The Prešov self-governing region and its international partnerships

The regional self-government was established in Slovakia in 2001. Since then, it has been legally possible to carry out its own international cooperation. The Prešov self-governing region is one of the eight self-governing regions in Slovakia. It carries out various paradiplomatic activities, from establishing relations with foreign partners at various levels, to the highest level of cooperation – partner regions based on a cooperation agreement. The development of international cooperation of the self-governing region was influenced not only by the political situation, but also by national legislation and national government, as well as the geopolitical situation and integration processes, namely the accession of Slovakia and some neighboring countries to the European Union. The European Union is also linked to the European Structural and Investment Funds and other multifaceted support, such as cross-border cooperation, which encourages self-governing regions to cooperate mutually beneficial on a project basis. In terms of geography, the Prešov self-governing region borders with Poland and Ukraine. Therefore, the neighboring regions of these countries should be logical partners for cooperation, in terms of common history, culture, traditions, and the like. Nevertheless, political instability in Ukraine, but especially the Schengen border and differences in the legal and economic system initially hampered the development of functional cooperation with Ukrainian regions. Before and after Slovakia’s accession to the European Union in 2004, the Prešov self-governing region preferred cooperation with regions from European Union countries. Based on the intensity of cooperation in the form of joint projects and financial benefits, we can state that the most intensive cooperation has taken place and is taking place with the Podkarpackie Voivodeship and the Lesser Poland (Małopolskie) Voivodeship in Poland. In addition to pragmatic alliances with the regions of the old member states of the European Union, there are also historical and cultural alliances with the regions of the Czech Republic, Croatia, Serbia and, due to the national and cultural specificity of the northeastern part of the Prešov self-governing region, with Vologda Oblast of the Russian Federation. The article focuses on selected aspects of international cooperation of the Prešov self-governing region and provides a legislative, organizational and management overview of international cooperation of the self-governing region and an overview of partnership cooperation of the Prešov self-governing region.