CENTROPE Initiative – Lessons Learned and Inspirations for the Western Balkans

Annual Review of Territorial Governance in the Western Balkans, II, 2020, 150-167 Journal Maroš Finka, Milan Husár, and Matej Jaššo Summary European integration is a long-lasting and multi-layered process with different dynamics in particular parts of Europe. Important parts of these processes are cross-national, territorial cooperation initiatives at the meso-regional level, where several lessons for integration can be found and used for inspiration and transfer of experience. The last decade

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Economic Viability of Alternatives for Lignite-free Electricity Production in North Macedonia: The Case of TTP Oslomej

Annual Review of Territorial Governance in the Western Balkans, II, 2020, 140-149 Journal Vesna Garvanlieva Andonova, Marjan Nikolov Summary The Republic of North Macedonia (RNM) is undergoing a complex process of integration into the European Union (EU) including the alignment of environmental protection policies, which is one of the most challenging and cumbersome sectors. After signing the relevant international agreements and increasing awareness about the damage that fuel (lignite, coal)

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Transboundary Water Management in the Western Balkans: Challenges of the Land-Water Nexus in the Drin River Basin

Annual Review of Territorial Governance in the Western Balkans, II, 2020, 118-139 Journal Francesca Vanelli, Besmira Dyca, Paul Rabé Summary Water basins experience huge pressure from urban growth, tourism, energy, and food demands, exacerbated by the pressing challenges of climate change. The competition for limited resources calls for efforts from riparian countries to define criteria for transboundary water management (TWM) to contribute to resilient environments. This paper explores the efficacy

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Socio-economic Effects of COVID-19 in Bulgaria: A Spatial Analysis

Annual Review of Territorial Governance in the Western Balkans, II, 2020, 96-117 Journal Hristo Dokov, Kalina Milkova, Ivaylo Stamenkov Summary This paper studies the socio-economic effects of COVID-19 in Bulgaria to uncover their multidimensional forms and provide a broad picture and empirical evidence of the inflicted changes. Based on available information and data as of the end of August 2020, the paper aims to uncover the key factors that drive

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Municipal Finances in the COVID-19 Context: The Case of Gazi Baba and Shkodër Municipalities

Annual Review of Territorial Governance in the Western Balkans, II, 2020, 73-95 Journal Merita Toska, Marjan Nikolov, Vesna Garvanlieva Andonova, Sasho Trajkov Summary The COVID-19 pandemic challenged governments of all levels, all around the world, requiring an immediate response. The Governments of Albania and North Macedonia, intervened with support packages aimed at mitigating the negative effects of the health emergency, which soon transformed into a socio-economic crisis. In both neighbouring

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Universities and Socio-cultural Institutions in Highly Uncertain Contexts: Challenges and Opportunities during COVID-19 in three Western Balkan Countries

Annual Review of Territorial Governance in the Western Balkans, II, 2020, 61-72 Journal Ledio Allkja, Esmerina Hidri Summary The spread of the COVID-19 pandemic has posed serious challenges to the territorial governance of social services across the globe, as well as in the Western Balkans (WB). SARS-CoV-2, being a virus that primarily attacks the respiratory system and spreads through breathing or close contact has required governments to apply strong policies

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Tourism in Transition, the Post COVID-19 Aftermath in the Western Balkans

Annual Review of Territorial Governance in the Western Balkans, II, 2020, 46-60 Journal Peter Nientied, Dritan Shutina Summary The purpose of this article is to make a case for a transition in post-COVID-19 Western Balkan (WB) tourism away from ‘back to tourism business as it was’ recovery thinking. The COVID-19 crisis is unique; unlike other disasters it is global and not local or regional, and it is leading to a

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Tourism Development in the Western Balkans: Towards a Common Policy

Annual Review of Territorial Governance in the Western Balkans, II, 2020, 24-45 Journal Enrico Porfido Summary Tourism is one of the fastest-growing sectors of the global economy. Most countries are relying on it for their economic growth, including Western Balkan countries, which are investing in tourism and considering it as key-sector for their development. In the last decade, several initiatives have been undertaken by national governments, such as reviews of

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