PROBLEMS OF CROSS-BORDER REGIONAL-INTEGRATION - THE CASE OF THE GERMAN-POLISH BORDER AREA

in the framework of European integration there is a growing interest i n the development of border regions in East Central Europe. This artic le deals with the problems of regional integration in the German-Polis h border region, following an approach that emphasizes the regions' ec onomic organization, institutional fabric and sociocultural environmen t. New economic links between Western European and East-Central Europe an firms do not necessarily lead to a revaluation of the border region or to the formation of transborder integrated economic regions. Inste ad, there is a tendency towards the development of new economic links which overlook the border region. Up to now, cooperation between regio nal firms is weak within the border region. The region's sociocultural environment in terms of a 'low trust environment' and a specifically shaped social distance between the neighbouring regions are a further hindrance to regional integration. These findings are being related to strategic options of regional development policy in the border region .