In the border region Slovakia-Austria, the cultural offer in the border region is expanded, developed and used through joint cross-border activities within the framework of the Heritage SK-AT project. The creative potential of the region is to be utilised through the creation of suitable spaces. The target groups are artists, artisans, winegrowers and the general population and tourism in the region.

The activities of the project focus primarily on the creation of a cultural-creative centre in Modra Castle and Jedenspeigen Castle. This includes adapting the rooms to expand the historical exhibition with a cross-border reference (Slovakia/Austria) as well as setting up a vinotheque and rooms for joint events. Other activities include the promotion of traditions in the border region through cultural and artistic events, the organisation of cross-border specialist seminars, wine competitions, open studio days and the creation of a digital documentation centre.

The project “Wrestling without borders” establishes a joint cross-border platform to address young people in the border region and get them interested in wrestling. The aim is to bring young Austrian and Hungarian wrestlers together, to institutionalise joint cross-border sports events and thus to contribute to securing long-term sports cooperation between Austria and Hungary.

The popularity of wrestling has declined in the past decades in both Austria and Hungary, which is why both countries are struggling with youth problems. Through joint activities, this challenge can be overcome much better. In the project, the knowledge base in the border region is broadened through joint advanced training for coaches and teaching videos, and modular training courses for children and young people are built on this. They can compete with their neighbours in joint tournaments and training camps.

mecca supports the Burgenland Wrestling Federation in the administrative implementation of this cross-border project.

The project “Weinidylle AT-HU” is implemented by the Nature Park in the Weinidylle and the Hungarian associations Hegypásztor Kör (Vinehill Sheperds) and Vasi Hegyhát – Rábamente Tourism in the period 2018-2020 as a cross-border project under the INTERREG AT-HU programme.
The Burgenland-Hungarian border region has a rich natural and cultural heritage. A special feature are the numerous idyllic wine cellars (also called “Kellerstöckl”), hardly any of which are still used for their original purpose of winegrowing. Many of the buildings are architecturally interesting and worthy of protection and make a significant contribution to the region’s tourism USP. However, only a very small number of the historic wine cellars are currently used for tourism and rented out as Kellerstöckl flats, although the international demand for these regionally typical special offers is increasing. The aim of the project is to network the tourist offers of the project region more strongly across borders, to make them more attractive according to today’s guest needs and to work together on the development of a cross-border wine experience region.
Together with the project consultancy Schlögl, we support the nature park as lead partner in its administrative tasks.

Project partner: Projektberatung Schlögl

The INTERREG project “Bridges for Birth” is the first attempt to establish long-term sustainable cross-border health care in the Austrian-Slovak border region. In addition to the expansion of hospital cooperation across the border, through which neonatal emergencies from the district of Hainburg can be transported to the nearby Children’s University Hospital in Bratislava in the future, future cooperation potentials are also assessed and basic framework conditions for the implementation of cross-border patient care are created. In this way, the services of the health care systems can be harmonised with the needs of the local population, resulting in a sustainable improvement in the quality of life.

mecca supports the Lower Austrian Health and Social Fund in the implementation of this INTERREG SK-AT project.

The INTERREG AT-HU project aims at the long-term conservation of the biodiversity of transboundary wetland habitats in the Austrian-Hungarian border region and the development of their ecological networks. Natura 2000 species and wetland habitats as well as invasive species in the water catchment areas of Western Pannonia are surveyed and strategies for conservation and connectivity are jointly developed across borders.

mecca supports the Biological Station Neusiedler See in the implementation of this INTERREG AT-HU project.

Project partner: Projektberatung Schlögl

The aim of the INTERREG project ConnReg AT-HU is to improve the integration of existing local and regional networks in cross-border cooperation. In order to identify potential thematic areas for the next INTERREG programme period (post-2020), a survey including already existing projects and future project actors of the Austrian-Hungarian border region is carried out.

mecca supports the project partners with the analysis of the strategic documents on the priority themes of the INTERREG AT-HU programme prepared within the framework of ConnReg AT-HU and the already existing documents on the programme period 2021-2027, an online survey of the needs of cross-border cooperation, as well as with the implementation of qualitative group interviews with Hungarian and Austrian experts on framework conditions and thematic areas for cross-border cooperation. These results will be discussed in thematic workshops with a focus on the funding period 2021+ together with Hungarian and Austrian project promoters, potential new project partners and other important actors from the field and examined for their relevance for cross-border cooperation.

The baum2020 sustainability study is a guideline for the institutionalisation of the baum2020 project, which serves the project partners as a basis for decision-making in order to be able to narrow down the future thematic and task areas as well as the future geographical scope of the Bratislava Umland Management (BAUM). Based on this, a rough model comparison provides a basis for decision-making in order to be able to narrow down the type and manner of BAUM institutionalisation more closely. Within the scope of the assignment, the support of important actors will be obtained in order to make the institutionalisation possible in the first place.

The goal of the Danube-Moldova European Region (EDM) – a political working group of the seven partner regions Oberpfalz, Lower Bavaria with Altötting, Upper Austria, the Lower Austrian Most- and Waldviertel, Südböhmen, Pilsen and Vysočina – is to further expand the existing cooperation. Health care is also a common concern of all EDM partners. The great challenges of our time, which also include the future viability of health care, can be mastered much better on the basis of bundled trilateral competences.

mecca supports the working group “cross-border health care” by conducting a survey of previous activities in cross-border health care and developing challenges and problem areas in the EDM area.

In the course of the 20th century, the regional and national identities of Western Hungary and Eastern Austria often developed in mutual demarcation and defence. The memory of these conflicts and often traumatic events manifests itself in symbolic places of remembrance. The overall project goal is to improve the knowledge of historical facts in the border region and to establish, intensify and secure long-term cooperation between organisations that convey this knowledge.

mecca supports the Austrian project partners in the implementation of this INTERREG AT-HU project.

The EU member states are preparing operational programmes for the new funding period 2021 to 2027, also in cross-border cooperation. mecca is supporting the responsible organisations in the Austrian-Hungarian border region.

Project partners: Vitál Pro, M&E Factory GmbH

The aim of the Interreg project Ecoregion SKAT is the coordinated development and strengthening of nature tourism offers by improving cooperation between municipalities, environmental groups, eco-centres and protected area administrations in the Slovak-Austrian border region, raising public awareness on environmental issues and building an infrastructure in the field of environmental education.

The goal of the Danube-Moldova European Region (EDM) – a political working group of the seven partner regions Upper Palatinate, Lower Bavaria with Altötting, Upper Austria, the Lower Austrian Most and Waldviertel, South Bohemia, Pilsen and Vysočina – is to further expand the existing cooperation. Health care is also a common concern of all EDM partners. For this reason, a separate working group on cross-border health care was set up. Its aim is to improve the transfer of knowledge between the participating partner regions and to establish long-term cooperation in the field of health care.

The aim of the Common Heritage project is to develop transboundary cooperation between Hungarian and Austrian management organisations of the Fertő-Neusiedler See World Heritage Site defined, specifically, the establishment of a joint management organisation and a landscape observatory based on a new management plan for the long-term protection, monitoring and communication of outstanding universal values of the World Heritage Site.

In the project Culture Across – Cultural Bridges over the March – the municipality of Marchegg (LB) and the Museum of the City of Bratislava (PP1) are working together to preserve their cultural heritage and to strengthen the awareness of the local and regional population on both sides of the border for these cultural monuments. This will strengthen the tourist attractiveness of the entire border region in the heart of Central Europe (Marchfeld-Záhorie-Bratislava region).

In order to improve the cross-border wine experience region developed in the Weinidylle AT-HU project and its international placement, a coherent, sustainable and innovative overall offer is needed. This can only be developed by SMEs, which requires a network of entrepreneurs.

The aim is to jointly increase the economic development effect and the survival rate of SMEs in the border region.

The objective of the contract is to prepare the programming document “Cooperation Programme” for cross-border cooperation Slovakia – Austria 2021-2027. The programme serves cross-border cooperation implemented in the period 2021-2027 in accordance with the EU rules for EU cohesion policy.

The Connecting Regions (ConnReg) AT-CZ project aims to network regional development in the program area, which is currently still very much organized at district and state level. A common challenge is not only the coordination of regional policy fields of action (transport infrastructure, nature conservation, culture, spatial development, etc.) but also the improvement of the overall quality of cross-border projects. The goal is to strengthen institutional cooperation between the Austrian federal provinces and the Czech counties with a focus on active cooperation in the areas of strategic planning and joint optimized information policy. The task is also to provide potential project promoters and applicants with an appropriate overview of the possibilities and advantages of cross-border cooperation. The project region covers the entire program area of Interreg V-A AT-CZ.

Within the framework of the Interreg project RegioCoop SK-AT, the Burgenland Business Agency and NÖ.Regional as project partners organize several cross-border events, which are to be accompanied by an external moderator as a technical expert. The events will take place within the following work packages:

Work package 3: Definition of strategic topics
Work package 4: Thematic networks

baum 2023+ is to elaborate a perspective for the further development of the border region. In the course of this assignment the following points were to be considered:

The contractor has designed and implemented a compact accompanied process for the development of a strategy for the project baum_cityregion.
The strategy shall be based on the existing region delineation of baum.
The strategy shall have a short and medium term perspective (2023 to 2027), as well as a long term perspective (2028+).

The ETC programme for cross-border cooperation between Austria and Hungary will continue to support bilateral partnerships and projects in the Austro-Hungarian border region in the 2014-2020 programme period. The EU Commission attaches great importance to documenting the success of the programme. In this context, mecca is conducting a survey of ETC actors on the intensity of cooperation in the Austria-Hungary border region for the AT-HU Managing Authority. The survey was already conducted twice in the 2014-2020 programme period (2018 and 2021) and has now been repeated. It allows both an assessment of the intensity of cooperation in the Austria-Hungary border region and an evaluation of the further development of this cooperation.

The project Connecting Regions (ConnReg) AT-CZ aims to bring together regional development in the programme area, which is currently still very much organised at district and country level. A common challenge is not only the coordination of regional policy fields of action (transport infrastructure, nature conservation, culture, spatial development, etc.) but also the improvement of the overall quality of cross-border projects.

As the programming of the next INTERREG funding programme AT-CZ is in the start-up phase, meccas task is to analyse the needs, potentials, themes and absorption capacity of the programme region and to identify key project proposals for the future programming period. To achieve this, mecca screens documents and data on the programme region and conducts several national and bilateral workshops with Czech and Austrian experts and project promoters, potential new project partners and other stakeholders.

Cross-border waterways as the Raab are characteristic for the Austrian-Hungarian border region. To maintain an appropriate environmental status and to guarantee a sustainable use a bilateral coordination and cooperation is needed. In the INTERREG AT-HU project „RaabSTAT“ the chemical-ecological status of the Raab is analysed and evaluated in the course of joint investigations. On the basis of the results measures for achieving and maintaining a good status can subsequently be worked out.

mecca supports the Province of Burgenland (Department 5 – Building) in the implementation of this INTERREG AT-HU project.

A wide range of bilateral projects in the Austrian-Hungarian border region are funded by the current INTERREG VA programme. In order to measure the programme’s success, we evaluate the cooperation quality and intensity by an online survey among the actors.

The INTERREG project “regionet competitive” builds on the activities of the pior project “regionet aktiv”. The aim is to strengthen the competitveness especially of small and medium-sized enterprises in the border regions by cross-border networking, education and cooporation. Ten austrian and hungarian partners work together implementing this project.

mecca supports the Lower Austrian regions Region Bucklige Welt-Wechselland and Römerland Carnuntum in the implementation of this INTERREG VA project.

The pollen of the Ambrosia artemisiifolia plant, commonly known as Ragweed, are regarded as especially agressive in triggering alergic reactions. They are responsible for  substantial economical losses. While Hungary is fighting the plant by applying organisatorical and juridical measures, there are no measures implemented against the plant in Austria up until now. There is neither a regulated procedure for recording and combating ragweed nor any cooperation with the Hungarian authorities. This imbalance in the administrative systems’ ability to act represents a major challenge for the border region – especially Burgenland is affected. As Ragweed does not stop at the border, the problem can only be tackled through joint action.

The aim of this project is the establishment of a sustaibable cooparation between Austrian and Hungarian administrative and research institutions dealing with Ragweed control. This transfer of know-how leads to benefits for both sides and improves the quality of public service and thus the quality of life for the citizens.

mecca supports the Province of Burgenland in its administrative tasks.

The REBEN project is implemented by the Province of Burgenland and the Hungarian North-Transdanubian Water Directorate ÉDUVIZIG as a part of INTERREG AT-HU in 2017-2019.

The aim of the project is the preservation of the high water quality and the good ecological and chemical condition of Lake Neusiedl as well as to formulate essential measures. As Lake Neusiedl region is separated by the Austrian-Hungarian border, a joint approach is necessary.

By investigating the exchange of water and matter between the reed belt and the open water as well as their importance for water quality, a major knowledge gap is to be filled. The management plan forms the basis for a long-term, integrative concept for the sustainable protection of water quality and provides recommendations for bilaterally coordinated monitoring for the assessment of the condition of the lake.

Health care provision in Austria, especially in border-regions, faces the challenges of providing cost-efficient and high quality health care due to issues like periphery, demografic change and others. Cross-border cooperation is one solution to face these challenge. By sharing infrastructures, efficient use of resources or shorter distances the health care provision of residents can highly be improved.

Lower Austria is a pioneer in cross-border health care provision. It is the only region in Austria which has a long termed strategy concerning healthcare provision in border regions. The Health and Social Fund of Lower Austria (NÖGUS) has been working on cross-border health care for many years and has implemented numerous successful projects. Unfortunately, short- to midtermed projects represent the performance/output and activities only temporarily and not for a longer horizone.

By developing the brand “Lower Austria – Cross-border Health Care”, Lower Austria concentrates its cross-border activities in the region – and can be recognized by public and experts. Concentrating these ativities enables the government of Lower Austria to represent itself in public and on a European level.

mecca supports the Health and Social Fund of Lower Austria (NÖGUS) in developing the brand “Lower Austria – Cross-border Health Care”

We offer our services in the fields of INTERREG: long-term experienced in cooperation and application, we are your partner in cross-border cooperation. Hannah Luegmeyer produced a pilot for us showing our services. We like what we see – [no english version available, please watch and] enjoy!

text – mecca
voice – Dr. Michaela Lehner
production – Mag. Hannah Luegmeyer

There is still catching-up to be done in terms of cross-border cooperation in providing health care in the Lower Austria-Czech Republic border region. The aim of the EU-funded (INTERREG AT-CZ) project “Unlimited Health Care” is to optimise health care provision for residents by building up networks, providing the direct linkup on the spot and cutting across the national border.

An endometriosis centre is being established in the Melk hospital (Lower Austria), based on knowledge transfer from Znojmo (which is an EU-certified endometriosis centre) to Melk. Radiotherapy treatment of Austrian patients in the hospital in Znojmo is to be enabled. The Czech hospital in Znojmo is not far from the border and has capacity for additional patients; patients from Lower Austria should receive radiotherapy treatment there. Cross-border emergency cooperation is to be established with Lower Austria, Southern Bohemia and Southern Moravia trough a web application that enables cross-border ambulance services.

mecca supports this project with cross-border project management.

In cooperation with the Joint Secretariat and the Managing Authority of the EU-programme INTERREG AT-SK, mecca drafts a manual for applicants and beneficiaries for programme periode 2014-2020.

The manual should allow the applicants to understand all requirements until the contracting stage, i.e. it should outline the stages of application, assessment and selection. The manual’s contents stretches from the contracting stage to the implementation and closure of the project and includes key provisions on eligibility of cost and related evidence, procurement, reporting, payment requests, publicity and information.

mecca elaborates an implementation concept for a “cross-border powerhouse Neufeld/Leitha” on behalf of the municipality. The idea was to renovate and reuse the former officials house in the city center as a cross-border impulse centre for historic archiving as well as political and scientific research activities.

Our focus was to find funding possibilities for such a project, as well as to comprehend the preconditions for a successful funding application.

The ETC Funding Period 2007-2013 is over – time to think about options, achievements and perspectives of cross border cooperation.
mecca prepared the final brochure “Grenz-Raum-Erfahrungen”, highlighting the INTERREG program’s contribution to the recent years’ development in the border area Austria-Hungary.
The brochure was part of a comprehensive communication concept, which publishes the results and chances of the INTERREG program AT-HU.

Countries: AT, HU

Within the frame of the INTERREG programme AT-CZ, the project „C4PE” aims to enhance the cooperation between businesses and schools. Moreover, a cross-border vocational training is planned, taking place simultaneously in the Czech Republic and in Austria resulting in a mutual acceptance of the qualification. Students will get insight into the cross-border economy and also better career orientation. The project addresses students, teachers and SME’s.
mecca supports the Academy of Lower Austria as a lead partner of this initiative in project development and application.

A missing transport link over the river March hinders the integrated development of the region Weinviertel – Zahorie despite similar economic and spatial preconditions. A common strategy for the sustainable development of the region Weinviertel-Záhorie towards a cross-border economic area aims at enhancing the region’s quality as a business and residential location. Strategies are to be developed in order to expand the cross-border transport infrastructure and discuss the design of new border crossings with the concerned municipalities.

Countries: AT, SK

Project partner: ÖAR Regional Consulting, VVMZ

Within the frame of the RECOM SK-AT network analysis mecca identified actors and organsiations being active in the Austrian – Slovakian border region. Now these actors are shown on an interactive actors’ map on the RECOM SK-AT website.

Project website: http://recom-skat.eu/main.php?lang=de&menu=49

The aim of the project workshops was a list of well-prepared and well-coordinated cross-border projects with strategic relevance, which were not in competition with each other.

mecca realised four thematic workshops:

• regional cooperation
• innovation and research
• environment/cultural and natural heritage
• education and qualification

During the last months network analyses in the Austrian border regions with the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary have been conducted (Euroregion Danube-Vltava, PRO 2013+, RECOM HUAT network analysis, RECOM SKAT network and potential analysis). After the conclusion of these works, the relevant outcomes for the federal state of Lower Austria are to be portrayed in a comparable and structured way.

Lower Austria and its neighboring Czech regions of Southern Moravia, Vysocina and Southern Bohemia can build on a long lasting cooperation in the field of healthcare. Now, they want to go further and institutionalise this cooperation in an EGTC.

mecca supports the future EGTC members in implementing their plans. Questions concerning the goals, tasks, competences and members, as well as political and legal frameworks need to be solved. A roadmap and an implementing plan shall be developed until the end of 2013.

GREENNET is a transnational project within the frame of the fundung programme INTERREG IV Central Europe. The project’s aim is the development of an ecological network within the central european Green Belt. Six pilot regions serve as models for the implementation of new and innovative procedures and specific management instruments as solutions of land-use conflicts in the study regions.
mecca supported the Regionalmanagement Burgenland with the concept preparation to develop an innovative method regarding the creation of a biodiversity monitoring in pilot region 5 (Burgenland).

The aim of the project is to raise people’s awareness regarding biodiversity and socio-economic values of their surrounding natural landscapes in Western Hungary and in Eastern Austria (Burgenland) describes the main objective of the transboundary project PaNaNet, implemented within the Austrian-Hungarian Cross-Border Territorial Cooperation Programme 2007-2013. The project was coordinated by the Regional Management Burgenland.

mecca supported the PannonianNatureNetwork in the development of joint sustainable tourism offers and a common marketing strategy.

The network analysis RECOM HU-AT examined existing networks in Vienna, Burgenland and in parts of Lower Austria and Styria as well as in the regions Györ-Moson-Sopron, Vas and Zala. The network analysis is part of the ETC HU-AT programme 2014-2020. The major issues as well as the common thematic emphases will be considered in the programming process.

project partner: ÖAR Regionalberatung

The European member states prepare for the new funding period 2014-2020 operational cross-border cooperation programmes. mecca supports the responsible institutions in the Austrian-Hungarian border region.

project partner: Vital Pro

The purpose of the potential- and network analysis is to examine the existing potentials in the regions of Lower Austria, Burgenland and Vienna as well as in the self governing regions of Bratislava and Trnava and the city of Bratislava. Additionally, further potentials are determined. Through the embedding of the results into networks and organisational structures the potentials can secure sustainably. Therefore the 11 thematic fields of the current EU-regulation have been used.

Countries: AT, SK

Project partner: Aurex, Bratislava

Within the frame of the ETC programme AT-SK, a cross-border tourism information and education centre was developed on the site of the McarthurGlenn Designer Outlet Parndorf, Burgenland.

The aim of the project is to establish a tourism region in Trnava through practice-oriented know-how transfer. The already established tourism associations of Burgenland are taking over a sponsorship for the Trnava region. The project ensures a cooperation network between these two regions regarding tourism (joint marketing and guest advice in the information centres). Through the cooperation with the highly frequented designer outlet, the tourism facilities of the surrounding regions can benefit from its frequency.

project partner: Burgenland Tourism (Lead Partner), self-governing region Trnava, Neusiedler See Tourismus GmbH

In cooperation with metis, mecca develope a Policy Paper on integrated regional development of the cross-border Danube-March-Thaya area. This paper is used as the basis for implementing the new instrument Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) in the programming period 2014-2020.

Countries: AT, SK, CZ

GREENNET is a transnational project, conducted under the programme Interreg IV Central Europe. Its aim is to develop an ecologic network within the frame of the central European Green Belt. Six pilot regions serve as models for the implementation of new and innovative procedures and specific management instruments as solutions of land-use conflicts in the study regions.

In the work package 3 „Inventories and Surveys“, a transnational coordinated analyse system is to be developed. The following questions should be answered within a joint systematics:

• Which pilot regions were selected and why?
• Which „Core Areas“ were selected and why?
• Which main problems should be dealt with exemplary in the „Core Areas“?

Within the project “Partnership Austria-Czech Republic in the Central European Region – PRO 2013+” the existent potentials in the regions Vienna, Lower Austria, South Moravia and Vysočina were elaborated to construct a more focused and sustainable future cross-border cooperation. The results of a cross-border network and potential analysis are then the basis for the new Operational Programme ETC AT-CZ in the upcoming period 2014-2020.

Countries: AT, CZ

Project Website: http://www.pro2013plus.eu

The PaNaNet’s 14 participating regions were: 4 national parks (National Park Neusiedlersee-Seewinkel in Austria and Fertő-Hanság, Örség and Balaton-felvidék National Parks in Hungary), all 6 nature parks in Burgenland (Neusiedlersee-Leithagebirge, Rosalia-Kogelberg, Landseer Berge, Geschriebenstein, Weinidylle and Raab) and 4 nature parks in West Hungary (Sopron, Irottkő, Örség and Kerka). 
The overarching goal of the PaNaNet project is to improve the acceptance of protected areas through raising awareness within the population regarding the value of protected areas for both quality of life and economic opportunities. Through the permanent networking of the pannonian protected areas they should be able to establish themselves as offering a distinctive nature experience. The continued development of existing facilities is important, as well as focused preparations to attract new target groups to the new nature tourism opportunities.

There is much to experience in the seven Austrian municipalities and four Slovak districts. However, until now this is only known by a small group of insiders.

Through the EU-funded project “Servus Pontis” Čunovo, Deutsch Jahrndorf, Edelstal, Gattendorf, Jarovce, Nickelsdorf, Kittsee, Pama, Petržalka, Rusovce and Zurndorf together call attention to the touristic sights and events in the region. The most beautiful sights of the region are presented in a tourist guide and a culture compass.

Bicycle routes connect the municipalities physically. Nice spots, rest areas for cyclers, drinking fountains or oversized chess boards make the routes even more attractive;
Signs about the region and the project offer information about the touristic treasures in the region.

But not only the bicycle routes and sights should draw the inhabitants into neighbouring municipalities – they are also warmly welcomed at local events. For example at the annual Rusovce Day or the fair in Nickelsdorf – guests always have different opportunities. In order to overcome communication barriers the municipalities offer possibilities for further education, for instance in Edelstal people can learn the Slovak language.

Already for the tenth time the Regional Development Lower Austria and its partner organisations award outstanding initiatives for cross-border cooperation with the EUREGIO Innovation Award. This anniversary calls for a novelty. This year we are breaking new ground by awarding insitutions for their ongoing, cross-border engagement in the past ten years.
mecca supports the preparation for and realisation of this year’s event themed “Growing Together”.

RECOM is a cooperation project between the organisations in each country (Austria, Slovakia, Czech Republic, Hungary) that have extensive experience in regional development through cross-border cooperative initiatives. The goal of the project is to increase the acceptance of cross-border activities through promoting awareness and intensifying participation in cooperative endeavours on both sides of the borders.
To support this effort, more bi- and multilateral workshops, excursions, and retreats will be coordinated with the following themes:

• Environment and Energy
• Job market and Business
• Traffic and Mobility
• Education and Qualifications

Countries: AT, SK, CZ, HU

The government of Lower Austria wants an early start to define their position within the future configuration of the EU Programme for European Territorial Cooperation (ETC).  The findings will be incorporated into the intra-Austrian discourse and then discussed further and carried out at the state level. In the end, this should include agreement with the partner programmes in the neighbouring countries of the Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary. mecca is consulting the Lower Austrian task group and producing a discussion paper on the future of the ETC in Lower Austria.

The main objective of this cross-border project is the establishment of a sustainable canoeing tourism industry, which brings an added value to the regional economy, while operating within the framework of ETC AT-HU. The river Leitha, located in the border region between Austria and Hungary, offers many opportunities for an excellent canoeing experience. The ‘Small Leitha’ area is especially well-suited for beginners. In order to establish canoeing as a viable tourist industry for the region, the needed infrastructure (marinas, signage, water-sports centre) has to be built or modernised and the waterway has to be cleared on a regular basis. Trough this type of sustainable water tourism, the regional added value can be increased and existing networks can be extended.

Lower Austria is partner in the INTERREG IVC Project „CATCH_MR – Cooperative Approaches to Transport Challenges within the Metropolitan Regions“. The project began in January 2010 and continued until 2013. The working language of this project was English. Seven Metropolitan Regions were participating: Berlin (acting as lead partner), Oslo, Gothenburg, Vienna, Budapest, Ljubljana and Rome. CATCH_MR surveyed sustainable transport solutions in cooperative approaches for cities and their suburban areas. mecca focused on the complete content research for the metropolitan region of Vienna – Lower Austria, as well as on online surveys investigating the theme of urban sprawl.

With an “ideas” travel guide we highlighted how to find the creative, business and cultural potential of CENTROPE. Diversity is the strength of the region that covers the intersection of 4 countries: Austria, Slovakia, Hungary and the Czech Republic.

The travel guide “Rich in Ideas: CENTROPE” contains many exciting destinations. As a unique mixture between natural and urban flair in this highly diverse region. We guide you to exciting and unconventional destinations that we’ve divided into five categories for you: museums, initiatives, tourist projects, business and research. By putting these together, our goal is to introduce you to the unique vibrancy of the region. The guide introduces you to innovative and novel businesses that are producing additional value for the region. You should get a unique impression of CENTROPE; about the specialities and many outstanding ideas and exciting initiatives in that region.

In total, the travel guide highlights 88 destinations that are located all around CENTROPE.

The exhibition “People in Centrope” was prepared by mecca in 2008 on behalf of the Planning Association East and the City of Vienna (MA 18).  Placed within the City Hall of Bratislava, the exhibition provided comprehensive insight into the planning and development activities in the CENTROPE region.
With support from out partners, iService and ComPress we prepared a large and open exhibit that welcomed Rudolf Schicker (Vienna), Deputy Mayor of Bratislava; Dr. Tomáš Korček, Thomas Madreiter (Spatial Planning, Vienna) and Dr. Michal Babiar (Spatial Planning, Bratislava).

Countries: AT, SK

project partner: iService Medien & Werbeagentur

The core task of the cross-border project “Network for Labourmarket Cooperation in the Border Region HU-AT (NetLab)” is the establishment of a cross-border network of regional social partners and labour market related stakeholders and institutions in the border regions of Austria and Hungary (the Lower Austrian Industrieviertel, Burgenland, West Hungary). Know-how transfer, awareness raising and the preparation of common strategies regarding the following topics should be achieved: lack of qualified employees, comparability of qualifications, cross-border employment service, etc.

mecca took part in the organisation of the first network meeting.

mecca supported the LEADER management region Römerland Carnuntum in organising the exhibition “People in Centrope” in Bruck on the Leitha, which was originally presented in the Planning Workshop Vienna. In 2008, mecca and partners prepared the exhibition on behalf of the Planning Association East and the City of Vienna (MA 18), which provided comprehensive insight into the planning and development activities in the CENTROPE region.

With the ETC project EUREGIO city.net, the Weinviertel Management aims at fostering a border-crossing city network Weinviertel-South Moravia. The main objectives are an increased cooperation between the cities and regional centres as well as a coordination of future development in the fields of sustainable city development, social and generational affairs and culture and education.
The following cities are involved: Deutsch-Wagram, Gänserndorf, Groß-Enzersdorf, Marchegg, Strasshof an der Nordbahn, Hollabrunn, Retz, Zistersdorf, Korneuburg, Stockerau, Laa an der Thaya, Mistelbach, Poysdorf and Wolkersdorf (Weinviertel, AT); Břeclav, Hodonín, Hustopeče, Kyjov, Mikulov, Moravský Krumlov and Znojmo (South Moravia, CZ).

Publication (German/Czech): EUREGIO city.net

20 years have passed since the fall of the iron curtain. Since then, cross-border cooperation has become an integral part of neighbouring regions in Europe. Innovative initiatives connect once separated regions. The EUREGIO Innovation Award 2009 is given by the regional management of Lower Austria and its partners to innovative, cross-border projects working on the “European Neighbourhood”. mecca provides support for the preparation and implementation of the event.

Countries: AT, SK, CZ, HU

Project Website: www.euregioforum.at/innopreis01.html

The touring exibition “European Region – People in Centrope” presents the economic, ecological and social development of the European cross-border region Centrope, which covers parts of Austria, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Hungary. A in-depth document detailing more that 50 different topics related to the Planning Association East was produced for the event. The project received an award of excellence from the UNESCO-Commission for it’s contributions to the UN “Decades Project”.

Project Website: www.wien.gv.at/stadtentwicklung/veranstaltungen/ausstellungen/europaregion/

German: www.wien.gv.at/stadtentwicklung/studien/pdf/b008030.pdf
Slovak: www.wien.gv.at/stadtentwicklung/studien/pdf/b008032.pdf
Czech: www.wien.gv.at/stadtentwicklung/studien/pdf/b008031.pdf

In 2008 the EUREGIO Innovation Award was offered for the seventh time by the regional management of Lower Austria and its partners (Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary) for innovative, cross-border projects under the slogan “Ready for Projects – Start of new cooperations”. mecca supported the preparation and implementation of the event.

Countries: AT, SK, CZ, HU

The ETC programme Slovakia-Austria 2007-2013 defines the availability of information for potential project partners as a major issue. Therefore the German translation of the English Implementation Manual provides detailed information on the programme and the submission of applications for Austrian project partners.

The national parks Thayatal and Podyji neighbour each other along the border between Austria and the Czech Republic. The parks are working to harmonise their management of natural resources within the joint project framework of the ‘European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) Austria – Czech Republic’. The aims of this project are coordinated research to safeguard the future development of the area, the preservation of biodiversity and the improvement of habitats.

Potential project holders and key stakeholders from Austria and Hungary were brought together in workshops in order to develop their theoretical knowledge of ETC programmes as well as provide practical tips about the Lead Partner Principle and develop ETC programmes. By using workshops, mecca creates an environment where potential partners from the border regions begin to build the necessary networks. The goal of the project is to bring potential partners together in the ETC programme through establishing a common knowledge base.

Countries: AT, HU

project partner: West Pannon Regional Development Agency

The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) is a new legal instrument at the service of cooperation between European regions and EU member states. It is directly applicable to all 27 EU member states and aims at creating so-called EGTCs, which are legal entities. An EGTC can organise and manage cross-border-, transnational- or interregional cooperation measures.
The handbook provides basic information on the EGTC with focus on the specific case of programme/project management for interested regions and institutions.

The Programme Complement (PC) is the principal programme guidance for the Operational Programme of ETC. It describes operative details and gives detailed information on programme management and implementation. The PC reflects the three strategic priorities of the operational programme as well as the three horizontal guiding principles for implementation: sustainable development, equal opportunities and cross-border partnership.

The bilingual handbook was drafted mainly for applicants and project partners. Additional information on handling standard tasks efficiently was presented to relevant authorities. Usability, clarity and completeness were emphasised during the work process.

The regional economy of the Austrian-Hungarian border region is traditionally small-scaled due to administrative borders and topography. To stay competitive in the European context, the local SME’s need to cooperate intensively and build up their cross-border networks. Thereby, common strategies can be developed to increase innovation and create added value for the entire region.

Countries: AT, HU

Project Website: http://www.regionet-aktiv.eu

Project partner: IBS – Schlögl Engineering Consultants, Institute of Systemic Development GmbH, West Pannon Regional Development Agency

The EUREGIO forum brought Lower Austria together with its neighbours based on their common interest in cross-border programmes to promote sustainability. In light of the establishment of the “Lead Partner Principle” and in combination with the new programme planning period, the partners are facing many new challenges. It is therefore especially important to establish a common structure for cross-border cooperation between regional institutions and to ensure that the network that is established is capable of taking on (and overcoming) these new challenges in every facet of the program.

Countries: AT, SK, HU

Project Website: http://www.euregioforum.at/innopreis01.html

project partner: West Pannon Regional Development Agency, Regional Development Association Central Lower Austria, Regional Management of Burgenland

The growing energy demand and increasing prices of conventional energy sources promise a great growth potential of renewable energy in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The expansion of the academic course on Renewable Energy in the CEE creates great opportunities for an internationalisation of the course contents and its participants.

Countries: AT, SK, HU

Project Website: newenergy.tuwien.ac.at/home/

Cross-border cooperation is more important than ever: European competition between regions, EU funds, the disappearance of borders for international markets as well as population concentration in metropolitan areas all contribute to the urgency of establishing strong regional relations. The INTERREG IIIA Project Citynet supports cross-border cooperation of municipalities and cities in the Austrian-Hungarian border Region.

Project partner: Lower Austrian Villages and Cities Renewal Agency, City of Baden, City of Köszeg, City of Sopron, Stadtland – Engineering Office for Spatial Planning, Regional Development, Landscape Planning and Landscape Conservation, Wiener Neustadt

Countries: AT, HU

The handbook for project holders was developed as part of the INTERACT project IQ-Train. It provides basic and practical information on requirements, procedures and relevant institutions of the programmes during the 2007-2013 periode for potential project holders in all languages of the six border regions. The project aims to be an easy-to-read practical overview of the programme requirements that is accessible online.

The seminar acts as platform for international experts in spatial and environmental planning to clarify and analyse the space and environment politics within their countires. Covered issues so far: Spatial and Environmental Planning in CEE (2009) | Ready, Steady, Go – Strategies how to integrate into European spatial development policies (2007) | „Ideal European regions“ versus „Real European regions“ (2005) | Myths of Metropolis – Urban Density versus Spatial Spreading. The Processes of Concentration in European „Reform Countries“ revisited (2003) | National Spatial Planning in regard to European spatial Development (2002) | National Parks: Treasure or Burden for Regional Development (2000) | Urban Development: „Different problems – Different approaches?“ (1999) | Regional Development Policies (1998)

Project Website: region.tuwien.ac.at/aktuell.html

project partner: Research Unit for Regional Planning and Regional Development (Institute of Spatial Planning, Vienna University of Technology)