Discussion Papers 2008.
Visions and Strategies in the Carpathian Area (VASICA) 16-22. p.
4 Strategic objectives in the Carpathian region
Considering the listed strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, four strate-
gic objectives could be defined for the Carpathian area as a whole.
1) Strengthening the internal cohesion of the Carpathian region
2) Strengthening the cohesion with the other parts of the European territory
3) Enhancing economic growth and job creation in the Carpathian area
4) Improved management of the region’s environment and natural-cultural heri-
tage.
4.1 Strengthening the internal cohesion of the Carpathian area
It is a general observation that the internal cohesion of the Carpathian for the time
being is weak. This weak cohesion has natural-geographic, technical-infrastruc-
tural, historical, political and ethnical-linguistic reasons:
− The Carpathian mountain range divides the region into two halves: areas in-
side of the Carpathian basin, and the areas outside of it. The two were divided
by a 150 km wide hardly passable mountain range, which was uninhabited or
hardly inhabited for centuries. The mountain range was a natural defence
system for the nations and regions on both sides, but simultaneously it sepa-
rated them from each other and substantially restricted the interactions.
− The Alps were even less passable, nevertheless, the North-South routes were
vital for the economic and cultural development of Western Europe, and
therefore serious efforts were made to construct roads and railway lines
across the Alps. In contrast, in Central Europe, North-South connection was
not a priority issue. Consequently, the number of trans-Carpathian roads and
railways is insufficient and the capacity of the existing ones is limited.
− Historically, the Carpathian region, as a whole was the “border area” of big
empires: of the Ottoman, the Russian (Soviet), the German and the Austrian-
Habsburg empires. The joining of forces and solidarity was very rarely the
political strategy of the smaller nations in this “border area”. They looked
more frequently for the support of one or more of the great powers to attain
their political and military objectives. Conflict was more characteristic of in-
ter-nation and inter-ethnic relations than collaboration.
− Sustaining hostility among the small nations was the tactics of the great pow-
ers as well for a longer period. But it was misused also by some communist
leaders to divert people’s attention away from the worsening economic situa-
tion in their countries.
Illés, Iván : Strategic Objectives in the Carpathian Region.
In: Visions and Strategies in the Carpathian Area (VASICA)
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2008. 16-22. p. Discussion Papers, Special
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES IN THE CARPATHIAN REGION
1
7
− 8 languages are spoken in the Carpathian region. Mutual understanding is
somewhat less a problem in the case of the 5 Slavic languages (Czech, Pol-
ish, Serb, Slovak, Ukrainian), much more difficult with the other 3 languages
(German, Hungarian, Romanian). Latin was the “Lingua Franca” until the
18th century. This role was partly taken over by the German language in the
19th century. Unfortunately, Russian was taught, but not learned in the
schools of the Carpathian area for almost a half century. As a consequence,
there are whole generations in the Carpathian countries, who can hardly
communicate with each other.
At the same time, there are some favourable preconditions for more cohesion:
− Carpathian countries and regions share – though in different languages – a
common “Central European” culture. With the exception of some Eastern
and Southern Romanian regions, all Carpathian regions were part of the
Habsburg empire for at least 150 years, some regions for a much longer pe-
riod. This empire – besides its serious problems – represented a peculiar mi-
lieu and way of life which left their marks in every Carpathian country. But
even the life under Soviet hegemony was a common experience. A strange
consequence of the restrictions of travelling to the West was that people got
more acquainted with neighbouring countries. The common fate and the si-
multaneous efforts to change the political-economic system created a kind of
solidarity between the nations;
− Though the Carpathian Mountains are the geographic ”asset” bounding the
countries and regions together, their geographic endowments are much dif-
ferentiated, which would offer huge opportunities to exchange their products
in the framework of international trade. Nevertheless, from the collapse of
the Habsburg Empire until the EU accession, Carpathian countries seriously
– though with changing instruments – discriminated each other in their for-
eign trade relations. It was true not only concerning the tariff-wars between
the two World Wars, but also for the COMECON trade and partly even for
the CEFTA co-operation. Only the EU accession abolished all the obstacles
of economic division of labour between Carpathian countries and regions,
and since 2004, economic relations and trade developed very rapidly.
− Finally, common intervention might be useful even as members of the EU
and in EU forums. Carpathian regions are among the least developed regions
of the EU and the common presentation of their problems would give more
emphasis to their claims.
The actions for achieving more internal cohesion in the Carpathian region
would be the following:
Illés, Iván : Strategic Objectives in the Carpathian Region.
In: Visions and Strategies in the Carpathian Area (VASICA)
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2008. 16-22. p. Discussion Papers, Special
18
VISIONS AND STRATEGIES IN THE CARPATHIAN AREA (VASICA)
− development and improvement of transport and communication networks
across and within the Carpathians;
− supporting partnership and cooperation agreements between Carpathian
countries, regions and cities;
− supporting the creation of Euroregions and converting them to regions of
genuine common projects and efforts;
− enlarging the Schengen zone with Romania as soon as possible
− facilitating border crossing also for citizens from non-EU Carpathian regions
− establishing cross-border passenger transport networks between the
neighbouring parts of the Carpathian countries to strengthen micro-regional
linkages, to promote tourism and facilitate commuting.
− formulating more joint cross-border projects for improving infrastructural
systems
− enhancing exchanges of pupils and students and supporting language courses
on the languages of the neighbours.
− Supporting mutual visits of theatres, ensembles, actors and artists in the
Carpathian regions.
4.2 Strengthening the cohesion with other parts of the European territory
Beyond the strengthening internal cohesion, the Carpathian region is part of the
wider European territory. The European integration process means that for the first
time in the European history, this area is an equal member of the European com-
munity. It means that the more fortunate part of Europe supports the adaptation and
development of the Carpathian countries, but Carpathian countries also have to
contribute to the All-European stability and development. The main challenges and
tasks of the Carpathian regions in this respect are the following:
− One of the most important tasks is to catch up with the more developed coun-
tries of the European Union. For the Carpathian regions, the principal model
is the Alpine area. But this catching up process is important for the whole of
Europe. In the recent years, the growth rate of some Carpathian regions
(mainly in Slovakia) was substantially higher than the EU average, so they
positively contributed to the implementation of Lisbon objectives, to the eco-
nomic dynamics of the EU.
− The catching up process does not mean that the Carpathian region should be
in every respect similar to the Western European models (e.g. to the Alpine
regions). Central Europe and within it the Carpathian region has its own
characteristics, peculiarities which are worth to preserve them. Such things
are the special Carpathian foods and drinks, special culture, folklore, crafts,
Illés, Iván : Strategic Objectives in the Carpathian Region.
In: Visions and Strategies in the Carpathian Area (VASICA)
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2008. 16-22. p. Discussion Papers, Special
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES IN THE CARPATHIAN REGION
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9
city and village structures, specialities of the transport system, land use pecu-
liarities, agricultural practices, and so on. By preserving its peculiarities, the
Carpathian region can contribute to the diversity of the European space.
− The border and bridge function: the Carpathian region is now the most
important part of the EU external border. The EU has now 6631 kilometres
external land borders, and 1884 kilometres, more than one fourth of it can be
found within the Carpathian region. These are the borders of EU member
states to Ukraine and Serbia. These borders, however, are more important
than their quantitative share. Ukraine is the largest state in the whole area,
and the Ukrainian Carpathians are of key importance for Ukraine and for the
whole mountain range as well. It represents 70 percent of the whole Ukrain-
ian wood production and a substantial part of the Carpathian wood produc-
tion as well. Several important rivers of the Carpathian area take their sources
in the Ukrainian Carpathians (San, Bug, Tisa, Prut, Latorica, Uzh). But be-
yond the economic and hydrological importance, the Ukrainian and Serbian
Carpathian regions are of pivotal importance for the whole neighbourhood
policy of the EU. These Carpathian regions are borders, but they are also
bridges to the neighbouring countries. The stability and development of
Ukraine and Serbia are important factors for the stability of the EU as well,
and fruitful cross-border cooperation is an important guarantee of this stabil-
ity.
− In the framework of the EU structural, cohesion and agricultural policies,
Carpathian countries and region enjoy significant support for their econo-
mies. Simultaneously, it is an important income transfer within the EU from
the more affluent countries and regions to the poorer ones. But beneficiary
countries and regions have the political, economic and moral obligation to
utilise these transfers as fully and as efficiently as possible and to prepare for
the period when – due to their dynamic development – they should ensure the
conditions of their economic balance and development without the external
income flows, as soon as possible.
The main actions to implement these objectives are the following:
− the strengthening of transport and communication links between the Carpa-
thian region and the Pan-European transport and communication corridors;
− connecting the Carpathian region with the European waterways
− the inclusion of the mountain tourist tracks into the international structure of
tourist tracks and area, and its active international promotion;
− integrated actions aimed at attracting new economic investment projects,
especially in the field of new technologies;
− the development of information society on the basis of integrated systems of
state-of-the-art telecommunication infrastructure.
Illés, Iván : Strategic Objectives in the Carpathian Region.
In: Visions and Strategies in the Carpathian Area (VASICA)
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2008. 16-22. p. Discussion Papers, Special
20
VISIONS AND STRATEGIES IN THE CARPATHIAN AREA (VASICA)
4.3 Promoting economic growth and job creation in the Carpathian area
Obviously, that is the main objective in the Carpathian area. It has been ranked as
third in the list only because its instruments and measures are of more general
character, not unique to the Carpathian space.
Nevertheless, there are specific “Carpathian” features even of the “growth and
jobs” policy in this region. The most important is the low activity rate. In the Car-
pathian region 50–51 percent of the population between 15 and 64 years is work-
ing, while in EU average, this figure is 64 percent, in some regions more than 70
percent. It means that even if productivity would be equal to EU average (what is
unfortunately not the case), the GDP per head would be 22 percent lower. The first
and most important task is, therefore, to create jobs for a larger part of the popula-
tion. According to experience, large multinational firms contribute substantially to
GDP and exports, but their impact on employment is rather restricted. It means that
these additional jobs must be created by small and medium enterprises. Their sup-
port is therefore vital for the whole Carpathian economy (Table 2).
Table 2
Activity rate of 15–64 population (2004)
NUTS code
Name of the region
PL22
Sląskie
49.5
HU31
Észak-Magyarország (north Hungary)
49.5
HU32
Észak-Alföld (North Plain)
50.2
SK04
Východné Slovensko
51.5
PL33
Świętokrziskie
51.6
PL32
Podkarpackie
52.3
HU33
Dél-Alföld (South Plain)
53.8
RO12
Centrum
54.1
RO22
Sud-Est
54.6
PL21
Małopolskie
55.0
Source: Eurostat.
But even this low employment means over-employment in some Carpathian ar-
eas. The GDP per head indicator is the lowest in the Romanian Nord East region
(23.6 percent of the EU average), but productivity is even lower: GDP per em-
ployed person is 11.6 percent of the EU average. The reason is that half of the
working force is employed in agriculture with very low efficiency. 50 percent agri-
cultural employment is hardly else than latent unemployment.
Illés, Iván : Strategic Objectives in the Carpathian Region.
In: Visions and Strategies in the Carpathian Area (VASICA)
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2008. 16-22. p. Discussion Papers, Special
STRATEGIC OBJECTIVES IN THE CARPATHIAN REGION
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1
Inactivity and latent agricultural unemployment together means that in the next
years 6-7 million jobs should be created in the Carpathian area only to achieve the
present average EU activity rate. The regions with the lowest activity rates are the
following:
4.4 Improved management of the region’s environment
and natural-cultural heritage
The Carpathian region is particularly rich in natural assets. However, the use of
such resources, especially during the last 50 years, has in many cases upset the
balance of nature, and now action is needed to restore it. A concern for the natural
environment improves the quality of spaces, creating better conditions for life and
for businesses. This can be one of the factors generating positive social change, e.g.
reversing depopulation. The cultural heritage is also very rich. Its objects were
accumulated during centuries, and they consist of contributions of several nations,
ethnic and religious groups, some of which do not live in the area any more. Such
mixture of cultures can generate substantial momentum of development, provided
it is properly researched, managed and considered in development policies.
The natural environment of the Carpathian Region is the heritage of the entire
European Community, and so its protection should be a priority task. However
environmental and cultural assets can also form the basis for the development of
certain types of economic activities (e.g. tourism). This is why protection and ac-
tions aimed at restoring the value of environmental and cultural assets can also be
assessed in economic terms, and in the long run can be converted into quantifiable
advantages.
The potential common actions can be the following:
− Common and coordinated care for cross-border natural parks and reserves;
− Implementation of European nature conservation programmes (like green
belts);
− Protection of cross-border rivers against pollution and improvement of water
quality in the catchment basins of rivers, crossing the borders;
− Coordination of actions regarding the use and protection of hydro-geological
structures which cross the borders, including the restoration of hydro-geo-
logical balance in areas with disrupted water systems. Protection of areas
both with underground and with cavern water;
− Cooperation in preparing environmental and strategic impact assessments for
cross border areas;
− Integrated monitoring of air quality;
Illés, Iván : Strategic Objectives in the Carpathian Region.
In: Visions and Strategies in the Carpathian Area (VASICA)
Pécs: Centre for Regional Studies, 2008. 16-22. p. Discussion Papers, Special
22
VISIONS AND STRATEGIES IN THE CARPATHIAN AREA (VASICA)
− Sustainable management of forests in the border areas and increasing the
woodland cover;
− Preparation of studies, assessing the capacity to reclaim and redevelop indus-
trial and degraded land, and preparation of joint reclamation and redevelop-
ment projects;
− Strengthening and conservation of regional architectural traditions;
− Raising of social awareness and education for cultural and natural environ-
mental protection;
− Revitalisation of cultural landscapes in rural areas;
− Promotion of the tourism to industrial heritage places;
− Organisational and technical efforts aimed at protecting cultural heritage.