Paper Titles & Abstracts

The aim of this paper is to provide an overview of macro-regional approaches in the framework of the recent debate regarding the EU budget 2014-2020. The pilot experience of the Baltic Sea Strategy (BSS) opened doors to new opportunities of spatial development and cooperation. This research will examine and compare two case-studies: the case of the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region and the Danube Strategy. The emerging macro-regional strategies in the Danube and Baltic regions have threatened the balance between the Eastern and Southern dimensions of the EU. In addition, Italy has started to play a decisive role in the process of elaborating the new macro-regional strategy in the Mediterranean.In my paper firstly I describe the background of the macro-regional approaches, wherein I focus on the reasons of elaborating this new approach. Secondly in order to carry out my analysis I give an introduction to the debate regarding the EU budget 2014-2020 and the macro-regional approaches, and finally I analyse the two cases (Adriatic-Ionian macro-region and the Danube Strategy).The pilot strategy of the Baltic Sea Region is the first experience of macro-regions. The integrated strategy of macro-regions has inspired similar approaches in the Danube region, in the North Sea-English Channel region, in the Adriatic and Ionian, and the Atlantic Arc, even in the whole Mediterranean basin. This conception will be incorporated in the new post-2013 cohesion policy.