<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml">

<p>The literature on cross-border cooperation in Europe is predominated by the analysis of the European Union (EU) INTERREG Programmes’ results, while other support funds are often neglected. To fill this research gap, the authors undertook the research on cross-border cooperation of the area-based partnerships (Local Action Groups – LAGs) from Poland and the Czech Republic, financed by the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) 2014–2020. The main purpose of our paper is to identify the rationales for cooperation, strategies to find partners, the scope of activities and obstacles in implementing the joint projects. The qualitative research involved a content analysis of LAG documents and interviews with LAG managers. The actions in twelve identified cooperation projects were mainly related to local traditions, inventory and the promotion of local products and services, the development of tourism and environmental issues. The respondents have emphasised that these actions required separate financing by national RDPs following different administrative rules, even though when constituting the components of a single project. The bureaucratic restrictions resulted in a clear asymmetry of LAGs activities, manifested in a lower involvement of the Czech LAGs. As a result, many projects can be considered as highly unilateral, solely national rather than genuinely international, which has not been the intention of the LAG managers, however.</p>
</abstract>

The literature on cross-border cooperation in Europe is predominated by the analysis of the European Union (EU) INTERREG Programmes’ results, while other support funds are often neglected. To fill this research gap, the authors undertook the research on cross-border cooperation of the area-based partnerships (Local Action Groups – LAGs) from Poland and the Czech Republic, financed by the Rural Development Programmes (RDPs) 2014–2020. The main purpose of our paper is to identify the rationales for cooperation, strategies to find partners, the scope of activities and obstacles in implementing the joint projects. The qualitative research involved a content analysis of LAG documents and interviews with LAG managers. The actions in twelve identified cooperation projects were mainly related to local traditions, inventory and the promotion of local products and services, the development of tourism and environmental issues. The respondents have emphasised that these actions required separate financing by national RDPs following different administrative rules, even though when constituting the components of a single project. The bureaucratic restrictions resulted in a clear asymmetry of LAGs activities, manifested in a lower involvement of the Czech LAGs. As a result, many projects can be considered as highly unilateral, solely national rather than genuinely international, which has not been the intention of the LAG managers, however.

Cross-border cooperation of Polish and Czech area-based partnerships supported by Rural Development Programmes: Genuinely international or solely national projects?

Wroclaw University of Environmental and Life Sciences

Moravian Geographical Reports

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

The literature on cross-border cooperation in Europe is predominated by the analysis of the European Union (EU) INTERREG Programmes’ results, while other...

Cross-border cooperation of Polish and Czech area-based partnerships supported by Rural Development Programmes: Genuinely international or solely national projects?

Published Online: Jul 05, 2024

Page range: 137 - 150

Received: Aug 31, 2023

Accepted: May 30, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgr-2024-0012

Keywords
Area-based partnerships, Local Action Groups, Rural Development Programme, cross-border cooperation projects, evaluation, Poland, Czech Republic

© 2024 Marek Furmankiewicz et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Cross-border cooperation of Polish and Czech area-based partnerships supported by Rural Development Programmes: Genuinely international or solely national projects?

Published Online: Jul 05, 2024

Page range: 137 - 150

Received: Aug 31, 2023

Accepted: May 30, 2024

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/mgr-2024-0012

KeywordsArea-based partnerships, Local Action Groups, Rural Development Programme, cross-border cooperation projects, evaluation, Poland, Czech Republic

© 2024 Marek Furmankiewicz et al., published by Sciendo

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

Keywords
Area-based partnerships, Local Action Groups, Rural Development Programme, cross-border cooperation projects, evaluation, Poland, Czech Republic