ABSTRACT
The character and function of the borders in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) have changed dramatically since the demise of the Cold War. The institutionalization of these borders has become many-layered and has introduced CEE to the multi-level governance but also to the bureaucracy, which is part of European politics. In Poland's case, the delivery of European policies via the Euroregions has certainly provided a new strategic space, and any instability caused by inter-territoriality should be mitigated by the benefits provided by project-led development. Expensive visas will certainly kill off the cooperation so painstakingly built up with the eastern neighbours over the 1990s. The re-emergence of national borders in the region brought on the one hand a sense of freedom, a sense of place and ownership, which had been missing for half a century. The structured environment provided by the different levels of governance in cross-border cooperation in Europe today can be considered helpful, therefore, to participating actors.
