By Györgyi Nyikos, 2015
Macro-regional strategies represent a new opportunity for comprehensive development of a larger region with EU and non-EU participants, addressing common challenges and potential. Their multi-dimensional integrated approach also allows important overall policy objectives to be incorporated in regional development work. The paper explores the legislation linked and guidances on macro-regional strategy for the coming programming period and what has happened so far to respond to the question, if these tool can be able in the praxis also improving policy transfer and whether this form of cooperation is effective, useful or not. The findings showed that macro-regional strategies have already created valuable cooperation platforms, which did not exist in the past and they have not only a potential to improve socio-economic development or governance, but also strengthening the ties between the Member States and bringing the participating candidate and potential candidate countries closer to the EU, therefore reinforcing the process of European integration. However, the experience shows strong needs of common understanding and cooperation and the decisive point is whether the stakeholder will and would cooperate with each other in the implementation of the strategy.
 Nyikos (2015) The role of macro-regional strategies | [ ] |
