with a population of three million, has registered important achievements over the past two decades. Between 2000-2023, Armenia achieved robust economic growth averaging 6.3 percent, above the average for Europe and Central Asia (excluding...

This Country Partnership Framework (CPF) sets out the World Bank Group's (WBG) priorities in helping Haiti restore governance, sustain essential public services, and resume growth. The CPF covers the period from fiscal year (FY) 2025 to 2029 and responds to priorities that the government...

This Country Partnership Framework (CPF) sets out how the World Bank Group (WBG) can support the Royal Government of Bhutan's (RGoB) 13th Five Year Plan (FYP 2025-29). The CPF, which covers the period FY25-FY29, focuses on the overarching goal of accelerating economic growth and job creation...

Purpose: The purpose of this paper is to discuss the potential contribution of cross-border vocational education and training (VET) exchange partnerships within the context of tandem exchanges between VET institutions in the Rhine-Waal Euregio region in the Netherlands and Germany. These tandem...

Two phenomena are increasingly reshaping the world economy. One is the growing and well-documented importance of climate transition policies that differ across countries. The other is the stark rise of geoeconomic fragmentation (GEF) concerns. While differences in climate transition policies are...

The Treaty on the Functioning of the EU promotes not only a common market but also economic, social and territorial cohesion and access to public services, including cross-border regions. Despite the objective of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU to promote, inter alia, cohesion in...

How do shifts in the global balance of power shape the world economy? We propose a theory of alignment-based “hegemonic globalization”, built on two central premises: countries differ in their preferences over policies (such as the rule of law or regulatory frameworks) and trade between any...

The paper aims to offer an overview of the specific situation of culture as an investment priority of cross-border cooperation, part of the European territorial integration process, in the Eastern Neighbourhood Policy. The research is focused on the cross-border programmes involving Romania and...

Since the establishment of the partnership principle within EU regional policy in 1988, the role of cities in the European multi-level governance system has been progressively strengthened. Today, the cities of Europe are central actors with key functions in the implementation of EU regional...

The EUREGIO EGRENSIS cooperation area was established in 1990 and is acknowledged and appreciated by political actors. It serves here as a heuristic for a multitude of spatial processes. On the one hand, it reflects the changing political and economic conditions of cross-border cooperation...

This paper is concerned with the development of cross-border cooperation and its current status. It examines the funding instruments and describes the challenges and opportunities of cross-border cooperation. The paper concludes by discussing some distinctive aspects of cross-border cooperation...

This paper describes an initial theoretical and conceptual approach relating crossborder cooperation to European spatial development and the associated theories, based on approaches from political science. This is discussed as a field of application for European spatial development, which is...

The institutionalisation of border regions has a long history. Initial forms of cooperation usually emerged in relation to a specific event. The 1970s were decisive for the emergence of cross-border organisations in both the Greater Region and the Upper Rhine region. Over the decades the...

This chapter presents the foundations of spatial planning in the sub-regions of the Greater Region and the Upper Rhine region. It provides a picture of current developments concerning the guiding principles for spatial development and introduces the existing spatial structures of these border...

This chapter describes the process by which a cross-border metropolitan region develops, using the example of the Greater Region. Between 2008 and 2010 the idea of a cross-border, polycentric metropolitan region in the Greater Region was investigated and further developed within the ESPON...

What is life in a border region like? This paper aims to answer this question, drawing on empirical research in four twin villages in the Greater Region. The findings, based on a postal survey in the twin municipalities and face-to-face interviews, show that both sides see the border situation...

In the context of demographic change and the associated shrinking and aging of the population, the safeguarding of public services in rural areas faces great challenges. Rural border areas find themselves in a unique situation due to their location, and must overcome additional challenges if...

In the last two years comprehensive legislative reforms have been passed in France which aim to change the territorial architecture of the Republic to ensure increased transparency and efficiency in public administration in the long term. The reforms focus on the metropolises, the merging of...

The Association of Southeast Asian Nations is considered as one of the successful regional cooperations and has played a remarkable role in regional, and potentially global, order through its principles of consensus, non-interference, and peaceful resolution of conflicts, providing platform for...

As the World Bank Group (WBG) is evolving, it remains a strategic partner for Romania in helping accelerate the pace and impact of the country's national development efforts while pursuing opportunities to contribute to the global development agenda. The Romania Country Partnership Framework...

The Japanese government's unilateral decision to discharge the nuclear-contaminated water from the Fukushima nuclear power plant into the ocean has caused immense nuclear safety risks. Monitoring the unclear-contaminated water is a starting point to combat these risks and seek remedies for the...

In 2023, Frontex further reinforced its strategic efforts to strengthen partnerships across the key migratory routes to the EU. The Agency actively engaged in structured dialogue and collaborative initiatives with key countries of origin and transit along key migratory routes to the EU,...

The aim of this Strategy is to provide a new impetus for Frontex in the external dimension, making full use of the Agency's mandate and available tools, and ensuring they are strategically positioned within broader EU policy objectives and available leverage. The Strategy is developed within the...

A terrorist attack, planned to take place in France on 1 July 2018, was prevented through the actions of the Belgian authorities and their partners in Germany, France and Luxembourg. Based on information from their security services, the law enforcement services initiated an investigation at the...

The brief emphasises the need to translate climate commitments into effective policies, focusing on carbon pricing mechanisms like emissions trading, carbon taxes, and crediting mechanisms led by public authorities. - Carbon pricing cooperation is essential for increasing climate ambition,...

In 2023, Frontex further reinforced its strategic efforts to strengthen partnerships across the key migratory routes to the EU. The Agency actively engaged in structured dialogue and collaborative initiatives with key countries of origin and transit along key migratory routes to the EU,...