Cross-border cooperation has been known well before the European Union was established. As a consequence, cross-border cooperation became more important and active because it provides substantial financial means. Every third municipality in Slovenia shares a border with one of its four neighbouring country. Local authorities therefore aim to encourage a quality sustainable development of several areas, the most significant being the economic sector, through cross?border cooperation. Because the central authority gives municipalities full autonomy in terms of cross-border cooperation, each municipality is allowed to develop different methods and levels of cooperation with municipalities of the neighbouring country.
The thesis therefore discusses cross-border cooperation of the municipalities of Gornja Radgona and Lendava. The purpose of the thesis is to explore the motives that lay behind the decision of each municipality to engage in cross-border cooperation and determine the most common areas. The theoretical part explains the fundamental notions needed to better understand the topic and further focuses on the presentation of the two municipalities. The main part of the thesis presents a case study of cross-border cooperation between the municipalities of Gornja Radgona and Lendava with municipalities of their neighbouring countries, i.e. Austria, Croatia, and Hungary.
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