Tomasz Komornicki - Böcker

The strengthening of relations between Poland and Ukraine over the last 25 years is one of the most positive examples of transformations in bilateral relations in Central and Eastern Europe. In spite of the complex and difficult historical heritage dominated by the events of the World War II and the first few years that followed, after the fall of Communism in Poland and Ukraine, bilateral institutional cooperation was successfully undertaken, and mutual social contacts were recreated.The issue of Polish-Ukrainian relations at the international and trans-border level gained particular importance at the moment of expansion of the European Union to the east, and announcement of the assumptions of the European Neighbourhood Policy in 2004. Since then, relations have continued to thrive and provide a blueprint for cross-border relations in other parts of the EU. In this book the authors examine the issue of cooperation and cross-border relations on the new external border of the EU. The book’s primary objective is to present the way in which the Polish and Ukrainian parties develop the bilateral cooperation, adapting to the changing geopolitical conditions, and responding to the related challenges. The chapters offer a comprehensive diagnosis of the conditions determining the current and future state of Polish-Ukrainian cross-border cooperation and describe the area as a social, economic, and political space.The EU’s New Borderland will be of interest to university students of international relations, geography, economy, or history as well as those willing to expand their knowledge in the scope of regional geography, European integration, cross-border cooperation, and international relations.

This book examines how cross-border mobility across the eastern border of Poland with Russia, Belarus and Ukraine, driven by external shocks, influences different territorial units.It offers a new understanding of the determinants, dynamics, spatial distribution and impact on such mobility in times of upheaval and uncertainty. It provides answers to the following questions: how do the different types of flows of people evolve under various external shocks?; to what extent is cross-border mobility resilient to these shocks in terms of the intensity of flows, their volume and the directions of linkages?; how do rapid and unexpected changes in cross-border mobility affect the performance of national, regional and local social and economic systems?; and to what extent and how does cross-border mobility as triggered by external shocks reinforce, deepen or alter existing spatial regularities and differentiations? Referring to current events such as the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, the book presents evidence of their implications on cross-border mobility, illuminating policy responses with a view to potential future crises. Further, it draws attention to the territorial aspects of changes in the patterns of cross-border population flows that provide a rationale for the territorialisation of relevant policies.Due to its interdisciplinary character, including issues in the scope of regional economics, human geography and international relations, the book is a timely, valid and unique publication, which will appeal to a broad group of specialists: scholars, researchers and policymakers, as well as decision-makers interested in the socio-economic and political situation in Central and Eastern Europe, particularly on the external border of the European Union.