European Values e-Journal

The Resilience of the Hungary–Serbia Border Region’s Economy during and after the COVID-19 Pandemic

Pál Szabó — 2025-12-19

The aim of this study is to analyze the economic changes that occurred in the Hungarian–Serbian border region during the COVID-19 pandemic and to evaluate the resilience of this region. The border, currently functioning as the external Schengen frontier of the European Union, is subject to strict controls; nevertheless, the two sides remain closely interconnected through a range of social and economic relations. For the purpose of examining resilience empirically, the region was delineated at the NUTS 3 level, encompassing two Hungarian counties and three Serbian districts. The analysis focuses on GDP and employment data (from Eurostat). Both sides of the border were affected by the pandemic and subsequent austerity measures. While the region as a whole demonstrates resilience in terms of GDP, as evidenced by a return to growth, employment patterns reveal more heterogeneous trajectories: some counties and districts exhibit resilience, whereas others show signs of relapse or persistent dysfunction.

Challenges of Consolidation and Institutionalisation of Cross-border Cooperation in the Hungarian–Romanian–Serbian border region

Edit Soós — 2025-12-19

This paper investigates the role of the Danube-Kris-Mureș-Tisa Euroregion and the Banat-Triplex Confinium European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation in the institutionalisation of the tri-border region of Hungary, Romania, and Serbia. From a rationalist perspective, the advantages of the EGTC mechanism primarily derive from its legal and institutional characteristics. There is an increasingly compelling argument for conceptualising the EGTC as a political instrument capable of structuring cross-border cooperation, particularly in peripheral external border regions. This paper examines practical solutions to overcome the legal and administrative obstacles preventing Serbian local and regional authorities from attaining full membership in an EGTC. This analysis is conducted through a multi-perspective analytical framework, incorporating thematic interviews and a systematic review of relevant legislation and regulations. The principal challenges identified as hindering the institutionalisation of the EGTC in the tri-border region include delayed legislative reforms, and a lack of political commitment.

Development of border areas after EU accession, with a special focus on the Serbian-Hungarian border region

Tibor László Buskó — 2025-12-19

Research based on the theory of centre-periphery relations tends to view border regions as peripheries. In this view, distance from the centre and subordination to the centre result in unfavourable development indicators. However, observations on border regions complicate this picture in many respects. Following the opening up of borders, for example in Europe, interactions with neighbouring border regions can be interpreted as capital that enables these border contact zones, which are perceived as peripheral, to develop. The paper seeks to reinforce this basic assumption through a brief empirical investigation of the Serbian-Hungarian border region. This investigation used principal component analysis, one of the most widespread statistical data reduction methods, to describe development trends in small regions/districts on the Hungarian side of the Serbian–Hungarian border zone between 2004 and 2023. The results are thought-provoking in several respects. On the one hand, the investigation demonstrates that the development trends of the small districts in question largely followed the intensity of relations maintained with neighbouring border region during the review period, thus confirming our basic assumption. Between 2013 and 2023, a period characterised by intensive growth in cross-border traffic, four of the five districts in this area moved into a higher development category, surpassing similar Hungarian districts not located in border areas. However, it has been also pointed out that these positive results cannot be generalised to all of Hungary's border small regions/districts. The latter's results usually lag behind those of Hungarian districts not located in border areas. In other words, it would be a mistake to overstate the importance of border location. The potential inherent in interactions with neighbouring border regions can only be optimally exploited through the appropriate application of local and higher-level (EU and member state) development policies.

Bridging borders in practice

Teodor Gyelnik — 2025-12-19

Cross-border cooperation has emerged as a key area of interest for both policymakers and scholars in the context of growing regional interdependence, European integration and shifting border dynamics in Europe. This research paper investigates the Hungarian and Serbian border area as a distinctive geopolitical interface where the European Union structures converge with non-EU territories, namely Serbia, thus offering a valuable space for analysing regional governance models, institutional cooperation, cross-border strategic planning and implementation. This research draws on secondary data analysis and expert interviews conducted in a semi-structured format to research the legal frameworks, institutional arrangements and policy mechanisms underpinning these platforms, while also identifying the processes of implementation and practical barriers, too. Subsequently, the research examines two major institutional platforms that operate along the Hungarian, Serbian and Romanian frontier. One is the Euroregion Danube-Kriş-Mureş-Tisa (Euroregion DKMT), while the other one is the Banat-Triplex Confinium European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (BTC EGTC). These platforms represent key efforts to formalise and operationalise cross-border cooperation in a historically fragmented region. While the DKMT provides a profound coordination framework across three territories, the BTC EGTC focuses on programme delivery at the municipal level within the EGTC format. However, some constraints limit their performance, like the lack of EGTC-enabling legislation in Serbia, Schengen-related border frictions and administrative fragmentation among the cooperating members.

The impact of the Schengen Agreement on the border region between the Republic of Serbia and Hungary

János Gyula Pulics — 2025-12-19

Many studies and articles have been published on the European Union and the Schengen Agreement. I have also examined the impact and message of the Schengen Agreement today in a short treatise, which is currently in the process of being published. The two topics – the European Union and the Schengen Agreement – are so multifaceted and constantly evolving that it is necessary to continue to examine their impact and future in greater depth. In this study, in addition to a brief description of the accession status of the Republic of Serbia, I present the possible impact of the Schengen ideas on the Serbian-Hungarian border region. With a background in border guarding and border policing, it is natural to also touch upon the rules of border crossing and activities related to border control. In my opinion, the enlargement of the European Union and the completion of the Schengen ideas will be a significant step forward for Serbia and the Western Balkans, and the current population of approximately 450 million will be able to enjoy the benefits on an economic, cultural, and social level.
Concepts such as "overtourism" have emerged, against which certain European Union countries – Greece, Italy – are taking action with extra taxes and restrictions in order to protect their famous islands, cultural heritage, and local populations. However, in this corner of Europe, alongside economic recovery – the establishment of factories and the importation of labour – a significant boom in tourism is also expected as a result of the Republic of Serbia's accession to the European Union and the subsequent abolition of border controls under the Schengen rules.
In the study, I also present the establishment of the European Communities, the objectives of the European Union and its relationship with third countries outside the Union, focusing on the process of the Republic of Serbia's accession to the European Union. I describe in detail the purpose of the Schengen Agreement, its effects on the control of external and internal borders, and the fulfilment of civil freedoms in a borderless Europe.
I have been a professional border guard since 1993, then, following the integration of the Hungarian Border Guard into the national police force, I serving in the field of border policing, and I am currently a master lecturer at the Ludovika University of Public Service. For nearly 15 years, I have been working as a Schengen evaluator dealing with the Schengen Agreement and the Schengen Borders Code, as well as the related legislation, and have carried out such evaluations on numerous occasions along almost the entire external border of the Schengen member states.

Legal Framework for Cross-border Cooperation along the EU’s External Borders in the Western Balkans

Zsuzsanna Fejes — 2025-12-19

Since the last enlargements of the European Union, the importance of European territorial cooperation along the external borders of the EU has increased. The horizontal dimension of European territorial cooperation and cohesion is receiving greater emphasis, and new governance methods are being developed to ensure a coherent framework for interregional, transnational and cross-border cooperation. However, in the last few years, the most recent crises have resulted in more stringent border management procedures, and a securitisation discourse has emerged as a dominant narrative, replacing collaboration. This study examines the legal framework for cross-border territorial cooperation along the EU's external borders in the Western Balkans, paying particular attention to the Hungarian–Serbian border. After providing an overview of the legal framework for cross-border cooperation, the paper analyses how the Council of Europe and the European Union can support the preconditions for institutionalised forms of cross-border cooperation, such as Euroregions and European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs), as well as the involvement of border authorities in such cooperation in Serbia. Finally, it summarises legal alternatives and possible responses to increase the efficiency of cross-border territorial cooperation in the Western Balkans, focusing especially on the Hungarian–Serbian border.