Meaning of crossborder planning in western Balkan countries

Abstract

The crossborder cooperation takes very important place in integration processes in Europe. Establishing the crossborder regions is one of prerequisites for more efficient cooperation. Many examples prove the whole spectrum of positive effects generated by such cooperations. Based on sound methodological foundations, crossborder spatial planning is the first step towards successful spatial integration and a prerequisites for other forms of cooperation, economic and political in particular. The territory of Serbia is characterized by a large number of border regions with different features and potentials. The Drina area, with its very specific physical social, economic and historic features and above all, with natural resources and potentials, asks for a creative methodology to enable adequate spatial integration of this crossborder region. The paper is elaborating the idea of forming a crossborder region as indispensable for the future, compared with sectorial planning up to date. The example of crossborder region "Drina-Sava-Majevica" offers positive initiatives in functional integrating communes alongside the river Drina.

Keywords

• spatial planning
• crossborder cooperation
• river Drina
• spatial integration