Transcript the commercial role of border area - UEF-Wiki

THE COMMERCIAL ROLE OF
BORDER AREA
THE CASE OF FRANKFURT (ODER) – SLUBICE
Agnieszka Dudek
Maciej Kaczmarek
Sergi Bañuls Riera
Alba Sala Vidal
Sonja Lukkarinen
Mikko Heinonen
CONTENTS

Introduction

Theoretical framework
- Definitions

History of Frankfurt(Oder) and Słubice

Commercial impact of tourism

Cooperation in twin towns
-Sewege treatment plant in Guben-Gubin
-Eurocentrum in Guben-Gubin
-Public transport in Frankfurt(Oder)-Słubice
-Results of interview

Change in landscape

Conclusions

References
Examined area
The boundary between
the Polish and Germany
is often called border on
the Oder and Neisse
rivers.
Length of Polish-German
border was 467 km,
which accounted for 13%
of the Polish frontiers.
The border started on the
junction of the three borders:
German, Czech and Polish
FRANKFURT DER ODER
- SŁUBICE
GUBIN-GUBEN
ŁĘKNICA
Theoretical framework and methods

The theoretical framework used in our research is placed in the field of social and
cultural geography. Border studies have developed remarkably from the times, when
the term “border” meant only a hard, state-separating line, to the times of processes,
effects and people-central analysis (Newman 2003).

The method used was an narrative analysis of texts and transcription of the
interviews.

Data was collected from the streets, articles and internet.

Focus on the big picture but also some spesific examples.

Study questions:
1.
What is the commercial role of border areas?
2. Which are the commercial differences between Germany and Poland at the
borderland areas?
3.
Which are the factors that make people to cross the border?
4. How does the border impacts to the landscape from the commercial point of view?
DEFINITION
Double town
Double town is an administrative city region constituted
from two contiguous cities. Double towns share a
common government and public sector. Double towns
are often formed because of a need for the dense
cooperation between cities and because of an attempts
to improve the friendship, economy and cultural
understanding.
DEFINITION
Twin town
Twin towns or sister towns are regions similar to
double towns, but they have an independent
government. The term “twin town” is generally
considered as an expression of
strong
cooperation and a shared business trade.
DEFINITION
Borderland
The borderland is the region or area in a relative
close proximity to the border within which the
dynamics of change and daily life practices are
affected by the very presence of the border.
DEFINITION
Landscape
Landscape is such an wide environment observed by using
different senses. The term landscape was defined by an
German geographer Alexander von Humboldt in 1800century, and it is often used for describing the different
dimensions of the environment or specific region / place.
HISTORY
The German – Polish border region took the first steps in
reconciliation and cooperation with the introduction of visafree travel at the end of 1971, the Polish Eastern border
waited for a similar opportunity until well into the 1990s.
The former German towns straddling the newly drawn
border were forcibly partitioned, producing a number of
„divided towns” including Gorlitz-Zgorzelec, Guben-Gubin,
Frankfurt an der Oder – Słubice, Bad Muskau – Łęknica.
The Polish – German border
And now the border between
twons almost doesn’t exist. On
the both sides it began formed
a bazar and projects that started
a communication, cooperation
and commercial role between
country.
TOURISM
The tourism can be
considered one of the
great engines of the
commercial area where
the border has allowed a
large
influx
of
population.
Main attractions by the Germans tobacco, alcohol, meat and
agricultural products among others.
Main attractions by the Polish pharmacy and personal care
items, clothes, food, shoes and electronic devices.
We attribute this to the fact basically to the economic difference between
the two countries, which acts as an advertisement for the close situation
of the local area.
In the economic aspect of the area, also has played a very important role
that the attraction generates Berlin as its location is approximately to 90
kilometers away.
The
behavior
and
characteristics of consumers
led to create a purchasing
system specific in the
borderline area. We found
two types of establishments,
one inspired in the local
people (more stable) and
where German citizens are
frequent. On the other hand
we find the German market
opened slightly to the Polish
population.
The socioeconomic status of
citizens is also very important
for the two cities.
The fact to receive a large influx
of public of the other side of the
river Oder, in both cases, are due
as a result of:
- Changes in the 1990’s in the
EU
- Poland's accession to the EU
(2004)
- Schengen area (2007)
The dissolution of the border led
to an increase in prices,
increased German investment in
Poland and job opportunities in
Germany.
The Bazar
The importance of these
facilities in the border trade due
to its proximity and good
accessibility for the people of
both sides of the border.
The bazaar was opened in 1991
inspired by the frequent visits of
people from different parts of
Germany, with several points of
sale, service and restoration.
These first installations suffered a memorable fire in January 2007.
In 2011 was opened a new bazaar built in the same place as the old, open every day of
the week.
The current crisis sales have declined to the point that the economy generated by
commercial tourism has stalled and is not as prosperous as in previous years.
POPULAR TOURIST DESTINATIONS IN FRANKFURT(ODER) - SLUBICE
FRANKFURT (ODER)
1. KLEIST MUSEUM
4. MUSEUM VIADRINA
2/3. ST. MARIENKIRCHE AND
ST. GERTRAUDENKIRCHE
5. MUSEUM JUNGE KUNST
6/7. THE CONCERT HALL OF EMANUEL
BACH AND THE THEATER KLEIST FORUM
8. ONKEL HELMUT
SLUBICE
9. MONUMENT LEOPOLD VON
BRUNSWICK
10. COLLEGIUM POLONICUM
11. SMOK
12. SHOOTING HOUSE
14. BAZAR
13. CENTRE STADIUM SPORT
AND RECREATION
15. OLD JEWISH CEMETERY
THE WAY OF ST. JAMES
The Way of St. James is the most famous European pilgrim route is
considered in many countries to be a symbol connecting religions,
cultures and different ways of life. Over 1000 years old route brings
pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela in the north west of Spain,
where the remains of the apostle St. James are buried.
THE ODER-NEIßE CYCLING ROUTE:
The Oder-Neiße Cycling Route follows along the
two rivers and through three countries the
Czech Republic, Poland and Germany. The
cycling route stretches almost the entire length
of the German-Polish border. It ventures 630
kilometers.
GUBIN-GUBEN SEWEGE TREATMENT PLANT
A major project is scheduled for completion in
Gubin on 2 May 1998, a joint wastewater
treatment plant. Its mission is to support the
two cities. It uses the different types of
processes, which meant that it is one of the
most modern of its kind in Poland. This
investment was made as part of a pilot
program in the field of environmental
protection. Its goal is the construction of the
city sewer Gubin. Was financed entirely with
funds provided by the German Federal Ministry
of Environment, Ministry of Environmental
Protection of the Land of Brandenburg and the
EU support funds - PHARE CBC.
Activity of sewage treatment plant
German-Polish Eurocentrum in
Gubin-Guben
Small and medium-sized enterprises
are supported in Guben. This process is
becoming more and more visible from
20 November 1998 when it created the
German-Polish institution whose aim is
to support small and medium-sized
enterprises. Head it is precisely in
Guben. It’s task is to making crossborder cooperation. Eurocentum also
offers all interested economic operators
and large range of services:
- business consulting (commercial law,
economic),
-organization of cooperative
exchanges,
- moderating seminars and workshops
of a business,
- access to a rich database of traders.
Bazar MANHATTAN – „Here you can bay everything!”
"Urban Bazaar Manhattan" is a unique market. On its site you
can find products from more than 1,000 traders. It should also
be noted that this is one of the largest bazaars in Europe. It
stands out from other competitive prices, huge selection,
healthy organic products. In fact, on its site you can buy
almost anything.
Its location is associated with the border crossing. It is located
near Mużakowski Park and is considered a large shopping
center - services.
The site of this city, you can find items from different
industries. The most common on the bazaar assortment are:
Food,
wickerwork,
ceramics,
clothing,
haberdashery,
confectionery, footwear, jewelery, textiles, souvenirs, tobacco
products, electronic equipment, automotive accessories.
Numerous bars and eateries offer insight Polish cuisine,
regional dishes.
Public transport in Frankfurt der
Oder and Słubice
The bus line number 983 in Slubice
and Frankfurt an der Oder - was the
first in the history of Polish-German
border city public transportation.
bus line connect Słubice-Polish with
German-Frankfurt der Oder, buses
going from 9 December 2012. This
operation is based on an agreement
between the Municipality Słubice
and Municipal Communication
Company Frankfurt (SVF).
It runs from the Frankfurt train station to Słubice
Heroes' Square. In 9-13 hours, the first station on
the German side of the square is in front of the
European University Viadrina. Ticket price is paid
in euros and is 1.40 €. The frequency rates of one
per hour.
The results of the interview
Questions:
-Where do you come from?
-What do you buy usually?
-What do you think about public
transport between Frankfurt der
Oder and Słubice?
What do German usually buy in Polish side?
The German people are coming to
Polish to buy different kinds of
7%
products. For the most frequently
13%
oil
13%
clothes
20%
cigarettes
food
chemical product
34%
13%
purchased can include food, gasoline,
clothes. Many residents also draws
attention to the quality of the
cosmetic
products, which in Poland is higher
than in Germany.
Public transport in Frankfurt der Oder:
On the German side people see the
advantages of a bus line because they
20%
use
do not use
80%
can get to the bazaar, the town center
and railway station. However, most do
not use this type of communication
because they prefer to move cars.
What do polish usually bay on
german side?
13%
chemical product
33%
food
13%
vine
eletronic equipment
7%
clothes
7%
candy
27%
The custmores are
from Słubice, Zielona
Góra, Berlin, Katowice.
Mostly residents are
supported the public
transport between
Frankfurt and Słubice.
Only one person says
negative about bus
transport.
Public transport in Słubice
33%
use
do not use
67%
Problems:
-ticket only in euro
-only one type ticket
-no monthly ticket
-no discounts on ticket for children
Change in the landscape
• Commercial point of view  historical scale, tourism, cooperation of twin
towns.
• Historical: Agriculture became less important after commercial growth, old
buildings turned into historical monuments. Newer buildings changed the
landscape.
• Cooperation: National parks, traffic, renovation of old buildings, landscaping,
sewege plant etc.
• Tourism: Bazaar, shops, advertisements, amount of border crossings ->
services, harbor development etc.
• Mental landscape: Environment , service designings, sense of place, also social
or only commercial relationships  attitudes?
Conclusions
• Commercial role of the border areas is very important since nowadays the border
unites rather than separates different regions.
• Relation between Germany and Poland has always been widely commercial 
impacts from behind many years of difficult history.
• Polish retail market is supplemented by trading goods from Germany while the
German market, in turn, is supplied by the Polish products.
• Relations between the Polish German border in 2013 are good, residents are
divided on the cooperation with the German side.
• In Frankfurt in contrast to Slubice not find all these small shops related to snuff or
alcohol. In Frnakfurt we can find shops and restaurants belonging to powerful
chains stores like H & M or McDonalds.
Thank you for attention !
REFERENCES

Brym, Michelle Janet (2009). The Integration of European Union Borderlands:
Polish Views on Cross-Border Mobility and Cooperation Across the Polish-
German Border. University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Janczak, Jaroslav (2011). De-bordering, re-bordering and symbols on the European
boundaries. Collegium Polonicum (Slubice)

Janczak, Jaroslav (2007). Rediscovering Europe: Political challenges in the 21st
century EU. Institute of political sciences and journalism, Adam Mickiewicz
University, Poznan.

Newman, David (2003). On borders and power: A theoretical framework.
Routledge Informa Ltd.

(Frankfurt(Oder) – Slubice twin city association center website, read 14.5.2014,
http://www.citytwins.org/en/page/18/

Leknica city official website, www.leknica.pl read 13.5.2014

Slubice city official website, www.slubice.pl read 13.5.2014

Gubin-Guben city official website, www.gubin.pl read 13.5.2014

Polish government official website, www.stat.gov.pl read 13.5.2014

www.polskazachodnia2020.pl, read 13.5.2014

Sewege treatment plant of Gubin-Guben, official website, www.pos.zgora.pl read
13.5.2014

www.ekoprojekty.pl read 13.5.2014