REGIONAL COOPERATION AND ECONOMIC INTEGRATION

PART I:
these problems and economic development (Szabó, 2007). The international position of
the Balkan and East Central European countries can only be evaluated by way of analysing
these three areas separately as well as by examining their interactions and the tasks
emerging as a result of this evaluation must also be approached in the same way.
In order to examine the individual factors we have established a thesis for each of them as
follows here:
Thesis No. 1.: the development and growth of the economy can only be sustained, i.e.
balanced if the stability of the economy is ensured in a socially sustainable way and in no
way is it ecologically harmful long term. In other words:
a) Economic growth is not accompanied by the breaking up of the internal and
external balances, when the involvement of external resources mainly finances an
already imbalanced situation,
b) The external and internal financing of growth is secured by the integration of the
human resources of the national economy on the basis of a modernising economic
structure resulting from the induction and absorption of technical development,
c) The extensive factors of economic growth do not expand at the expense of the
environment; whereas the intensive factors prefer an environmentally conscious
way of technological development.
Thesis No. 2.: by social sustainability we mean a parallel progression of economic
growth and social cohesion. I.e. there is a social and political consensus to do away
with reproductive social falling behind. To be able to achieve this, the systems of social
distribution are operated and the international resources available are used in a way that
solidarity, fairness and social incentivisation can all equally prevail. I.e. the redistribution
of centralised revenues contributes to the creation of opportunities via the education policy
and the efficient operation of the health care system. Within the scope of social sustainability
there is an endeavour to have a social dialogue which enhances knowledge and innovative
commitment as well. Besides the economic aspect of financiability, the interaction between
social sustainability and a sustainable society refers to the environmental sustainability of
the quality of life. I.e. it presupposes a type of development where work and life conditions
are shaped in an environmentally conscious way.
Thesis No. 3.: one of the most relevant conditions of sustainable development is a global
approach: where both planning and control take into consideration the interrelations of
society, economy and environment in a balanced way. From an environmental aspect this
can be achieved in the event that a) the economic and social players have an inherent
interest in using inputs for reproduction which do not represent any harm to the immediate
environmental factors, b) urbanisation is carried out and the transport systems are built
such that the quality of life of the members of society is of the utmost priority, c) if the
energy supplies are available for development, the enhancement of the efficiency thereof is
accepted by all players of the economy.
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