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(Re)birth of a twin city. Hinterland analysis in the region of Esztergom-Štúrovo

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The study examines the current developments in the hinterland of the cross-border twin city, Esztergom–Štúrovo. It also suggests a gradual interweaving of the hinterlands of these previously separate cities that had been in a peripheral situation due to the State Border and thereby it suggests a process that enhances the twin city’s spatial organisation power. In brief, the effects of border changes on spatial structure, the gravitational power differences between Esztergom, Štúrovo and the regional centres will be examined. Furthermore, a concise analysis of the two states’ socio-economic situation after EU accession will be presented regarding the situation of both sides of the Hungarian-Slovak border. The main method of the research is to present gravity models.

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Changing interpretation of the EGTC tool

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The ”founding fathers” envisaged the European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) as a tool to manage cross-border, transnational or interregional programmes and projects. The aim of this study is to examine the changes in the interpretation of the EGTC tool since then. The first section is dedicated to the introduction of the political and jurisdictional context in which the instrument was created, giving an overview of the discourse defining this original interpretation. The second section presents the various ways in which local and regional stakeholders, the users of the Regulation interpret the tool. It is clear that these views are not always consistent with the original intentions. Rather, EGTCs are perceived as multi-purpose organisations implementing a new approach to territoriality through integrated cross-border interventions. The decisive characteristics of the groupings are highlighted: namely their role in crossborder integration, their flexibility, adaptability and their potential in terms of representation of the border area.

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The effects of institutionalisation on cross-border relationships in the Ister-Granum region – from the perspective of local actors

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The ideal of a ‘Europe without borders’ and the accession of Central and Eastern European countries to the Schengen Area have significantly transformed the spatial potential of borderland areas, and thus their development prospects too. The opening of borders brought along a wide range of excellent examples proving that increased cross-border flows as well as the establishment of cross-border institutions all over Europe were able to contribute to the dynamic development of the border regions involved. These examples include the Öresund Region, the Meuse-Rhine Euroregion, as well as the cross-border functional urban areas of Strasbourg, Basel, Geneva, Bratislava, etc.

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