Competition and cooperation of the cities of a two-centered Euroregion
Bálint Kádár – Judit Rab
Cooperation, network of cities, euroregion, urban development, hard and soft infrastructure, architectural heritage
The first chapter of the study is revealing the physical prints of the difference and sameness of the two cities. Our goal was to highlight the architectural and historical elements strengthening the cities' unique identities, and we strongly suggest to continue these characteristics in the future while forming the strategy of city development.
Today, the two city has mainly the same character and the same size, and their architectural settings are very similar as well. Both origin in medieval times, Oradea had a much urban early history, developed around the basilica where saint kings were buried and around an important fortress, the only surviving testimony of the rich medieval and renaissance times the city had. Debrecen grew only because of its economy and its self-conscious cívis citizens, despite its size, it had no remarkable constructions before the modern ages. The architectural heritage of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy is the dominant in both cities, the similarly important buildings of the romanticism, eclecticism and secession are the main attractions. The new space structure and architecture of the socialist era -residential estates, industrial zones, cultural centers- are very strong features, and that has not been changed yet by the last to decades' initiatives. We can talk about a change of image only in case of Debrecen. Though the two city give a similar city-impression, the important differences between the development of Debrecen and Oradea influence their character even today, and are a good starting point for strengthening the own identity of the two competitive and cooperative city.
In the second chapter we analyze the regional connections of the settlements through the history of the territory. We analyze the position of the two cities in the European city network, the administrative, economic and political role of the cities, the time when they were in the center of the territory and when they have got into a peripheral position. The evolution of the territory's city network was strongly marked by the 20th century: first by the early industrial development, then the Trianon treaty breaking up the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy and completely changing the frontiers, the socialist dictatorships bringing massive industrialization and urbanization, the new democratic political systems introducing local governments. The network of middle-sized cities has strengthened by the end of the century, but besides the two capitals, we can not find any relevant big city in European terms. In the 21st century, the act of joining the European Union has created the much needed boundary conditions for that the network of the late Bihar county could restructure itself with Debrecen and Oradea in the center.
The third chapter is about the mapping of the joint field of force of the two city. The two-centered region created by the cooperation of Debrecen and Oradea can become a new center of a European region and can finally mark his place on the European city-region map. Unfolding the differences and similarities of the development of the two cities only 60 km away can show us what are the key sectors of joint developments and what are the major steps to achieve an effective cooperation.
The success of the countries situated in the peripheral zone of the European Union depends on whether they are capable to make the political, economic, city-network and urban development decisions that would create a similar border-crossing zone of concentrated knowledge-based industry and human resource that we can find in the Heart of western Europe, from Amsterdam all the way down to Milan. The concept of a multi-centered, versatile, specialized Biharia Euroregion can be the first step in this procedure.