Euroregions of the Eastern Borderland of Poland – What Can They Aim at in the Current Geopolitical Conditions (Development, Stagnation, Twilight of Functioning)?

Abstract

Goal – the problem presentation of the evolution of the functioning of the Euroregions located in the eastern borderlands of Poland has been examined in the context of the objectives of the EU’s eastern policy. Research methodology – the study is based on an analysis of documents (founding acts, statutes, activity reports and others) of the Euroregions (Neman, Białowieża Forest, Bug and Carpathian) and the scope of their financial support from the EU funds. Score/results – alongside the positive elements, the reservations in their functioning arising from the economic and political crisis phenomena occurring since 2008 are pointed out. Recent events, related to the hybrid war on the Polish-Belarusian border and Russia’s aggression against Ukraine, have prompted a deeper reflection on their future. The results of this analysis, applied to the latest developments, allow us to argue that there may be a further acceleration of the process of the already ongoing curtailment of the statutory activities of most (apart from the Carpathian) of the Euroregions under investigation. The distant future may lead to the disappearance of the activities of some of them (especially the Neman and Bug Euroregions) without excluding the possibility of their disappearance. Originality/value – the article raises the important and timely issue of the functioning of Euroregions.