The study deals with the issue of core–periphery relations in the European Union,
investigating its patterns in relation to the participation of Central and Eastern
European (CEE) member states in European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) programmes
between 2007 and 2020. Core–periphery patterns do exist in the European space, where
besides the North‐Western core (‘Core’), there are two distinct peripheries, CEE and
Southern Europe. The peripheral position is reflected in the weak performance of CEE
in European‐wide RDI networks subsidised by the EU. On the basis of the KEEP database,
the study analyses the signs of core–periphery relations by identifying whether there
is asymmetry in the participation of CEE and Core countries in cooperation projects
under the transnational (INTERREG B) and interregional (INTERREG C) strands (together,
TI) of ETC. The findings of the study show that there is a significant difference
in the forms of involvement of actors from North‐Western Europe and CEE in the TI
programmes. Actors from CEE countries are very motivated to become involved in TI
projects. However, they are significantly underrepresented in lead partner positions,
especially in funding. The study's results suggest that participation activity patterns
are significantly asymmetric in TI programmes, showing signs of a core–periphery dynamic
even in such place‐based, cohesion‐oriented programmes. The consequence is that the
articulation of geographic characteristics, special needs and issues associated with
CEE is limited as they play a rather adaptive and imitating role in those territorial
cooperation programmes that are influential in discourses and policies about territorial
development in the European arena.
