As part of the established collaboration between LNTU and Maria Curie-Skłodowska University in Lublin (UMCS), a guest lecture was held on February 21, 2024, by the renowned Polish regional scientist, head of the Department of Economic and Regional Policy at UMCS, prof. Dr hab. Andrzej Miszczuk. The lecture was titled "The Transformation of Cross-Border Cooperation Conditions in the Process of European Integration."
The lecture was attended by students from various academic levels—bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral—of the Department of Economics at LNTU, specialising in the 051 Economics program. Participants included students and faculty from Donetsk National Technical University, researchers, and postgraduate students from the "Institute for Demography and Social Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine" and the "Institute of Industrial Economics of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine."
During the lecture, the role of national borders as a foundation for cross-border cooperation, changes in border functions, the process of European integration, and the impacts of border openings on frontier regions were discussed.
Various criteria for typifying cross-border regions and establishing the foundations for cross-border cooperation were presented. The main directions of contemporary research in cross-border economics were also detailed.
Today's world without borders is increasingly perceived as the free movement of goods and capital but not of people. Since 1989 (the fall of the Berlin Wall), at least 63 border structures of this type have been built, primarily in response to migration crises. In 2015 alone, 14 border walls were constructed, with the majority being built in Asia, Europe, and Africa.
Ukraine is also currently constructing protective barriers along the border with Belarus, and in the future, similar walls might be built along the border with the aggressor.
The role of cities in cross-border cooperation was examined, with numerous examples of how cities worldwide serve as hubs for fostering intercultural, economic, and social connections between neighbouring countries and their residents. Different forms of international integration groups were also highlighted.
The most unique example, due to the highest level of economic and political integration, is the European Union—27 countries with a total area of 4 million km², 447.7 million people, and 24 official languages. The EU economy accounts for 18.6% of the global GDP (compared to 24.0% for the USA and 15.9% for China).
The lecture addressed specific aspects of cross-border cooperation, including environmental and spatial planning, transportation and communication, public safety, economy and employment, tourism, education, and culture.
Attention was also paid to some unresolved issues in EU cross-border cooperation: diverse administrative structures and their competencies, varying tax legislation, social and medical insurance systems, spatial planning regulations, environmental protection laws, transportation systems that fail to meet cross-border needs, as well as biases and stereotypes in neighbourly perceptions (particularly in the new EU member states).
The materials and additional literature shared during the guest lecture will be distributed among students as part of professional academic courses. Faculty members will also utilise these insights to enhance the content of educational programs at all levels of higher education in the 051 Economics specialty at LNTU, including:
Bachelor’s level: “International Economics”
Master’s level: “Cross-Border Economics” and “International Project Management”
Doctoral level: “Economics and Management of Socio-Ecological-Economic Systems” and others.
We express our gratitude to Prof. Dr. Hab. Andrzej Miszczuk for this insightful, comprehensive, and relevant lecture and his support of Ukraine and its people during this challenging wartime period.
