Third variable: CBC Appropriation

The third variable, the “Cross-border cooperation appropriation”, is defined by Perkmann as the significance of CBC among the local society. It identifies, therefore, the legitimacy, the relevance and the awareness that the local actors and their leaders (economic, political, social, civil) give to the CBC in their daily life. The higher the appropriation of the CBC is, the higher will be the “policy entrepreneurship” of the municipalities and the CBC structures. Because of the differences between Western and Eastern countries (history; concept of border; experience in CBC programmes;

European status – i.e. Albania and FYROM are not member states yet), this variable takes into account not only the real appropriation of the single actors of the CBC, but also their perception and future perspectives on CBC towards a major development of the territory. This third variable is composed by 5 elements: 1) CBC appropriation of citizens; 2) CBC appropriation of political actors; 3) meeting between political leaders on CBC activities; 4) CBC appropriation of economic actors; 5) CBC appropriation of civil society.

Variable 3: Cross-border cooperation appropriation

Korca Gjirokaster Vlore Bitola Kriva Palanka Struga Kjustendil Haskovo Ruse

Citizens Table 4.4 - Third Variable, data (Own elaboration)

The data of this third dependent variable show a large gap between the identified conditions. Civil society, NGOs, associations, and groups of interests are actively involved in the mechanisms of CBC. In all cross border areas they demonstrated to have high appropriation of CBC activities. They have large awareness of the concept of CBC and, at the same time, of the technical characteristics of CBC programmes; they have consolidated cross-border networks and good relations with local and foreign associations with which they participate in CBC calls for proposals; the large majority of them have already submitted projects under a CBC call for proposal; they all perceive the CBC as a good instrument for local development (specifically in tourism) and intercultural exchanges. Analysing the interviews on the CBC appropriation among the economic actors I notice the large and almost unanimous (with the exception of the case of Vlore) positive perception. Some interviewees have pointed out the relevance of networking and of exchange of information about business and new opportunities for collaboration. In the cross-border area of Kyustendil there was some successful collaboration between Bulgarian-Macedonian companies which made it possible to save two Bulgarian manufacturing plants that were close to bankruptcy. The negative perception of CBC demonstrated by the economic actors of Vlore can be explained by their predominant interest in the Italian market and their relative big distance to the border with Greece. Indeed, although the distance between Vlore and Greece is only about 150 km, because of the deficiencies of the Albanian road network, today it takes around 3 hours to get to the border. So, this situation highlights the relevance of the infrastructures and the importance of their development to let CBC happen.

With reference to the CBC appropriation of political actors, the variable considers the element 2 - CBC appropriation of political actors - and 3 - CBC meetings between political leaders. Considering the meetings and networking between the mayors and the political leaders of the bordering municipalities, the condition is evaluated positively when at least 2 meetings per year related to CBC actions take place. The case of Bitola and the case of Struga registered the minor values and consequently they obtained a negative code, while to all the others a positive code is attributed. Yet, concerning the CBC appropriation of political actors the data appear really varied. The most advanced views are in Ruse and Haskovo where the municipal interlocutors explained the high motivation of mayors in improving the CBC activities through their networking and

meetings. In general the political motivation to enhance CBC activities was expressed in different ways. The responsible for CBC in Kriva Palanka – a department of local development – stated that politicians through CBC are able to enlarge their local actions gaining a larger popularity. Of course, this popularity offers the possibility to be easily re-elected and, eventually, to have a national political career. Others declared that political leaders have a more pragmatic approach and their main interest is to obtain European funds due to the scarcity of national resources. Contrary to these reasons, some interviewees explained that politicians do not give a lot of importance to CBC, they rather concentrate on the internal situation trying to enlarge their national contacts.

On one hand, this is due to the easier path that they have to follow to gain some funds for the territory, and, on the other hand, this offers them the possibility to consolidate national contacts strengthening their position within the national power. Yet, some NGOs in Albania (in particular in Gjirokaster and Vlore) underlined the phenomenon of local clientelism which permits the politicians to aid and offer favours in return for votes (mostly land concessions and jobs). This personalized mechanism excludes the CBC and the will to promote real economic growth from the political priorities. A Macedonian expert in CBC programmes and IPA funds pointed out the sense of fright that sometimes the leaders experience as a result of their reticence in taking legal responsibility. In the last period, she explained, there were some legal complaining procedures against two local administrations which did not manage properly IPA funds.

Hence, in her opinion the implementation of European projects is very complicated, so local leaders prefer not to risk, and follow well-trodden paths. Finally, the analysis of the data has to point out the good example of Ruse and Bitola where the municipalities have instituted parallel agencies to be more efficient and effective in CBC and fundraising actions. In Ruse the Euroregion Danubius (2002) was established between Ruse and Giurgiu (BG/RO) which involves different cross-border local public and private institutions, while in Bitola, the Pelagonija Regional Development Agency (that includes several Macedonian municipalities) was established to increase the fundraising and to promote the CBC. The worst result among the conditions evaluated for the third variable is certainly the CBC appropriation of citizens which obtained 7 negative codes out of 9 cases. All the interviewees have expressed the absence or the very moderate CBC appropriation of citizens. The only exceptions were Ruse and Haskovo. However,

the majority of interviewees underlined the visibility and the concrete impact for people.

The CBC projects which have a material construction or renovation (i.e. monuments, buildings, public gardens, etc.) are well-considered and better-known. Anyhow, the issue of a large-scale appropriation of CBC represents a hurdle even for Western cross-border areas which still have to put strong effort in it. The identification and codification of the third variable is presented below:

Variable 3: Cross-border cooperation appropriation

Korca Gjirokaster Vlore Bitola

Kriva

Palanka Struga Kjustendil Haskovo Ruse

Citizens 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1

Political

actors 1 0 0 1 1 0 0 1 1

CBC meeting btw political

leaders 1 1 1 0 1 0 1 1 1

Economic

actors 1 1 0 1 1 1 1 1 1

Civil

society 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1

1 1 0 1 1 0 1 1 1

Table 4.5 - Third Variable, results (Own elaboration)