The Rostov agglomeration: integration development priorities

The form of interregional and cross-border cooperation is currently of the highest priority in the development of economic relations between the countries, especially if the issue concerns the formation of subnational entities such as the European Union (EU) or the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU). Over the whole period of its existence, the EU has practiced the usage of cross-border communications in the form of euroregions which consolidate border towns, municipal units and regions. The EEU as a brand new integration project is interested in different forms of interregional communications. In particular, it already uses the euroregions which have proven themselves valuable in the EU, together with the post-Soviet countries. However, given the economic ties which have existed since the times of the Russian Empire and the USSR in the border zone of the countries of the EEU and the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a special role in building integration relations is given to urban agglomerations. They do not only act as major economic centers, but also intensify inter-state spheres of cooperation. Against the background of the increased urbanization of the Russian-Ukrainian border zone and the Donetsk and Luhansk People’s republics formed as a result of the pro-Russian unrest in Ukraine (“Russian Spring”), the review of this very agglomerate is of particular interest to the researchers. In 2010, as part of the expansion of cross-border cooperation between Russia and Ukraine, the “Donbass” euroregion was established, which, being a member of the Association of European Border Regions, still remains important despite the unwillingness of Kiev authorities to develop its capacity. The development of borderland agglomerate liaisons was also part of the activity of the euroregion under consideration. Their major center is the Rostov agglomeration which is the focus of the study. In order to consider the capacity of the region, the study uses an interdisciplinary approach, which includes the method of historicism, SWOT-analysis, the comparative method. The author will further provide discussion papers on the development of the Rostov agglomeration.