Discussion Papers 2008.
Visions and Strategies in the Carpathian Area
(VASICA)
CENTRE FOR REGIONAL STUDIES
OF HUNGARIAN ACADEMY OF SCIENCES
DISCUSSION PAPERS
Special
Visions and Strategies
in the Carpathian Area
(VASICA)
Author & Editor
Iván Illés
Series editor
Zoltán Gál
Pécs
2008
Discussion Papers 2008.
Visions and Strategies in the Carpathian Area
(VASICA)
Project co-financed by the EU
ISSN 0238–2008
ISBN 978 963 9899 00 01
2008 by Centre for Regional Studies of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Technical editor: Ilona Csapó
Printed in Hungary by Sümegi Nyomdaipari, Kereskedelmi és Szolgáltató Ltd., Pécs
Discussion Papers 2008.
Visions and Strategies in the Carpathian Area
(VASICA)
CONTENT
1 Introduction .................................................................................................................... 5
2 The Carpathian region in the European space ................................................................ 8
2.1 The delineated “Carpathian Region” ..................................................................... 9
3 A brief review of the situation and problems: the SWOT analysis of the
Carpathian Area ............................................................................................................ 11
3.1 The SWOT analysis .............................................................................................. 11
4 Strategic objectives in the Carpathian region ............................................................... 16
4.1 Strengthening the internal cohesion of the Carpathian area.................................. 16
4.2 Strengthening the cohesion with other parts of the European territory ................. 18
4.3 Promoting economic growth and job creation in the Carpathian area .................. 20
4.4 Improved management of the region’s environment and natural-cultural
heritage ................................................................................................................. 21
5 Demography ................................................................................................................. 23
6 Agriculture in the Carpathian region ............................................................................ 26
6.1 The situation and the challenges ........................................................................... 26
6.2 Policy recommendations for the agriculture of the Carpathian area ..................... 32
6.2.1 The cooperation of Carpathian countries and regions in the field
of agriculture ............................................................................................. 32
6.2.2 The protection and promotion of Carpathian mountain food products ...... 33
6.2.3 Flexibility of EU CAP and national regulations in the Carpathian
Area ........................................................................................................... 34
6.2.4 Diversification of mountain economy ....................................................... 37
7 Industry in the Carpathian area ..................................................................................... 38
7.1 Situation and challenges ....................................................................................... 38
7.1.1 Mining ....................................................................................................... 38
7.1.2 Manufacturing ........................................................................................... 40
7.2 Policy recommendations for the industry of the Carpathian area ......................... 42
7.2.1 The “brown-fields” problem ...................................................................... 42
7.2.2 Conversion ................................................................................................ 45
7.2.3 Industrial diversification and the problem of the “one-factory-towns” ..... 45
7.2.4 Promotion and support of SMEs ............................................................... 47
7.2.5 The Carpathian motor car industry cluster ................................................ 48
8 Urban Network in the Carpathian area ......................................................................... 50
8.1 The situation and problems ................................................................................... 50
8.1.1 Small towns ............................................................................................... 50
8.1.2 Large and medium cities ........................................................................... 53
8.2 Policy recommendations concerning the urban network of the
Carpathian area ..................................................................................................... 56
8.2.1 Establishing a new urban-rural relationship .............................................. 56
8.2.2 The role of the chain of “market cities” in the external and internal
forelands of the Carpathians and the task of ‘revitalisation of the
“market line” ............................................................................................. 59
8.2.3 The future of the EU and the Carpathian cities ......................................... 62
Discussion Papers 2008.
Visions and Strategies in the Carpathian Area
(VASICA)
9 Cultural and natural heritage in the Carpathian region ................................................. 64
9.1 The situation and problems ................................................................................... 64
9.1.1 Cultural heritage ......................................................................................... 64
9.1.2 Natural heritage .......................................................................................... 66
9.2 Policy recommendations concerning some specific problems of the cultural
heritage in the Carpathian area .............................................................................. 69
9.2.1 National bias in the management of cultural heritage ................................ 69
9.2.2 The “heritage” of the socialist period ......................................................... 71
9.2.3 Military cemeteries and monuments of World War I. and II. ..................... 71
9.2.4 Sites of pilgrimage in the Carpathian area .................................................. 72
9.2.5 Recommendations for the management of the natural heritage .................. 74
10 Transport in the Carpathian Area ................................................................................. 76
10.1 Situation and problems ......................................................................................... 76
10.1.1 The main transport indicators of Carpathian countries .............................. 80
10.2 Policy recommendations for transport development for Carpathian countries ..... 82
10.2.1 Recommendations for local transport ........................................................ 82
10.2.2 Recommendations for regional and interregional transport in the
region ......................................................................................................... 83
10.2.3 Recommendations for international (cross border) transport in the
region ......................................................................................................... 83
11 Environment ................................................................................................................. 85
11.1 Situation and problems ......................................................................................... 85
11.2 Policy recommendations for environmental protection ........................................ 86
11.2.1 The preservation of primeval virgin forests ............................................... 86
11.2.2 Waste and hazardous materials disposal.................................................... 87
12 Tourism in the Carpathian area.................................................................................... 90
12.1 Situation and problems ......................................................................................... 90
12.1.1 The main indicators of tourism in Carpathian countries are the
following ................................................................................................... 90
12.1.2 Winter sports tourism ............................................................................... 91
12.1.3 Rural (village) tourism .............................................................................. 92
12.1.4 “Nostalgia” tourism .................................................................................. 93
12.2 Policy recommendations for tourism in the Carpathian region............................. 94
12.2.1 To create conditions for sustainable tourism in the Carpathian region ...... 94
12.2.2 The Via Carpathica .................................................................................... 96
12.2.3 Reconstruction or development of Forest Railways for tourism
purposes .................................................................................................... 96
13 European Territorial Cooperation within the Carpathian area ....................................... 99
13.1 Situation and problems ......................................................................................... 99
13.1.1 Bottom-up initiatives .................................................................................. 99
Top-down initiatives: the Structural Funds Interreg and Territorial
cooperation programmes ......................................................................... 103
13.2 Policy recommendations in respect to territorial cooperation and common
programmes ........................................................................................................ 106
Appendix .......................................................................................................................... 107
References ........................................................................................................................ 111