Central Mountains
About the project
Full name of the project: "From the Alps to the Carpathians - strengthening governence models for sustainable development of mountain areas in Central Europe"
Source of funding: European Regional Development Fund Interreg Central Europe Programme 2021-2027, ACEP own contribution financed by the National Institute of Freedom – Center for Civil Society Development as part of the Government Programme for Civil Society Organisations Development for 2018-2030 CSODev
Implementation period: 01/04/2023-31/03/2026
Project partners:
- Rzeszów County - Lead Partner
- Association of the Carpathian Euroregion Poland
- Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia (Slovakia)
- Carpathian Foundation (Hungary)
- Association of Regional Brands (Czech Republic)
- Foundation of Landscape Protection (Poland)
- Eurac research (Italy)
- Institute of International Sociology of Gorizia (Italy)
- EGTC Alpine Pearls (Austria)
- CIPRA International Lab (Austria)
- Brasov County (Romania).
Total value of the project: EUR 2,334,902.00 (80% co-financing)
Value of the project implemented by ACEP: EUR 358,480.00 (80% co-financing ERDF, 20% CSODev)
The purpose of the project
Strengthening and improving governance models in the Alpine-Carpathian mountain areas of Central Europe, with particular emphasis on cross-border and transnational cooperation structures for solving common challenges for the sustainable development of mountain regions. As a result, cross-border areas and communities in the Alps and Carpathians will benefit from strengthened structures for long-term cooperation using a modern approach (participatory - involving young people, multi-level, multi-sector).
Idea and short description of the project
The Central Mountains project addresses the challenge of achieving long-term, sustainable cooperation across borders in mountain areas through improved governance structures and processes that are key to strengthening regional development and cohesion across borders. These cross-border and transnational cooperation structures will support autonomous operation and continuous coordination rather than working in project cycles solely dependent on EU funds. The innovation of the project lies in the innovativeness of its transnational approach (Alpine-Carpathian perspective) and results focused on governance structures.
Activities
- Capitalization of results and initiatives from previous projects by preparing reports.
- Creation of a joint Alpine-Carpathian strategy for sustainable, community-led development of mountain areas in Central Europe and solutions for use in mountain areas in Central Europe and beyond.
- Preparation of 4 action plans for selected areas: for the development of sustainable tourism in the Carpathians, the future EGTC Alpine Pearls, the involvement of citizens in decision-making processes in the Carpathians and in the area of public-private cooperation in the Sudetes for regional products and tourist services.
- Testing renewed transnational governance structures in Alpine and Carpathian mountain areas: Carpathian Sustainable Tourism Platform, new Alpine EGTC structure and Carpathian Civil Society Platform.
- Creation and testing of new Cross-Border Functional Areas (TOF) in the mountain areas of the Carpathians and Sudetes (3 pilot actions), including the creation of a mobile application.
- Study visits to the Czech Republic, Austria, Hungary and Slovakia.
- Road Show with public events in the Alps, Carpathians and Sudetes.
