Integration Processes in the Baltic Region : the New Form of Regional Transformations in the European Union

Abstract

Regional integration oriented transformations in the Baltic region, as well as the unified social, economic and technological space formation processes are described and analysed. These processes are comprehended as an important factor of further social, economic and technological modernization in the Baltic countries, as a precondition for more intensive and active integration of Baltic economic systems into the European and global economic and technological structures, as well as a knowledge based society and knowledge economy creation factor. The arguments determining the idea of the Baltic region community and unity, as well as opposing arguments are evaluated. The main principles of integration in the Baltic region, as well as the possible integration strategies are analyzed. The unified social, economic and technological space in the Baltic region as a research area is described. Formation of the unified social, economic and technological space in the Baltic region could be defined as an important precondition for further modernization and for more intensive and active integration of the national and regional societal and economic systems into the common European and global development processes. Formation of this unified space in the Baltic region could be comprehend as a successful case of the regional integration oriented transformations in the European Union: regional integration oriented transformations could be defined as an important aspect of the social, economic and technological modernization in the European Union in general, and as an important factor of the knowledge based society and knowledge economy creation. Regional integration oriented transformations and the unified spaces in the Baltic region formation processes could be defined as an important and a complicated scientific research area. The main research priorities in the area of formation of the unified social, economic and technological space in the Baltic region are the following ones: - the preparation of the conception of the Baltic region as a whole, including preparation and evaluation of various system indicators of Baltic region, - the complex analysis of the expressions of centripetal and centrifugal force forming in the Baltic region as a system, - the complex analysis of the arguments - determining the idea of the Baltic region community and unity, - the complex analysis of the opposing arguments to the idea of the Baltic region being a community, - the formation of regulating and self- regulating mechanisms for Baltic region’s development, - the social, economic and technological integration strategies for Baltic region. The basis for the formation of a unified social, economic, technological space in the Baltic region is the comprehension of this region as a whole. The comprehension of the Baltic region as a whole is based upon the formation and implementation of political, economic, and social development regulations, and the Baltic region as a unified geopolitical, social and economic system's development strategy preparation and realization should be understood as the principle problem of the Baltic countries' more intensive and active integration into European and world structures. The solution of these problems, requiring a deep and complete set of arguments, could be the essential basis to modernize the Baltic countries, their economic systems and societal structures. The comprehension of the Baltic region as a whole includes these important problem areas: - the commonality of the Baltic countries and unified activity system and the evaluation of the effects of these actions, - the specific distinguishing features of the countries, due to their shared problems and integration difficulties, - external and internal effects and environments, determining their integration prospects and limitations, - the integration mechanisms and conditions for them to surface and spread, - the mechanisms, and their dynamic possibilities, for more intensive and active integration into European and world structures by the Baltic region as a whole. The development of the Baltic region as a whole and its effectiveness, is largely based upon how sensible and effective these development regulations are, and also the self-regulation mechanisms. Regulating and self-regulating mechanism targeting allows the programming and planning of development, and foreseeing the forms of rational separate country specializations and their cooperation and ties with other countries. The basis of these mechanisms could be spread even in the inter-regional integration processes of the Baltic countries. The systematic studies of the Baltic region as a geopolitical, economic, technological, social and cultural whole are very prospective and actual in various ways toward the direction of practical and scientific activity.