The changing role of border regions in the regional policies of the EU and Russia

Abstract

This article analyses how the role of border regions has changed in the regional policies of Russia and European countries since the early 1990s. The study aims to estimate the efficiency of Russia’s regional policy with regard to border regions (its completeness, a focus on actual problems, etc.) and to compare it with that of European counterparts. The article relies on publications on the experience of EU countries, earlier contributions from Russian researchers, federal regulations, and statistics on the regional distribution of federal investment in fixed assets. It is shown that the federal border region policy is largely a reflection of the features and problems of Russia’s regional policy as a whole. Currently, the development of cross-border cooperation is affected more strongly by national security concerns than by economic growth considerations. Cross-border cooperation is no longer part of the regional policy. Border regions, however, have received an increasing proportion of federal investments in recent years, particularly, amid the reunification with the Crimea. The study calls for better coordination between different areas of the federal socio-economic policy on border regions and closer attention to border regions’ foreign economic ties, particularly, within the implementation of the Strategy for the Spatial Development of the Russian Federation.

Separate Principles of Spatial Planning in the Border Regions on the Example of Meghri Community

“…During the independence in 1995, 13 self-governing units (communities) were formed here 4 . In 2016, within the framework of the community consolidation program in the region, one community was formed in the center of Meghri, which included 15 settlements 5 . The community's population is 11.769, and over 80 percent of the population lives in Meghri and Agarak.…”

“…The frameworks of the studies related to the problem are broad and diverse. They can refer to the formulation and interpretation of the term "border" itself (Boundaries, Borders, Frontiers), the historical and geopolitical features of their formation [1], the origin and consequences of borders [2], and the reasons for the border formation and changes between the empires and states in different historical periods [3], the opportunities and limitations of border regions [4], the state policies and investment directions related to their development [5], problems of infrastructure placement in border cities [6], people's perception the problems, and the classification of borders as a gap and as a communication opportunity based on interactions [7,8].…”

“…Bulletin of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia, 9, 1995 5. Official Bulletin of the Republic of Armenia 2016.07.01/51(1231) (in Armenian) 6.…”

The role of Russian border regions in the cross-border cooperation between Russia and Kazakhstan

“…In 2014, the program was updated, resulting in its current version -Interreg V, which comprises three types of subprograms: cross-border, transnational, and interregional cooperation. The largest amount of EU budget funds goes to the cross-border programs, which include a range of smaller-scale projects targeted at creating cross-border socio-economic ties (Kuznetsov, 2019;Kondratieva, 2020).…”