Asymmetric patterns in territorial cooperation between core and periphery: The participation of Central and Eastern Europe in transnational and interregional cooperation programmes

• Published in: The Geographical journal 2024-12, Vol.190 (4), p.n/a
• Main Authors: Péti, Márton, Salamin, Géza, Nemes, Zsófia, Pörzse, Gábor, Csicsmann, László
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activity patterns; Asymmetry; Center and periphery; Central and Eastern Europe; Cooperation; core–periphery; development; Discourses; European Territorial Cooperation; international spatial planning; networking; Participation; partnership; Transnationalism
• ISSN: 0016-7398; 1475-4959
• DOI: 10.1111/geoj.12574

The study deals with the issue of core–periphery relations in the European Union, investigating its patterns in relation to the participation of Central and Eastern European (CEE) member states in European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) programmes between 2007 and 2020. Core–periphery patterns do exist in the European space, where besides the North‐Western core (‘Core’), there are two distinct peripheries, CEE and Southern Europe. The peripheral position is reflected in the weak performance of CEE in European‐wide RDI networks subsidised by the EU. On the basis of the KEEP database, the study analyses the signs of core–periphery relations by identifying whether there is asymmetry in the participation of CEE and Core countries in cooperation projects under the transnational (INTERREG B) and interregional (INTERREG C) strands (together, TI) of ETC. The findings of the study show that there is a significant difference in the forms of involvement of actors from North‐Western Europe and CEE in the TI programmes. Actors from CEE countries are very motivated to become involved in TI projects. However, they are significantly underrepresented in lead partner positions, especially in funding. The study's results suggest that participation activity patterns are significantly asymmetric in TI programmes, showing signs of a core–periphery dynamic even in such place‐based, cohesion‐oriented programmes. The consequence is that the articulation of geographic characteristics, special needs and issues associated with CEE is limited as they play a rather adaptive and imitating role in those territorial cooperation programmes that are influential in discourses and policies about territorial development in the European arena. Short Core–periphery division patterns exist within the European Union, even when it comes to territorially balanced programmes such as the European Territorial Cooperation, shown by the data processed by the authors from the period between 2007 and 2020 (the figure is presenting ESPON, INTERREG and URBACT programmes summarised with logarithmic values). The article provides a solid theoretical background and empirical database to underpin the poor representation of the CEE region in a leading role in programmes of crucial importance from the cohesion and cooperation perspective.