LECTURE 6

Cross-border regions in Central-East and South- East Europe

The lecture started with the presentation of various types of cross-border regions. The discussion following this presentation aimed at pointing out the most important (economic, political, ethno-cultural or other) factors of differentiation which are defining certain types of regions, as well as at identifying the underlining shared characteristics of all European regional units. Again, students from the two countries formulated different views. Students from Romania insisted on the comparability of Austria-Hungary and Hungary-Romania border regions, arguing that in the process of European Union moving eastward, the border areas which are located in the geographical proximity of EU Member States should naturally benefit from their location. Unlike their colleagues from Romania, students from Hungary adopted a predominantly defensive stance, and emphasised the potential threats of EU enlargement, which, in their view might create problems related to a possible influx of a great number of people from Romania searching for better employment and life conditions in Hungary.

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