Czech–Polish Cross-Border (Non) Cooperation in the Field of the Labor Market: Why Does It Seem to Be Un-De-Bordered?
Date
2019-05-02
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
MDPI
Abstract
The Czech–Polish border is almost 800 kilometres long. Since 1991, 6 Euroregions and two
European Groupings of Territorial Co-operation (EGTC) were created and have been conducting
cross-border cooperation (CBC) along the entire length of the border. This was probably also the
institutionalisation of cross-border co-operation, what has helped to reach and maintain a high level
of mutual Czech–Polish relations. What can therefore be considered striking or surprising is a rather
low level of cross-border labor mobility between the labor forces of both countries. Authors therefore
attempted to identify projects and initiatives in the field of the cross-border labor market along the
entire border. Research showed that the CBC stakeholders don’t prioritise co-operation in the field of
the labor market, as they don’t see any real cross-border demand. There are some exceptions, driven
mainly by the automotive and mining industries in Czechia attracting a Polish workforce. The main
reason for the relatively low level of Czech–Polish cross-border co-operation in the field of the labor
market is an absence of a major economic engine on either side of the border, rather than any kind of
hostile or re-bordering sentiments in mutual relations between subjects from both countries.
Description
Subject(s)
Czech–Polish cross-border co-operation, labor market, euroregions