© Research Journal of Internatıonal Studıes - Issue 17 (November, 2010) 51 The Role of EU at Cross Border Economic Cooperation in South East Europe Kotios Aggelos Professor, Department of International and European Studies –University of Piraeus Androutsou 150 18534, Piraeus Greece E-mail: akotios@gmail.com Galanos George Visiting Lecturer-Researcher, Department of International and European Studies – University of Piraeus, Androutsou 150 18534, Piraeus Greece E-mail: galgeorg@unipi.gr/ Roukanas Spyros Visiting Lecturer-Researcher, Department of International and European Studies – University of Piraeus, Androutsou 150 18534, Piraeus Greece E-mail: sroukana@webmail.unipi.gr Abstract As an official definition for the term “Borders” can be considered “the geographical limits over which a state legally defines the political, social and economic policies” (Uvalic 2000). It is quite easy for anyone to understand that this rather artificial and arbitrary form of geographical fragmentation applies significant interruptions and inconsistencies in economic and social every day living and reality in border areas. Nevertheless we can not overlook the reality that reveals, as a general rule, minor differences in social and economical reality on border areas in South East Europe, since most problems are common for all Region’s States. This statement is more accurate today after the democratisation of the whole region and the termination of armed conflicts. Thus, nowadays, cross border co- operation can become an important driving force for integration between different or similar political, social and economic national systems and realities. European Union, acting as the dominant Institution in the continent, is constantly implementing relative cross-border strategies and initiatives in the region for more than thirty years. This paper aims in illustrating the role of EU’s actions and strategies in South East Europe with respect of Region’s political, economical and social development. Keywords: EU Policies, cross-Border Economic Cooperation, Southeast Europe 1. Introduction Southeast Europe is characterised by small sized, fragmented with little exporting trend markets, little and inefficient cross border infrastructures and to some extent historical trans-border political tensions and conflicts. The administrational fragmentation and the problems that this status emerges in a rather uniform geographical area like Balkan Region, is the greatest promoter for adopting attenuation measures in order to fight this economic and political border-effect. The aim of this paper is to present and analyze EU’s strategies, initiatives and policies that promote cross border economic and political co-operation in the area of South East Europe that