EXLINEA Field work findings

1
EXLINEAField work findings

• Warsaw, EUROREG
• 5-7 November 2004

2
Polish- Ukrainian (and Belarusian) transborder
regionArea eligible to Neighbourhood Program
3
Field studies areas

• POLAND
• 1. Tomaszów Lubelski Zamosc
• 2. Przemysl -Jaroslaw
• 3. Lublin and Rzeszów (capitals of regions)
• UKRAINE
• 1. Jaworów Zólkiew -Sokal
• 2. Lviv (capital of region)

4
Field studies activities

• Standardized questionnaires
• In-depth interviews
• Entrepreneurs questionnaires
• Hotels questionnaires
• Bazaars/markets questionnaires

5
Standardized questionnaires

• 29 questionnaires in Poland
• 26 questionnaires in Ukraine

6
In-depth interviews

• 49 interviews (31 polish side and 18 Ukrainian
  side of the transborder region)
• 2/3 with the actors on the local level
• Actors
• -self-governments representatives
• -business and economic institutions and
  associations (like regional chamber of
  commerce)
• -regional development agencies and
  associations
• -culture, tourist, research institutions
• -local mass-media representatives

7
In-depth interviewsI. Regional and local problems

• Unemployment (restructurisation of industriy)
• Lack of capital
• Poor infrastructure (special border crossings)
• Agriculture (small not-productive oriented farms)
• Instability of law
• Environmental problems
• Poor society
• Illigal migrants

8
In-depth interviewsI. Regional and local
problems

• 1. Ukrainians concentrate more on the social
  situation of the citizens, whereas Poles on
  economic problems and handicaps
• Present problems of Ukrainian side are similar to
  the Polish at the beginning of the transition
  period
• 3. National problems similar to regional

9
In-depth interviewsII. CBC in the regional
context

• Desirable field of intervention
• Border crossings
• Nature protection and prevention of ground and
  water pollution
• Agriculture
• Tourism
• Cultural exchange

10
In-depth interviewsII. CBC in the regional
context

• 1. Ukrainians perceive CBC as a way to change
  peoples attitude toward Europe and EU mechanisms
  and borders
• 2. Ukrainians usually listed many areas of
  intervention whereas Poles only one or two
• 3.Hovewer,in general these areas are the same

11
In-depth interviewsII. CBC in the regional
context

• Actors
• State administration on the Ukrainian side
• Local authorities
• NGOs
• Self governments
• Entrepreneurs and business institutions
• Self governmental associations
• Other institutions like schools, fire brigades
  which cooperate on a small scale

12
In-depth interviewsII. CBC in the regional
context

• Lack of experience and tradition in co-operation
  institutions are new
• Ukraine more centralized state administration
  is responsible for decisions, however local
  representatives more interested in CBC
• 3. Self-governments on Polish side started the
  cooperation (even if only symbolic)

13
In-depth interviewsII. CBC in the regional
context

• Reasons for staring co-operation have economic
  base (including differences in level of prices
  and salaries)
• Co-operation is perceive as a natural because of
  the geographical proximity of regions
• Possibility to obtain extra funds
• For Ukrainian gaining the experience and new
  technologies, knowledge, standards etc.
• Common history, culture, families ties underline
  by Ukrainians

14
In-depth interviewsIII. Perception

• BORDER DIVIDES !
• But it doesnt mean negative attitude towards
  borderline

15
In-depth interviewsIII. Perception

• Border is necessary to stress state independence
  and preserve security (Ukrainians)
• Border gives a chance for making good business
  (Poles)
• Border as a bridge willingly but in the future
  (Poles)
• Nowadays - Border as a main obstacle in CBC
  (Poles and Ukrainians)

16
In-depth interviewsIII. Perception

• Visa regime is a necessity in opinion of
  Ukrainians and most of them understand and accept
  it and get used to
• Without visas was easier but dont want the total
  openness of the border

17
In-depth interviewsIII. Perception

• Mixed feelings about visas in Polish side of the
  region
• visas make the border more civilized and
  safer
• visas was our obligation
• visas are not a problem for business
  partners
• -visas affected the poorest people who sell
  and buy products on markets less people on
  markets
• -decrease of incomes for local small
  entrepreneurs

18
In-depth interviewsIII. Perception

• 1. Polish opinions about Ukrainians and Ukraine
  are more differentiated than Ukrainians about
  Poles and Poland
• Poles appreciate the huge progress in development
  of Ukraine in last years, special in lat 2-3
  years and treat Ukrainians as good students
• Hoverer they are more devoted to centralization
  and structures
• Different attitude towards business lack of
  long term perspectives and plans
• Lack of trust, especial in business
• 2. Ukrainians treats Poland as a rich country
  with stable and organize structure, low and
  situation which belongs to western civilization
• Appreciate Polish strategic partnerships and
  efforts on the European forum to include Ukraine
  into European policy

19
In-depth interviewsIII. Perception

• No transborder identification, despite the long
  common history

20
In-depth interviewsIV. Practices

• Co-operation on a small scale mainly soft
  projects
• Hard projects development of border crossing
  point in Rawa Ruska (TACIS) and establish of
  Local Agencies of Development in Javoriv (TACIS)
• Ecological development of the former sulphur
  basin (Jaroslaw and Javoriv)
• Cultural events Galicia festival and
  Roztocze festival
• Establish of institute Mosty na Wschód

21
In-depth interviewsIV. Practices

• BARIERS OF CO-OPERATION -UKRAINIAS
• -Lack or often changes in law in Ukraine
• -Bad climate for investors in Ukraine
• -Lack of funds
• -Differencies in procedures on both side of the
  border
• -Border crossing points
• -Lack of educated staff and organizations dealing
  with CBC in Ukraine
• -Differences between political systems
• -Corruption

22
In-depth interviewsIV. Practices

• BARIERS OF CO-OPERATION POLES
• -Border crossing
• -Instable law in Ukraine
• -Lack of local leaders
• -Lack of strategic thinking
• -Feeling of unsafe
• -Differences in attitude toward business
• -

23
In-depth interviewsV. CBC policies

• General feeling that there are no special
  policies toward border regions and CBC
  co-operation on both side of border
• Regional and local level seems to be mostly
  involved in initiating CBC activities. Nobody
  mention national level.
• Main source of funds on CBC project is EU, but
  general opinion that the funds are not enough to
  the needs