  We study the dynamics of vortices in an inhomogeneous Gross-Pitaevskii
equation $i \partial_t u = \Delta u + {1\over \varepsilon^2}
(p_\varepsilon^2(x) - |u|^2)$. For a unique scaling regime $|p_\varepsilon(x) -
1 | = O(|\log \varepsilon|^{-1})$, it is shown that vortices can interact both
with the background perturbation and with each other. Results for associated
parabolic and elliptic problems are discussed.
