Challenges of Interregional Cooperation in the Eastern Partnership Count

Abstract

The paper examines the implementation of the multilevel governance approach in the Eastern Partnership (EAP) countries. The local and regional administrative reforms must be supported by a continuous exchange of experience, so that the ‘good practices’ of the local and regional EU authorities can be adopted. The study provides a practical analysis of the local and regional authorities’competences in the field of the Eastern Partnership and INTERREG IVC projects. The research explores the basis for focused policy recommendations.
The paper presents the legal framework of the financial and technical assistance, which is the precondition for progressive economic integration and deeper political cooperation. Experience and ‘good practices’ from EU Member States present evidence that the EaP countries can benefit from interregional cooperation programmes because these types of cooperation support the basic conditions for improving the regions’ competitiveness, help to reinforce the business and investment environment and contribute to improving capacity building, innovation and research.