Local needs and perceived peripheralization: Investigating the potential of cross-border public services in the Bavarian-Czech border region from the perspective of local residents

Abstract

The Territorial Agenda 2030 not only considers adequate access to public services as a fundamental element of territorial cohesion, but also highlights cross-border cooperation as an important approach to pursue this goal. In doing so, it draws on Article 174 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU), which identifies the need to specifically address “severe and permanent natural or demographic handicaps” in some European border regions. In fact, several examples underline the relevance of cross-border public services (CPS) in practice. Yet, a systematic provision of these services in Europe is still missing. Financial constraints and administrative differences are generally seen as the main obstacles to the successful implementation of the respective approaches. In the academic debate, however, less attention is usually paid to the needs and attitudes of the people potentially affected. The article presented here takes up this observation and refers to so-called cross-border central places (CBCPs) as an empirical example. In particular, these are three neighbouring pairs of municipalities in the Bavarian-Czech border region that hold this status in Bavarian federal state planning. Its conceptual peculiarities will be dealt with here only to the extent necessary. Rather, the aim is to examine opportunities and challenges for joint provision of CPS from the perspective of community residents. Semi-structured interviews conducted in 2022 serve as the empirical basis. The results point to a fine line between the non-perception of cross-border public services as an opportunity, their profound potential for local needs and the feeling of being left behind.