Euroregions in the Podrinje region

Abstract

Regionalization is a contemporary conception of a development within a society. We are interested in cooperation at regions whose area is intersected by the national border. One of those borders is the Drina River that in different periods had changeable role of connecting or separating. In this way we want to stress the necessity of making a stronger, functional connection and developing of overall process of integration in the Podrinje region, on a land between the two republics-Serbia and the Republic of Srpska, because we think that this area has the most reasons for that, but so far it has been done very little. The first attempts to form Euroregions in Lower Podrinje region have already started, but it lacks many activities for this area to receive a cross-border role that it deserves

The role of Euroregions as a factor of spatial integration and regional development-the focus on the selected border area

“…The attractiveness of the state border of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, which, has been a highly conflicting area throughout history and the area along which "water" Euroregions were formed during the 20th century, is the subject of modern scientific research. Stepić (1995), Stojkov and Đorđević (2004), Todorović et al (2004), Tošić and Todorović (2008) and Popović (2015) emphasize the importance and role of the formed Euroregions in the regional and Euroregional development of this area. Although rarely represented, cross-border tourism development programs represent an opportunity for economic development of the border area (Marković, 2020;Nezirović, Bidžan-Gekić, Avdić, & Gekić, 2016;Vuković, Cecić, & Arsić, 2011).…”

Attitudes of the Local Population in Border Municipalities on Development of Sport-Event Tourism

“…The main idea of the concept of the "Euroregion," as a form of transregional connection of the European countries cross-border regions, is oriented on promotion of the common interests and living standards of the local population (Nađ et al, 2005). The process of normalization and improvement of the interstate relations between the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as the transformation of Podrinje from the border region into the central zone of intensive development , started with the formation of the Euroregion "Drina-Sava-Majevica" (Todorović & Tošić, 2006;Tošić & Todorović, 2008).…”

“…Podrinje is a region of extraordinary natural resources, but is still economically underdeveloped, mainly because of its position, but also due to its constant historical exposure to wars and destructions. Tourism resources within the area of Podrinje represent a good basis for further development of the economy on both sides of the river (Tošić & Todorović, 2008). 1 So far, sport-event "Drinska regatta" was mainly researched as a part of the tourism offer of certain municipalities of Podrinje.…”

“…These events, as a selective tourism forms, attract a large number of participants and observers from all over the world. The organization of such events contributes not only to socioeconomic development of destination but also to the creation of a destination image in a competitive tourism market (Tošić & Todorović, 2008).…”

“…With the disintegration of former Yugoslavia, Drina, became a cross-border river and the state border between the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, separating Podrinje on eastern (Serbian) and western (Bosnian-Herzegovinian) part (Stepić, 1995). Today, integration processes between the Republic of Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina contributes not only to normalization and restoration of cross-border relations but also to the socioeconomic development of the entire cross-border region (Petrović, 2009;Tošić & Todorović, 2008). For further development of Podrinje region, stabilization of relations between the border states and cooperation in the area of the lower course of the Drina River, the Euroregion "Drina-Sava-Majevica" was formed (Todorović et al, 2004;Tošić & Živanović, 2013).…”