IS CZECH PARADIPLOMACY (ALSO) EUROSCEPTICAL: EXAMPLE FROM MORAVIAN-SILESIAN REGION?

摘要

The article discusses paradiplomatic activities of Moravia-Silesia in Czechia. The region, former seat of heavy industry, has hugely benefitted from the EU membership, which has helped to mitigate the consequences of economic restructuring. Yet the locals tend to have even more Eurosceptical opinions than the rest of Czechia. Research showed that the region has most intensive co-operation with its Polish and Slovak neighbours and the EU funds have an important role in it. The co-operation with other European partners has been driven mainly by the need to get an inspiration for economic development and restructuring and what should be the role of European instruments in it. The economic co-operation is also the leading motive of partnerships with non-European regions, including the Chinese ones, which currently focus major attention on co-operating with the east of the EU, using it as their entrance to the single market.