Connecting Regions AT-CZ

Closed

The project "Connecting Regions AT-CZ" is aimed, on the one hand, to interlink regional development in the programme area, which is still very much organised on the district and regional level. A common challenge is to coordinate regional political areas of activity (transport infrastructure, nature conservation, culture, spatial development, etc.), and improve the quality of cross-border projects in general. The project involves Czech districts - SB, VY, SM - and the state of Upper Austria, together with its regional development company as well as NÖ.Regional.GmbH (founded by the state of Lower Austria). The City of Vienna is participating in the project as a strategic partner. Through the comprehensive integration of all regions, the positive effect on the entire border area is ensured. At the same time, intensification of the cross-border cooperation and coordination, particularly in the immediate border areas.  The second objective of the project is to strengthen the institutional cooperation between the Austrian states and Czech districts with an emphasis on active cooperation in strategic planning and the jointly optimised information policy. The task is also to provide potential project promoters and applicants with an overview of the possibilities and advantages of cross-border cooperation. Achievement of the project objectives is only possible with a jointly coordinated approach. Within the framework of the project, the activities are divided into two levels, which are described in work packages. Work package 1 is focused on the supraregional level and the coordination of the regional policies of the Czech and Austrian regions involved. There are 5 cross-border bilateral conferences organised for the professional public, on topics relevant to the border area: 1 Conference/region/project. Topics: Environment (ecology and water management), culture and tourism, rural border areas, mobility, disaster protection. In addition, 10 thematic network meetings, 2 per region, are organised on relevant topics. In work package 2, the development of cross-border cooperation and initiation of cross-border projects is supported. Applicants will be informed about the support options of the AT-CZ cross-border cooperation and will be given the opportunity for contact mediation for the purpose of implementing the cross-border activities and projects. During the preparation of the cross-border activities, the partners organise cross-border round tables with the participation of regional coordinators from both sides of the border. Seminars are held for applicants/promoters in the various regions, in which topics for possible cross-border cooperation are initiated in the region as well as projects both in the Interreg V-A AT-CZ 2014-2020 programme as well as outside this programme.

Medium