The emergence of cross-border suburbanisation is based on the geographical proximity of a large city and the unrestricted permeability of state borders. A social group, the ‘transnational borderlanders’, is emerging (Martinez, 1994), who use the territory of both states on both sides of the border daily, e.g. they live on one side and work on the other. In our case, a cross-border suburbanisation has developed, with Bratislava residents moving to nearby villages in Hungary. The open border is a prerequisite for their daily life, and they took a risk when they bought a property in another country. The study examines how the closing of borders during the COVID-19 epidemic affected the lifestyle of Slovak citizens who settled in Hungary and commuted to Bratislava and the new situation of the cross-border area. To this end, a questionnaire survey and interviews were conducted in four settlements in Hungary inhabited by Slovaks. The study summarises the results of these surveys and concludes that the temporary closure of borders did not have a significant impact on the satisfaction with cross-border lifestyle, and the willingness to move. In fact, there are signs that the lockdown has dissolved the previously entirely Bratislava-centric way of life (shopping, using services, registering an address, etc.).

This article attempts to summarize the most important definitions and theoretical models related to cross-border spatial integration based on scientific literature. It would not be possible without defining several border phenomena, because different types of borders have distinct features and form space differently. The role of borders has constantly changed over time, depending on the historical, political, geographical and other characteristics of the given region. There were times when a given border was easily permeable and at other times it was difficult to cross. Therefore, the depth of integration is also changeable. This article tries to collect the most important theoretical models which explain these cross-border spatial processes and emphasizes the importance of the characteristics of urban networks in cross-border integration. We think there are many conceptual models in international border studies which explain several border processes from different points of view, but they are not properly collected in order to explain the cross-border integration process. In addition, some theoretical models are inadequately positioned in the research of cross-border integration that is why we intend to analyze their relevance to this topic as well. Hopefully, our work will help to understand the main factors and elements influencing crossborder integration through the explanatory theoretical models collected here.