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CARPATHIAN EUROREGION AS AN INSTRUMENT
OF UKRAINE’S EUROINTEGRATION STRATEGY
SVITLANA MYTRYAYEVA
Preamble
One  of the  main current  principles  of  establishing  a United  Europe is  “Europe of
regions”.  According  to  this,  the  basic  element  of  the  European  Union  as  a  State
formation  consists  in  separate  regions,  the  state-members  of  the  EU,  meeting  the
determined  criteria  and,  in  general,  being  all  sufficient.  That  is  why,  emphasis  in
the sphere of eternal co-operation should gradually shift to the level of regions.
In  practice  solution  of  numerous  issues  directly  regarding  separate  territorial
entities is more rational, efficient and strategic on a regional level.
At present there is a set of institutional and functional instruments of deciding
issues  in  the  sphere  of  external  relations  on  an  interregional  level.  Some  of  them
are universal, while others are one-track.
Among the principal instruments of border and transboundary interregional co-
operation the following stand out:
1  Euroregions  –  organizations  of  border  (transboundary)  interregional
(intermunicipal) co-operation aiming at establishing and strengthening good
neighbourly relations as well as addressing common problems singled out by
the  constitutional  documents  regulating  the  territories  of  three  and  more
states.
2  Bilateral organizations – organizations of border interregional (intermunici-
pal) co-operation, set up to establish and strengthen good neighbourly rela-
tions as well as address common problems singled out by the constitutional
documents regulating the territories of three and more states.
3  Agreements  on  co-operation  in  definite  spheres  between  bordering  and  not
bordering territories that provide for the establishment of institutions of co-
ordinating actions.
4  Agreements  on  co-operation  in  definite  spheres  between  bordering  and  not
bordering territories that do not provide for the establishment of institutions
of coordinating actions.
A Euroregion is the most universal institute among the above-mentioned insti-
tutes, which has a considerable potential.

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In Central Europe such organizations started to appear in the 90ies of last centu-
ries. Euroregions were among the first, founded on the borders of Poland, Germany
and Czechoslovakia, on the borders of Hungary, Austria, Slovenia and Croatia, on
the cross-border of Hungary, Slovakia, Ukraine, Romania and Poland.
The main objective set before Central European Euroregions was to harmonise
relations among the neighbourly countries and reduce a negative effect of the bor-
der with the consideration of the fact that it was not always conditioned by ethical
and historical factors.
Besides,  the  Euroregion  had  to  become  an  institutional  instrument-facilitating
co-operation in various spheres of social life, which would satisfy the interests of
the parties participating in it.
Thus, Euroregions must become an instrument of external policy of some sover-
eign countries, which aspire to establish and maintain good neighbourly relations
emerging on a regional (municipal) level.
We must mention that certain Euroregions, as a rule, on a municipal level (e.g.
Nisa,  Pro  Europa  Viadrina),  established  without  any  support  and  custody  of  the
national  governments  (mainly,  the  Polish  and  German  border),  were  after  a  less
lofty goal, for instance, to solve some local problems in the defined fields (tourism,
ecology,  communal  infrastructure  development).  Nevertheless,  their  cooperation,
in general, had a positive, though not direct, effect on the goals mentioned above.
We can claim for the time being that the main objective to harmonise the rela-
tions among the neighbourly territories, citizens populating them and governments
of  these  territories  predominantly  has  been  achieved  by  the  greater  part  of  the
functioning Euroregions.  Thus, for example, due to the activity within the frame-
work  of  the  Euroregions,  the  implicitly  unsafe territories  of  the  Eastern  Carpathi-
ans, at the watershed of the Tisza river (the area where the “Carpathian Euroregion
is in operation), the Sudeten mountains (the area of the Euroregion Nisa’s activity),
etc, were not turned into zones of conflict.
Positive experience of the activity of the Euroregions can be also proved by the
fact that today the setting up of the Euroregions in Southern Eastern Europe, on the
Balkans  is  underway  through  the  intermediary  of  and  under  the  shelter  of  such
respectable organizations as the Council of Europe, the Pact of Stability and others.
At  the  conference  “Polish  experience  in  cross-border  cooperation”  which  took
place in the city of Rzeszow (Poland) on December 6–8, 2001, the representatives
of  different  international  organizations  and  diplomatic  missions  of  separate  coun-
tries stressed on an exceptionally positive experience of the Euroregional coopera-
tion and on a great role of the similar institutes in a solution of good neighbourly
relations harmonization. The representatives of a number of Southern and Eastern
European states attended the conference as well, who, according to the organisers,
might  include  the  experience  of  the  Euroregional  activity  in  Central  Europe  into
their tooling of external policy.

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Some of the advantages of the Euroregions’ activity should be mentioned here:
−  a relatively high level of organization in their activity – existence of statutory
documents, the structural formation of the governing and labour bodies;
−  strong established links between the governing institutions and autonomous
regions, their participants;
−  a  considerable  volume  of  information  about  border  and  transboundary
cooperation, cooperation with international organizations, the general state of
affairs in various fields of  the social life of neighbouring countries;
−  finding  contact  points  in  transbounary  and  border  cooperation,    problem
monitoring and search of the ways of their solution;
−  political and material support on the part of the European organizations;
−  creation of the structures that contribute to the development of border (trans-
boundary) cooperation.
However, there is a number of other goals which have not yet been achieved in
the result of the Euroregions’ activity or have not yet been set at all. Considering a
great  organizational  potential,  the  current  relations  and  experience  in  addressing
specific problems, it possible to view the Euroregions as the universal instruments
of border (transboundary) cooperation.
By this, it is reasonable to separate the objectives of their activity into the main
two directions:
−  continuation of carrying out external policy tasks within the European uniting
process;
−  economization  of  the  Euroregions’  goals,  putting  forward  new  tasks  in  the
sphere of external policy and regional development.
−  Proceeding  from  an  opportunity  to  set  such  strategic aims,  the  Euroregions
must fulfil the following tasks:
−  supporting  and  deepening  good  neighbourly  relations  among  bordering
territorial entities;
−  taking  advantage  of  the  labour  bodies  of  the  Euroregions  as  the  centres  of
collecting  information  about  the  activity  of  the  state  bodies  and  economic
agents of certain countries, international organizations, processes taking place
in Europe, about the ways of resolving problems in some fields of life activ-
ity, of experience analysis and models of its use in modern circumstances;
−  transforming the Euroregions into information and methodical centres of bor-
der and transboundary cooperation that facilitate a search of partners, estab-
lishment of relations among them;
−  taking into view available information and relations, using the Euroregions as
intermediary  structures  in  attraction  of  investments  and  donor  potential  into
the country;

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−  using the Euroregions and their labour bodies as structures that create a posi-
tive image of a country and its territorial entities as well;
−  using lobbying opportunities of the Euroregions, first of all, those that con-
cern the European structures;
−  turning the Euroregions into organisers and partners of various international
projects, considering their potential and experience in a solution of numerous
issues in the field of border (transboundary) cooperation.
It comes as natural that the list mentioned above is open, it could be carried on
depending on the tasks the external policy will face with time. Generally speaking,
a Euroregion is a viable and rather efficient instrument of an external policy, which
is able to adapt and change under the conditions of a definite situation, change an
objective and manners of actions, thus, coming of use in the right circumstances in
the  achievement  of  strategic  tasks  of  any  country,  particularly,  of  Ukraine,  being
one of the instruments of its European integration strategy.
On the history of the issue
Transboundary  cooperation  among  neighbourly  countries  on  the  level  of  regional
and local governments is considered to be one of the most significant issues of the
current agenda in Europe. At present more than 30 Euroregions are functioning in
Europe, which have become part and parcel of the European integration and con-
flict solution. The “Carpathian Euroregion” (CE) is the only Euroregion in Europe
including the bordering territories of the five post-communist countries on different
economic levels with heterogeneous ethnic, religious and cultural structures. That
is why, from the moment of its existence there arose a problem of creating a system
of mutual interests and cooperation with the aim of minimization and avoidance of
a  potential  tension,  misunderstanding  among  the  peoples  populating  these  territo-
ries.
Significance of a Euroregion rises during the process of the EU extension and
entering a number of states – EU members into its composition. By the way, it has
become a contact area of the EU eastern border. This area can turn into a source of
tension or into a source of stability. Therefore, taking into account the concept of
“Europe  of  regions”,  based  first  and  foremost  on  safety  and  stability,  it  is  in  the
interests  of  the  CE  and  the  EU  to  facilitate  the  process  of  vigorous  activity  and
extension of the “Carpathian Euroregion”.
The  model  of  the  “Carpathian  Euroregion”  was  developed  in  theory  with  the
assistance  of  the  experts  from  the  Institute  of  Research  East  –  West  (the  former
name Institute of East-West), who promptly voiced that numerous local initiatives
of  transboundary  cooperation  are  not  supported  and  understood  by  the  national

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SVITLANA MYTRYAYEVA
governments.  This  problem  remained  on  the  fringes  of  the  interests  of  the  EU
structures. At the same time there emerged a threat of a new “iron curtain” between
the countries of Central Europe and the former republics of the Soviet Union. For
this  reason, at the  international  conference  “Regions in  international  cooperation”
held in Mihalovtse (Slovakia) in November 1991, a concept and priorities of inter-
action  of  bordering  administrative  and  territorial  entities  of  the  regional  level  of
Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Ukraine were set (1).
The  conference  in  Nyíregyháza  (Hungary)  in  May  1992  became  the  next  im-
portant  organization  stage.  The  attending  representatives  of  the  Institute  of  Re-
search mentioned above proposed to join the Ukrainian, Hungarian and Polish ini-
tiatives with the aim of setting up the “Carpathian Euroregion”. There was estab-
lished  a  committee  which  would  prepare  all  the  constitutional  instruments  of  the
union  –  Agreement  and  Statute  –  during  the  session  of  the  representatives  of  the
regions involved which took place in June in the same year in Uzhgorod.
On February 14, 1993 the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of Hungary, Poland and
Ukraine  ratified  a  declaration  in  the  city  of  Debrecen  (Hungary),  which  claimed
that the “establishment of the “Carpathian Euroregion” would greatly contribute to
strengthening of friendship and prospering of the countries of the present region as
well as guarantee active application of the principles the Act of the Conference on
the  issues  of  Safety  and  Cooperation  in  Europe  (Helsinki,  1975),  the  Charter  of
Paris  for  a  new  Europe  (Paris,  1990)  and  other  instruments.  The  creation  of  the
“Carpathian  Euroregion”  will  direct  the  efforts  of  the  Council  of  Europe  and  the
European Union into the sphere of regional cooperation development”. That date is
considered to be the day of the official registration of the international association
the  “Carpathian  Euroregion”.  The  representatives  from  the  regions  of  Ukraine,
Poland  and  Hungary,  signing  the  program  and  statutory  documents,  became  the
founders of this international Association.
The territories belonging to the “Carpathian Euroregion” are still at the periph-
ery of their countries from a social and an economic point of view. The greater part
of them suffers from the problems connected with the environment, an inconsistent
infrastructure,  unemployment,  economic  cooperation  problems,  unequal  accessi-
bility to various EU funds.
Information concerning the size of the territories belonging to the CE and the
population living on these territories can be found in the table.
On February 14, 1993 the Hungarian, Polish, Slovakian and the Ukrainian par-
ties  signed  a  basic  agreement  on  the  “Carpathian  Euroregion”.    The  international
association the “Carpathian Euroregion” was defined as a consultative and coordi-
nating body directed at the expansion of transboundary cooperation of its members
as was provided by the Project of the European Convention on transboundary co-
operation  among  the  geographical  communities  and  authorities  No  106  of  the
Council of Europe.

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The Association was provided to be aimed at:
−  organization and coordination of the activity in supporting economic, scien-
tific, ecological, cultural and educational cooperation among its members;
−  development of separate projects on border cooperation among its members
in the sphere of mutual interests;
−  facilitation  of  contacts  among  the  peoples  of  the  regions-members  of  the
Association, in particular, contacts among experts in various branches;
−  support of good neighbourly relations among its members;
−  support of the regional development of all its members;
−  determination of the potential areas for a multilateral border cooperation of
its members.
The existence of an associated transboundary association of local and regional
communities,  whose  interests  are  presented  by  the  government  bodies  as  well  as
local self-administration offered the following opportunities:
−  common exploitation of energy resources;
−  common policy making in the sphere of environmental protection;
−  increase of a foreign capital flow;
−  working out of regional development programs;
−  production of competitive goods, facilitation of local initiative implementa-
tion (3);
−  development  of  transportation  links  on  the  territory  of  the  “Carpathian
Euroregion”,  overcoming  the  problems  of  an  insufficiently  developed  infra-
structure;
−  development of a modern economic structure of the region;
−  harmonious development of man’s activity;
−  development  of  the  health  protection  system,  social  and  cultural  protection
system;
−  diversification of tourism;
−  strengthening of the European and Atlantic cooperation (4).
However, for absence of a strategic approach to the vision of the development
prospects of the “Carpathian Euroregion” within the ten years of its existence the
greater part of opportunities rising after its formation in 1993 were not taken.

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System problems of the CE after the EU expansion
The entrance of the countries of Central and Eastern Europe to the EU on May 1,
2004  had  a  great  impact  on  the  role  and  place  of  the  “Carpathian  Euroregion”  in
the field of cooperation between Ukraine and its Western neighbours and the Euro-
pean Union in general. From a geopolitical point of view, the status of the “Carpa-
thian Euroregion” has undergone changes.
If before the EU expansion the “Carpathian Euroregion” took a somewhat nar-
rowed and local function of the organization of transboundary integration of border
administrative  and  territorial  entities  of  the  states  of  the  Carpathian  states  basin,
after the entrance of Poland Slovakia and Hungary into the EU it assumed quite a
different role of a higher organizational form of transboundary cooperation on the
new  Eastern  borders  of  the  European  Union  with  closest  neighbours,  Ukraine  in
particular. The Euroregional cooperation development in this way has transformed
into an integral part of the EU general Western strategy and has become a matter
not only of the states-participants of the Euroregion bordering on Ukraine but also
a matter of the European community in general.
Such geopolitical changes have become a positive push to the development and
improvement  of  cooperation  within  the  EU  framework.  The  Euroregion’s  status,
higher than it used to be, is an actual reaching by the Euroregion the level of the
relations system between Ukraine and the EU, but not only the bilateral interstate
relations  between  Ukraine  and  its  neighbours;  it  also  conditions  the  lengthy  exis-
tence of the “Carpathian Euroregion”.
Therefore, in the author’s opinion, “the dramatic forecast” of the possible clos-
ing  down  of  the  transboundary  cooperation  through  the  “Carpathian  Euroregion”
after the entrance of some Central European states to the EU are groundless. On the
contrary, both the states-members and the EU in general are insisting on the expan-
sion  of  the  Euroregional  cooperation  with  Ukraine.  Generally  speaking,  trans-
boundary cooperation is considered by them as one of the most perspective direc-
tions  of  interaction  with  the  Ukrainian  state  aimed  at  admitting  it  to  the  general
European integration processes. Accordingly, Ukraine regards the development of
transboundary and Euroregional relations in the Western direction as an additional
essential “integration bridge” for its approaching the EU.
There  are  a  number  of  advantages  facilitating  the  further  functioning  of  the
“Carpathian Euroregion”. The attitude to the Euroregion and to transboundary co-
operation  of  the  central  governing  bodies  of  these  countries  as  well  as  those  of
Ukraine  has  changed.  The  problems  of  functioning  of  the  Carpathian  and  other
Euroregions  have  reached  the  general  state  and  interstate  level.  The  “Carpathian
Euroregion” has gained general European recognition.
It  could  be  claimed  that  the  “Carpathian  Euroregion”  has  formed  as  trans-
boundary integrity. In the author’s opinion, the factors of a system character have

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been detaining the development of cooperation within the framework of the “Car-
pathian Euroregion” till present time the most obvious among them being a consid-
erably different level of reform processes in the countries, bordering administrative
and territorial entities in the composition of the Euroregion. On the one hand, Po-
land and  Hungary  left  their  neighbours  far  behind  in their  paces  and  depth of so-
cial, political and economic reforms. In 1999 they became the NATO members. At
the end of the 90ies Slovakia also quickened system transformations and promoted
the Euroregion cooperation. Thanks to these purposeful actions it managed to catch
up with Poland and Hungary with its reforms and enter together with them into the
EU on May 1, 2004. On the other hand, Romania and Ukraine did not justify re-
forming expectations. Nevertheless, Romania has an opportunity to join the Euro-
pean  Union  in  2007  while  Ukraine  will  still  remain  beyond  the  EU  boundaries.
That is, a gap in system reforms is going to have an undesirable effect especially in
the  field  of  cooperation  within  the  “Carpathian  Euroregion”  between  Western
Ukrainian regions and its foreign partners.
System  differences  regard  first  of  all  the  spheres  of  economic  transboundary
cooperation.  The  market  regional  economy  and  the  regional  agriculture  that  was
not  gradually  reformed  because  of  the  administrative  interference  have  a  lot  of
interconnected elements in common. This base makes it almost impossible to cre-
ate an ideal system of economic interrelations, which would lead to the formation
of an integral in an agricultural respect international transboundary region.
On  the  other  hand,  differences  in  reforms  did  not  allow  to  realize  within  the
framework  of  the  “Carpathian  Euroregion”  a  binding  requirement  of  the  general
European  institutions  concerning  transboundary,  Euroregional  cooperation,  par-
ticularly, concept coordination of the social and economic development of the bor-
dering territories.
At present it can be stated that the development of the “Carpathian Euroregion”
is going through a critical moment after the EU expansion. It is the time when they
should shift from a political and declarative economic Euroregional cooperation to
the  priorities  of  economic  cooperation  and  realization  of  specific  mutual  agricul-
tural transboundary projects. This is shown, for example, by an appearance of new
institutional forms of transboundary cooperation, which are being used to minimize
the  challenges  connected  with  the  EU  expansion.  By  the  way,  these  new  instru-
ments are emerging on the both sides of the Eastern EU border and are being im-
plemented by the local governing bodies, particularly, in Transcarpathia during the
realization of the “Europe of regions” motto.

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What is it about?
“The strategy of transboundary cooperation development in the Carpathian region
“Carpathians 2003–2011 (October, 2003) has been initiated by the Transcarpathian
regional  state  administration  as  well  as  the  Transcarpathian  regional  council  and
supported  by  the  regional  governing  bodies  of  the  bordering  regions  of  Ukraine,
Poland,  Slovakia,  Hungary  and  Romania.  The  basic  ideas  of  the  Programme  of
Ukraine’s integration to the European Union in the field of bordering policy lie in
the foundation of the Development Strategy.
Analyzing a specific character of the bordering territories (sector, political and
territorial),  the  Development  Strategy  consists  of  the  preferred  strategic  pro-
grammes  of  the  development  of  these  territories  (infrastructure,  economy,  envi-
ronment, nature and country development, tourism, social and cultural integration),
which is sure to smooth possible negative results of the EU expansion in a short-
term period.
Another programme – “Nyíregyháza initiative” (October, 2003) – has been ini-
tiated by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Hungarian Republic as well as the
local  authorities  of  Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg  region  as  an  instrument  of  practical
realization of the New Policy of the EU Neighbourhood. The main objective of the
Initiative is to strengthen the links between the local and the regional bodies on the
both sides of the EU Eastern borders.
Recently  active  cooperation  under  the  programme  “Interregio”  has  span  up.
Signed  a  couple  of  years  ago,  it  had  a  formal  character  only.  At  present  eleven
common projects in humanitarian and economic spheres have been prepared. It is
planned  to  set  up  transboundary  territories  of  environmental  protection  and  land-
scape the Tisza water gap and protect it. The issue of a further cooperation of the
bordering regions was discussed during a working meeting in February 2004 of the
heads of Szabolcs-Szatmár-Bereg region (Hungary) and Satu-Mare region (Roma-
nia).
We  cannot  but  mention  the  “Concept  of  the  common  development  of  the
Ukraine’s  and  Hungary’s  bordering  territories”  approved  by  the  Transcarpathian
Regional  body  in  June  2003.  Its  strategic  objective  was  to  exploit  to  the  full  the
opportunities  of  transboundary  cooperation  between  the  two  countries  in  order  to
improve  the  conditions  of  the  social  and  economic  life  of  the  people  on  the  both
sides of the border.
The Programme of the strategic development of the “Carpathian Euroregion” is
also of utter significance. It was prepared by professor Istvan Suli-Zakar (the Uni-
versity of Debrecen) (5), and deliberated at one of the last sessions of the “Carpa-
thian  Euroregion’s”  Council.  It  consists  of  regional  and  local  programmes  of  the
strategic development of the bordering territories in the EU composition.

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A successful model of regional cooperation under the new conditions will be-
come an indicator in our common relations and demonstrate our capability to take
an active part in the development of new (transboundary) relations over the com-
mon  borders  of  the  expanded  EU.  Common  challenges  should  lead  to  common
actions and suggestions.
Propositions
Proceeding from the mentioned above, a conclusion can be made that there are at
least three ways of making contribution to the development of transboundary coop-
eration  after  the  EU  expansion  under  the  conditions  of  joining  the  efforts  of  the
regional structures of Ukraine and its Western neighbours.
Firstly, there is an opportunity for the regional structures and bodies to put the
most important issues of transboundary cooperation on the agenda;
Secondly, on the basis of such an agenda there is an opportunity to find an influ-
ence lever on the central governments of the states – the expanded EU members-
tobe to make them raise some issues on the EU level.
Thirdly, the regions may become active participants of various common trans-
boundary projects if they apply for them.
In addition, the regions should play a visible role in the EU expansion but pre-
dominantly  in  the  sphere  of  additional  efforts  and  measures  aimed  to  support  ac-
tions taken by the states and the authority of the European Union.
New programmes of the neighbourhood: opportunities for the CE
According  to  the  experts’  estimates,  the  bordering  regions  of  Ukraine  are  most
susceptible  to  the  changes  that  have  arisen  and  are  still  to  arise  in  future  in  the
process of the EU expansion to the east.  Therefore, transboundary cooperation as a
form of cooperation between the bordering regions of Ukraine and the eastern re-
gions  of  its  Central  European  neighbours  requires  to  be  profoundly  renewed  and
transformed so that they could adapt to the new conditions determined by the EU
expansion.
At present it is possible to rely on the positive changes as the European policy
of  neighbourhood  offers  an  instrument,  which  should  give  an  impetus  to  trans-
boundary  cooperation.  Moreover,  this  instrument  can  in  prospect  be  spread  to  all
the regions of Ukraine that will promote interregional cooperation in general.
The programmes of Neighbourhood are expected to function on the whole ter-
ritory of the countries bordering on the European Union. Such an expansion of the

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programme  will  become  possible  only  in  2007  when  the  Programmes  of
Neighbourhood  will  gain  a  separate  status  and  a  budget.  But  till  2007  these  pro-
grammes will be in operation only on the territory of the bordering regions on the
both sides of the border, particularly, to the east of the EU – the regions of Ukraine,
Russian, Byelorussia and Moldova which are subject to the TACIS programme on
transboundary  cooperation  (TACIS  CBC).  In  Ukraine  these  are  the  following  re-
gions:  Volynska,  Lvivska,  Transcarpathia,  Ivano-Frankivska,  Chernivetska  and
Odeska. In 2002 the Council on the matters of cooperation Ukraine – the EU sin-
gled  out  one  of  the  main  priorities  of  further  cooperation  between  the  European
Union and Ukraine – transboundary and interregional cooperation.
The fact that the mechanism of financing the transboundary projects under the
TACIS  CBC  existing  scheme  is  still  in  force  in  Ukraine  shows  the  “transitory”
status  of  the  Programme  of  Neighbourhood  till  2007.  During  the  years  of  2004–
2006 about 20 million Euros were allocated to the Ukrainian partners involved in
the projects directed at the strengthening of transboundary and transnational coop-
eration  between  the  expanded  EU  and  its  new  neighbour  Ukraine  within  the
framework  of  the  programmes  mentioned  above. The  new  EU  members  –  Slova-
kia,  Poland  and  Hungary  are  financed  under  the  projects  INTERREG,  while  Ro-
mania (prior to its entrance into the EU in 2007) will be financed through the pro-
gramme PHARE (6).
In July 2004 the common Working groups (Task Force) comprising the repre-
sentatives  of  Ukraine  and  its  Central  European  neighbours  together  with  the  EU
experts  completed  and  submitted  for  consideration  to  Brussels  the  projects  of  the
Common programme documents of such Programmes of Neighbourhood: “Poland–
Ukraine–Byelorussia”, “Hungary–Slovakia–Ukraine”, “Romania–Ukraine”.
The  Commission  has  singled  out  the  following  general  priorities  for  the  Pro-
grammes of Neighbourhood:
−  facilitating economic and social development in the bordering regions;
−  implementing common actions aimed at a solution of common challenges in
such  spheres  as  environmental  and  health  protection  and  combating  organ-
ised crime;
−  maintaining border efficiency and safety;
−  contributing to the organisation and conducting local social activities.
Further  on,  the  Working  groups  set  general  and  specific  objectives,  priorities
and  tasks  within  the  framework  of  a  separate  Programme  of  Neighbourhood.
During the session in May 2004 in Odesa the EU Commission offered to exclude
from  the  Programme  of  Neighbourhood  “Romania-Ukraine”  the  preferred  objec-
tives  and  measures  concerning  the  development  of  transboundary  transportation
infrastructure for lack of funds so that later these measures should be included into
the following EU infrastructure programmes. However, all the regions on the both

Svitlana Mytryayeva : Carpathian Euroregion as an Instrument of Ukraine's Eurointegration Strategy.
In: Regionality and/or Locality. Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2007. 122-136. p.
Discusion Papers, Special
CARPATHIAN EUROREGION AS AN INSTRUMENT OF UKRAINE’S…
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3
sides of the border declined their suggestion and offered to preserve them at least
on the level of technology and economy as otherwise it would be only possible to
preserve the cultural heritage under this Programme of Neighbourhood.
The  main  problems  that  the  Ukrainian  side  faces  regarding  the  further  imple-
mentation  of  the  Programmes  of  Neighbourhood  are  absence  of  funds  for  their
development  and  for  further  working  out  of  specific  project  proposals  as  well  as
maladjustment of the mechanisms of the simultaneous co-financing of transbound-
ary projects at the cost of the EU programmes, national and regional budget outlays
and extra budgetary funds.
In accordance with the EU requirements the Law of Ukraine “On transbound-
ary cooperation” provides two main kinds of the projects and programmes of trans-
boundary  cooperation:  joint  and  national.  Under  the  final  provisions  of  the  men-
tioned  above  Law  the  State  Budget  of  Ukraine  of  2005  must  allocate  funds  and
determine mechanisms of co-financing the chosen projects on the part of Ukraine.
On the part of the European Union there is also work conducted to process the
mechanisms  of  co-financing  of  the  “matching”  transboundary  projects  at  the  ex-
pense of the programmes INTERREG III in Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, PHARE in
Romania, TACIS CBC in Ukraine. At the same time a part of the joint transbound-
ary  projects  of the  mentioned  above  Programmes  of Neighbourhood  are expected
to  integrate  to  the  so-called  “Initiative  CADSES”  (Central  European,  Adriatic,
Danube  and  Southern  Eastern  European  areas)  which  include  the  territory  of  the
“Carpathian  Euroregion”,  the  Euroregions  of  the  “Higher  Prut”  and  the  “Lower
Danube”.
It  can  be  forecasted  that  the  matching  of  the  Programmes  of  Neighbourhood
and,  mainly,  have  the  mechanisms  of  the  further  co-financing  of  transboundary
projects  is  going  to  be  delayed.  Nevertheless,  the  actual  financing  of  the  specific
projects will start in 2005.
But the most significant conclusion lies in the fact that we at last have started
understanding  transboundary  cooperation  not  only  as  the  arrangement  of  the  bor-
ders,  customs-offices,  etc  but  also  as  cooperation  and  interaction  of  the  regions.
The concept is filled with a new meaning, and, accordingly, new tasks are set. This
leads  to  new  responsibilities  and  obligations.  Thus,  further  strengthening  of  the
borders,  constructing  of  new  modern  transfers  and  modernisation  of  the  already
functioning  ones,  developing  the  bordering  infrastructure  and  other  matters  have
been included into the agenda.
Today Ukraine and other adjacent territories should actively take advantage of
the “Carpathian Euroregion” as a functioning instrument of the development of the
bordering regions and European integration on their way to “Europe of regions”.
The Ukrainian bordering territories enter into the four Euroregions at the same
time: the “Carpathian Euroregion”, the greatest one, unites the territories of Poland,
Slovakia, Romania, Hungary as well as Transcarpathia, Lvivska, Ivano-Frankivska

Svitlana Mytryayeva : Carpathian Euroregion as an Instrument of Ukraine's Eurointegration Strategy.
In: Regionality and/or Locality. Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2007. 122-136. p.
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and  Chernivetska  regions  of  Ukraine;  the  “Lower  Danube”  includes  Romania,
Moldova,  Odeska  region;  the  “Bug”  covers  Poland,  Byelorussia  and  Volynska
region;  the  recently  established  “Higher  Prut”  unites  the  territories  of  Romania,
Moldova  and  Chernivetska  region.  The  Prime  Minister  of  Poland  L.Miller  men-
tioned in his speech at the last economic forum in Lviv that “we must use the EU
expansion for the development of this part of Europe so that it would not turn into a
great depressive region in future”.
So far the mentioned Euroregions have not lived up to the set objectives. It is
understandable as the  structures  are functioning  exclusively  on  a  community  pro-
ject  basis.  It  could  seem  at  first  sight  that  the  “Carpathian  Euroregion”  that  has
existed for more than ten years already is well known in Europe as successful and
extensive. It has been involved in numerous European programmes. But if we look
at the  Ukrainian  regions the  most  active  region  (particularly,  financially)  is Tran-
scarpathia, which is in a traditional close contact with Hungary and Romania. But
lately Ivano-Frankivska and Chernivetska regions have picked up with Chernivet-
ska facing the “Higher Prut”. This cannot be said about Lvivska region despite its
powerful potential. It is cooperating more or less actively with Polish regions on a
bilateral level. From the point of view of the European community if a bordering
territory  (region)  enters  the  European  structures  together  with  its  administration
and financial provision it is dealt with at the same high level as with the local gov-
erning bodies. In such a way, the Euroregions become the subjects of international
activity.
The anomaly lies in the fact that the European and other structures are ready to
finance useful and interesting programmes, but, according to some experts, serious
and  efficient  programmes  are  ignored.  For  instance,  the  “Carpathian  Euroregion”
has spent during the last years 1 million USA dollars on an integration programme
and employment for the Romanies, 120,000 dollars on establishment and develop-
ment  of  enterprising,  500,000  dollars  on  communication  systems  development.
Ukraine  has  virtually  received  nothing  besides  this.  However,  when  Poland  and
Hungary  as  the  EU  members  apply  for  thirty-forty  projects,  Ukraine  applies  for
two or three only.
The  bordering  countries  on  the  both  sides  of  the  EU  eastern  border  have  not
lost the previously established relations and understanding of the mutual problems,
which  were  of  a  bilateral  nature.  The  following  step  within  the  Euroregion  is  to
reach the general European level. In order to do this in such Euroregions it is nec-
essary  to  set  up  serious  executive  structures,  which  would  have  their  action,  pro-
grammes, a methodological basis (7) and a legal status.
The role of the bordering territories of the “Carpathian Euroregion” in interna-
tional  cooperation  is  of  great  significance  from  a  political  and  territorial  point  of
view.  This  Euroregion  is  regarded  as  an  area  of  immediate  interaction  of  the
economies of Ukraine, Poland, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary. In a result of the

Svitlana Mytryayeva : Carpathian Euroregion as an Instrument of Ukraine's Eurointegration Strategy.
In: Regionality and/or Locality. Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2007. 122-136. p.
Discusion Papers, Special
CARPATHIAN EUROREGION AS AN INSTRUMENT OF UKRAINE’S…
13
5
EU  expansion  to  the  East  in  2004  the  bordering  regions  of  Poland,  Slovakia  and
Hungary  gained  the  status  of  contacting  areas  of  partner  interaction  of  the  coun-
tries-neighbours with a considerably different geopolitical status: Ukraine – an out
of the bloc nuclear-free state-member of the CIS; Poland, Slovakia and Hungary –
states-members  of  the  EU  and  NATO,  Romania  –  a  member  of  another  group  of
candidates for the entrance to the EU and NATO.
Therefore,  the  bordering  regions  of  Poland,  Slovakia  and  Hungary  have  been
on  new  external  borders  of  the  EU  with  Ukraine  since  2004.  Only  the  states  and
their bordering regions through their mutual projects, particularly, in an economic
sphere and using a Euroregions as an instrument are able to reduce to a minimum
the possible negative consequences of the dividing lines in Europe of interstate and
interregional  cooperation  between  Ukraine  and  Hungary,  Ukraine  and  Poland,
Ukraine and Slovakia, Ukraine and Romania. That is why, transboundary coopera-
tion,  particularly  in  the  “Carpathian  Euroregion”,  cannot  be  effective  without  the
guidance and coordination of branch and territorial projects. Harmonious develop-
ment of the bordering regions is possible only through the joint development pro-
grammes  and  “matching”  branch  projects.  Transcarpathia  has  made  its  first  suc-
cessful  steps  in  this  direction  actively  using  the  Euroregions  as  an  integration  in-
strument.
Thus, the EU expansion process in 2004–2007 may come to a standstill on the
Western  border.  Nevertheless,  Ukraine  feels  its  effect,  is  actively  preparing  for  a
new  neighbour  and  does  not  lose  hope  of  making  its  European  dream  come  true.
Generalisation and usage of a positive experience of the modern stage of European
integration on a regional level should contribute to the realisation of practical tasks
of  Ukraine’s  entrance  into  European  political,  economic  and  legal  space.  Much
depends on Ukraine only whether it remains an EU neighbour, a privileged one, or
it moves ahead and deepens relations with this powerful European organisation.
Conclusion
At present we can state the fact that the Carpathian region is one of the most stable
regions in respect of safe peaceful co-existence in Europe. Despite the fact that the
borders  of  the  five  states  have  their  points  of  coincidence  here  sometimes  made
without  considering  ethnic  principles.  These  states  have  their  own  political,  eco-
nomic  and  cultural  interests  in  the  region.  The  stability  factor  in  the  “Carpathian
Euroregion” is undoubtedly a credit of the activity of the national governments of
the  autonomous  bodies  and  a  respective  model  of  a  tolerant  behaviour  of  the
population of the bordering territories.