Search for: [Abstract = %22A basic research topic taken up within the framework of border studies concerns the function of political borders%2C as well as changes therein over time. As a matter of special importance is then the location of border crossing points and the character of their immediate surroundings%2C much depends on the analysis of transformations these areas undergo%2C in line with shifting formal and legal circumstances%2C as well as in terms of infrastructure and socio%5C-economic conditions. Poland%E2%80%99s 2007 accession to the EU%E2%80%99s Schengen Agreement obviously had a number of major consequences in this respect%2C not least along the Polish%5C-German border where border posts underwent formal liquidation%2C and the border could theoretically be crossed along its entire length. The rules applying to an internal Schengen border are known to favour spatial development in border areas%2C as permeability increases and there may be a long%5C-term trend for the role of a border as a barrier to decline. Notably%2C the local dimension would seem to be of great importance to the achievement of practical effects %5C(Bufon%2C 2008%5C). The work detailed here has had as its main aims the identification of the spatial%5C-%5C-development features characterising crossings along the Polish%5C-German border%2C and the analysis of economic activity in their immediate vicinity%2C under the circumstances of a now%5C-open internal border within the Schengen Area. The analysis covered areas surrounding the formal border crossings abolished on 21.12.2007%2C as well as new places in which organised crossings began to take place %5C(along roads%2C walking or cycle paths or railway lines%5C). This scope of interest led to a field inventory of 47 areas on both the Polish and German sides%2C at which a border crossing was made possible by roads %5C(n %3D 29%5C)%2C or along cycle or walking paths %5C(n %3D 18%5C). Data obtained allowed for an identification of key regularities as regards the maintenance of border infrastructure%2C the reuse of the buildings of former border posts%2C road infrastructure%2C and numbers and type structure where operating companies were concerned. The newly%5C-created border%5C-crossing points were mainly seen to locate along the section of border between Parg%C3%B3w and the coast of the Szczecin Lagoon%2C as well as in the %C5%9Awinouj%C5%9Bcie area %5C(where the boundary does not run along rivers%5C).Interestingly%2C use was being made of only half the former border%5C-post buildings%2C on both the Polish and German sides. Where new designations of activity were present%2C a degree of diversification was visible. Our results show clearly how difficult it may still prove to introduce new functions in the reality of an open%2C internal Schengen Area border. The study offers grounds for a perhaps%5C-surprising conclusion that%2C given the conditions under which the Polish%5C-German border still functions%2C a formal status as open does not preclude significant limitations still being imposed on the possibilities for borderland integration%2C in a spatial context in particular.%22]

Number of results: 0