Political ambitions for CENTROPE

CENTROPE Capacity: High ambitions on the political level

The launch of the CENTROPE Capacity project is highly welcomed by regional political leaders in Austria, the Czech Republic, Hungary and Slovakia. Joint project implementation is considered a priority for transnational cooperation in the upcoming three years. Coordination of economic, infrastructural, educational and cultural transnational policies should result in enhancing the region’s attractiveness for residents, investors and tourists.

“We grow together. Together we grow.” The overarching motto is clear: transnational cooperation in CENTROPE is expected to strengthen the economic potential of the partner regions as well as to create an increasingly integrated transnational region. The CENTROPE Capacity project is breaking new ground: “The project of strengthening relations and building a large region with more than six million people is off the beaten track even within the EU”, says Roman Onderka, Mayor of Brno (Czech Republic). With a view to extending the horizon of transnational cooperation, the Mayor of Bratislava (Slovakia), Andrej Durkovský, emphasises that it is important to learn “working on the principles of supra-regionalism, not just locally.” Pavol Frešo, Governor of the Bratislava Region (Slovakia), holds that CENTROPE Capacity is set “to achieve a common goal, namely the joint development of the participating regions, exchange of know-how and best practices.” Tibor Mikuš, Governor of the Trnava Region (Slovakia), adds that the transformation from bilateral to multilateral cooperation should foster better use of the innovatory potential of the region. Johann Heuras, member of the Provincial Government of Lower Austria responsible for spatial planning, expects that “the exchange of information and interregional cooperation of experts and decision makers within the quadrangle will be significantly improved and intensified” through CENTROPE Capacity. Intensified cooperation at the political and business levels is also important for the Governor of South Moravia, Michal Hašek, who hopes that “mutual contacts between organisations, institutions and companies will become more intensive” and, as mentioned by the Mayor of Győr (Hungary), Zsolt Borkai, “not only governmental initiators are aware of the benefits of cross-border activities, but NGOs and companies, too, have joined.”

New networks, new markets, new jobs

The development and implementation of specific cooperation projects are foreseen in four domains: Science and Business, Spatial Integration, Human Capital as well as Culture and Tourism. “Only a coordinated approach and common transnational cooperation in these important issues will help our countries to prevail in a globalised competitive situation“, in the words of Erwin Pröll, Governor of Lower Austria. Governor Hašek expects that “fundamental studies and reports mapping the status quo in the fields of regional development, innovation, technology, services, tourism, spatial integration, human capital and labour market will be drawn up” to outline “future trends, tendencies and measures”. Moreover, these reports could later be used as “guidelines” for active approaches to problems and their solutions. Governor Frešo sees the greatest potential for the submission of projects in the areas of research, development and innovation. The Mayor of Vienna (Austria), Michael Häupl, is convinced that “intensified cooperation between Viennese businesses and companies in the CENTROPE partner regions can open up new markets and create employment”. Additionally, Governor Hašek stresses that “a great priority for the South Moravian Region lies in the area of human resources, especially in education, e.g. the cooperation between secondary and vocational schools, comparison of educational systems, levels and quality of various levels of education with a direct link between the educational system and the labour market”. Mayor Durkovský likewise prioritises solutions for a common labour market and labour policies.

Slovak and Czech partners push for a common marketing strategy

Particularly for the Slovak and Czech partners, main priorities relate to the promotion of regional culture and tourism and the development of a common marketing strategy, as mentioned by Mayor Stefan Bošnák (Trnava): “The development of contacts and communication, the exchange of ideas and the creation of new networks in different areas will create a solid basis for marketing to unify the Central European region”. Similarly, Mayor Onderka holds that a common marketing strategy, in conjunction with efforts to improve the infrastructure and thus improve the competitiveness of the region, is an important asset for regional development.

Transport and energy are top priorities for Austrian and Hungarian partner regions

For Andrea Fraunschiel, Mayor of Eisenstadt (Burgenland), “the implementation of projects in the field of public transport is particularly relevant for the development and improvement of the location standing of Eisenstadt.” Speaking for Lower Austria, Johann Heuras agrees: “We want Lower Austria to be one of the top regions, thus an optimal strategy for national and international transport system is called for.” The Hungarian Mayors Zsolt Borkai (Győr), György Ipkovich (Szombathely) and Tamás Fodor (Sopron) equally consider harmonised spatial planning and transport connections to be of primary importance. The pressing issue of energy autonomy is a priority for the Governor of Burgenland (Austria), Hans Niessl: “The concept of absolute regional energy autonomy, which is consistently and successfully implemented in Burgenland, would constitute a highly attractive challenge for the entire CENTROPE region.”

Setting an example for transnational regional development

With a view to prolonging and intensifying the cooperation established during the project, Mayor Häupl anticipates that “in ten years from now, CENTROPE should be considered an exemplary form of cooperation and model region for transnational, sustainable regional development as well as rank among the most dynamic economic regions in the EU”. Mayor Tamás Fodor (Sopron) mentions the advantages of scale and unity in presenting demands to the European Union. Governor Erwin Pröll feels confident that it will be possible to regard the interregional disparities between the four countries as both an opportunity and an economic driver and thus to exploit them, rather than to be hampered by them.

Success of project cooperation is also measured in terms of identification. “CENTROPE is to promote the prosperous merging of regions and help to overcome the (still existing) barriers in the minds of inhabitants”, Governor Niessl proposes. At the organisational level, Mayor Borkai stresses the importance of developing “a partnership based on confidence, which must be the main outcome of project activities.” Mayor Fraunschiel wants CENTROPE to “serve the prosperity of its citizens” and to “contribute to peaceful cohabitation and a merging of the community of nations within a common Europe”. Ambitions are high, and Mayor Ipkovich may be right when he expects the region to be known as “most liveable region in Europe” in 2020.