Priority 2

Key Information

Summary

The Schneebergland area and Keszthely with its surroundings are rural and touristic small regions. Both regions face similar problems that entail demographic changes: an ageing population, the exodus of the younger generation to urban areas. Torn family structures, new lifestyles and shrinking financial resources in villages require new measures in order to strengthen solidarity between older and younger generations. The two regions decided to work out solutions for the above mentioned problem in a common project.

The project promotes a positive approach to population ageing and creates the right environment to experience active ageing and to strengthen mutual awareness between younger and older generations in the Austrian and Hungarian regions. It prepares settlements for the demographic changes and it helps them be proactive and thus ensure a future for themselves.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Specialist conferences in the topic of active ageing, preparation of an information folder = ‘Elderly Yellow Pages’ for the elderly that contains useful information about institutions, offers in the partnering regions


• Creation and operation of an interregional network for the active elderly population with the inclusion of relevant decision-makers, the young and the elderly and social service providers


• Demographic analysis and strategy development in the partner regions regarding ‘ageing population’


• Working out a ‘Regional Janitor’ model for the elderly, analysis of the region, exploration of elderly-friendly infrastructures and residential areas, working out a regional concept for local supply and for accessible and generation-friendly spatial design


• Draw the attention of regional economic players to create and provide elderly-friendly, accessible products and services. Trial mentoring programme with leading regional companies, assisted by external experts


• Regional elderly and intergenerational meetings in different topics and further training in Austria and Hungary

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Key Information

Summary

This project is about securing the water supply for the Pannonia-Lake Neusiedler region using a cross-border network of the existing water supply systems. The goal is to ensure that a sufficient quantity and quality of drinking water is secured now and into the future to provide a basis for population growth and industrial, economic and tourism development.

The project incorporates the planning, reactivation and, where necessary, the construction of new water supply systems.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Water law submission and implementation plans for transport pipelines, pressure booster stations, UV systems and a water storage plant including a pump station and UV system.
• Trial and well drilling
• Water law submission plans for the reactivation of the well field
• Control system planning

Key Information

Summary

In 2007 the municipalities of Draßburg (Burgenland) and Agendorf (Hungary) launched a joint cross-border project called Interreg IIIA which was aimed at providing bilingual childcare for preschool-aged children. Given the positive results of this project, there demand on both sides of the border for an expansion of the programme quickly became very loud. The interest in this programme was huge, exceeding all expectations.

The project is aimed at exposing children to the multilingual nature of their region at a young age. In the same way, the project aims to encourage them to actively embrace this linguistic diversity and to learn the languages in their later education.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Several visits to the partner town each year
• Joint excursions
• Joint Christmas party
• Joint end-of-year celebrations

Key Information

Summary

Composting is an excellent way to avoid greenhouse gas emissions, returning nutrients and carbon from organic waste to the natural nutrient and carbon cycle.

The project area is a diverse, natural region, making it an obvious place to engage in cross-border co-operation in developing recycling concepts which will improve compost quality, allow people to better assess when compost is ready for use and for which plants it is most suitable and to identify new areas of use, helping us to achieve our environmental and climate protection goals.

One of the goals of the project is to achieve better natural resource management (nutrients nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, carbon, humus) and to encourage reuse rather than disposal!

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Development and optimisation of recycling concepts for organic waste


• Development of improved methods for determining when compost is ripe and the plants for which it is suitable


• Reduction of salt and heavy metal content of compost


• Development of new areas of use (e.g. in viticulture)


• Quantifying environmental and climate-related effects (nitrate reaching ground water, humus and energy balance for compost fertilisation)

Key Information

Summary

There is a wide range of market-ready technology that can help in making construction more energy-efficient; it is just waiting to be used! This technology can provide economic impulses, creating jobs and regional added value, especially in the areas of renovating and modernising buildings.

Unfortunately, this potential goes largely unrecognised as people often unaware of these technologies. There is considerable room for improvement in this respect. Existing education services are hardly used and there is need for target-group specific information, training, professional development and qualification.

This is where the CEEBEE project comes in:
the first step is to build up a defined supra-regional and cross-border education network comprising at least 40 AT and HU institutes with a focus on energy-efficient construction and related topics regarding renewable energies and energy efficiency in general. Activities and tools tailored to cater to concrete needs regarding supporting information, awareness-building, training and professional development and qualifications will be developed in a joint effort which will culminate in the creation of a "Center of Excellence" for energy-efficient construction and renewable energy.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Research and support for existing supra-regional education offers and needs
• Development of new, tailored, target group-specific, trilingual, jointly created educational programmes and related pilot programmes
• Adoption of newly-developed education programmes by existing education providers (including integration into existing training programmes)
• Development and definition of regional, strategic development institutes
• Drafting and signing of an education and training programme in the partner regions for the coming years
• Creation of a "Center of Excellence" for energy-efficient construction and renewable energy.

Key Information

Summary

The opening of the borders and the integration of Austria, Hungary and Slovenia into the EU also opened up new, intensive economic, social and cultural relationships in all three directions. The towns and cities of the regions are central players in overcoming borders. The project is aimed at taking a joint approach to overcome the common challenges which are posed by the structural change in these regional cities.

The main goal is to build up sustainable partnerships between 24 cities in this intersection of three countries in the East Steiermark, East Slovenia and South-West Hungary region (simultaneiously, a similar SI-AT project will be carried out in coordination with the ETZ programme). Joint future strategies will be developed and pilot programmes will be executed for a range of different areas including town planning, economic development and sport, cultural and youth partnerships. This will position the cities in this 3-way border region as an economic hub at the intersection of Central, Eastern and Southern Europe.

Activities which have already proven successful, such as the sale of voucher booklets containing coupons for use at around 1000 businesses in eight towns in East Steiermark (2.8 million sold at €10 each!) will be expanded and new activities will be introduced. Another example of an activity which has experienced considerable success is the "Spring Bonus" programme which invites participants to collect tokens, encouraging customer loyalty.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Intensifying co-operation and information exchange among cities
• Creating joint future strategies
• Carrying out pilot programmes
• Developing and executing organisation models for joint activities

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Key Information

Summary

For more than 500 years Croats have been living in numerous villages in Burgenland that used to be Western Hungary. They kept their language and culture and have been a stable link between the counties of Burgenland and Western Transdanubia. Nowadays multilingualism plays an important role, because due to the accession of Slavic speaking countries also economic ties have become stronger. This recent development enhances the opportunities of people speaking a Slavic language and is a big advantage for the region as well since multilingualism makes cross-border co-operation easier.

The project objective is to strengthen the linguistic competences and to boost and increase cross-border co-operation

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• An exhibition and an accompanying catalogue with interesting documentation on Croatian history in the Western Transdanubia – Burgenland regions
• Creation of an adult educational institute that would improve Croatian language training
• Setting up a music program with Croatian songs attractive to young people

Key Information

Summary

For ten years, the state government of Burgenland has been running an independent regional information system. The county of Vas has been running a similar system for seven years. At the moment, these services are only relevant to the country in question due to the different maps and databases used. This project aims to improve the systems to enable them to deliver harmonised regional information.

The goal is to move to a system which functions without the need for physical exchanges of data. This will make it possible to engage in cross-border planning. By coordinating the definitions and planning foundations, it will be possible to avoid contradictory plans, allowing both partners to use their financial and environmental resources more efficiently.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Harmonising the similar, but differently positioned systems, improving the quality of accessibility
• Guaranteeing integration into CentropeMAP, designing the integration of topographical maps and road maps into CentropeMAP
• Purchase and use of new databases and distribution of publications
• Joint services on a map and data basis
• Distribution of disaster management information on a POI basis and the publication on a map basis for experts in both regions - with the pilot support of the joint, cross-border exercises carried out independent of the project in 2010.

Key Information

Summary

In the last few decades an extensive bicycle network has been built in Burgenland and in Styria. Cycling is a major element in the touristic palette of these regions. Bicycle touring holidays are much less developed in Hungary when compared with Austria. Szombathely and its surroundings have not been connected to the cross-border cycling network yet. Following the Schengen border opening, inclusion of the less frequented and less significant border crossing points would create a cross-border connection in the cycling networks. In addition, there is great potential in surveying the bicycle tourism offer in the border region and in the co-ordination of holiday offers. The Iron Curtain cycling lane initiative confirms on a Europe-wide need to develop cross-border cycle tourism offers. So far cycle tourism development with a cross-border approach has not been carried out in the Hungarian region in question; no cross-border cycle tourism offers are available at the moment.

The project primarily aims to promote the concept of ‘cycling adventure’ in the border region by developing and selling marketable cycle-tourism offers and by implementing quality management activities.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Cycling infrastructure development in the border region (construction of a cycling lane between Narda and Schandorf, mounting of road signs, creation of border crossing points for cyclists)
• Development of the regional touristic offer based on natural and cultural tourism attractions
• Increasing the number of guest nights in the border region through development of cycling tourism offers
• Shaping awareness among the project region's population regarding ‘cycling experience’
• Creation of a common marketing strategy to better position business offers

Key Information

Summary

There has not been a common higher education institution in the EU that would provide specialist training in the fields of defense, security, public service and health care. Yet, it is precisely these fields that know no borders where cross-border cooperation makes sense. The Central European Police College (MEPA), which was born out of an Austrian-Hungarian initiative, could serve as best-practice and a reference model.

The project aims to create a common university cluster offering specialist training in defense, security, public service and health care. A study explores the needs of the target population in the programme area from a professional, scientific and institutional point of view.

Three curricula are designed within the framework of the project covering the following topics: safety of road transport (including the transport of dangerous goods, security staff, and freight transport), prevention and protection against crime and terrorist attacks, protection against serious industrial accidents, and public health care.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• A study exploring needs from a professional, scientific and institutional point of view
• Developing at least three accredited curricula, or curricula potentially suitable for accreditation at least in the programme area, for Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes
• Creating university structures for specialist training programmes
• Public relations work (project website, brochures, television reports)

Key Information

Summary

One area in which there is great potential to save CO2 is in the reduction of electricity and heating use in buildings and infrastructure. Public buildings, in particular, due to their age and poor energy efficiency, have great potential for energy savings. Unfortunately, all too often, the public purse does not have the funds to carry out energy modernisation measures.
The energy contracting models which have been developed over the last few years could offer municipalities some interesting solutions in this context. The system operates on the basis that the energy-saving measures reduce the annual energy costs - e.g. those of a municipality. The investment is refinanced by the savings in energy costs. The financing is contracted out, meaning that municipality is not required to pre-finance for the work. Instead, it will continue to pay its old energy costs as it did before the work. Once the investment has been paid off, the municipality will go on to pay the new, reduced energy costs.

This project is aimed at achieving increased energy efficiency in public buildings and institutions through increased use of energy contracting models. For this reason, it is necessary to make information and energy contracting models available on both sides of the border. This will allow more municipalities to take advantage of models which are tailored to their needs.
As part of this project, five energy contracting programmes will be launched in AT and HU. The participating municipalities will be rewarded with energy savings and businesses in the regions in both countries will be glad of the new orders that these investments will mean for them. Perhaps the biggest advantage is that the residents in each municipality will benefit from the savings made by the local authorities.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Information and energy contracting models to be made available on both sides of the border, as well as development of new models which are tailored to the municipalities’'
• needs
• Implementation of five energy contracting programmes in project reasons AT and HU.
• Development of cross-border energy contracting competence partnerships 

Key Information

Summary

Vineyards are often bereft of biodiversity due to the extensive use of insecticides and the lack of bushes. This often puts them at odds with environmental protection interests. The project partners aim to establish environmentally-friendly viticulture in West Hungary, Burgenland and Vienna.

One of the goals of the project is to raise awareness of the multi-functionality of the areas used in viticulture and to create a synthesis between production and nature.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Preparation and development
• Education in nature and environmentally-friendly viticulture practices
• Demonstrations

Key Information

Summary

The number of people using passenger cars has significantly increased in the Austrian-Hungarian border region in recent years. The reason for this is the increased cross-border traffic due to the Austrian labour market opening up to Hungarian workers and also to the fact that many commuters still prefer individual means of transportation. For a sustainable reduction of traffic first mobility patterns among commuters must be explored and how these patterns are influenced by the workplace. Based on the findings residents of the border region must be encouraged to use environmentally friendly means of transportation.

The aim of the project is to survey the mobility patterns of commuters in the Austrian-Hungarian border region, and to encourage environmentally friendly means of transportation among people. First the travel practices are surveyed with a questionnaire and precise data is collected regarding motivation, personal needs and behaviour. In light of this data – together with selected employers from the region – measures are developed to encourage environmentally friendly transportation practices. This includes a more intense use of public means of transportation, encouraging cycling, carpooling, or the restriction of workplace parking space among others. Decision-maker officials responsible for transportation development and transportation companies of the region are involved in the project.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Situational analysis on the transportation and mobility patterns of commuters in the border region
• Exploration and selection of employers
• Survey conducted on the mobility practices of commuters, an analysis of opportunities that could contribute to a change in mobility practices
• Together with the participating employers different measure packages are worked out to realise eco-mobility concepts
• Introduction of these measure packages and an assessment of their effect
• Workshops organised to spread the eco-mobility toolkit among participants and potential participating employers
• Submitting proposals to regional decision-makers

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Key Information

Summary

Different regions compete with one another, may it be on a national or international level. Similarly to citizens, enterprises also have very high and differentiated expectations regarding their location. The definition, provision and development of adequate locations greatly contribute to boosting the competitiveness of a region and to improving quality of life. When company premises are selected proximity of economic and social institutions and labour availability are important factors.

In the ERRAM HU-AT project a cross-border accessibility model is elaborated that cover Lower-Austria, Burgenland and the Western Transdanubia regions. The creation of identical basic figures and calculation methods enable a comparative evaluation of the locations from temporally, spatial and thematic perspectives for the entire project region.

Objectives:

• The creation of a strategic planning tool that makes it possible to calculate and present location quality in a cross-border context on small-scale and independent of administrative borders.


• The ERRAM enables project partners to create the planning basis for regional development and spatial planning of the area in question.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Creation of a cross-border, synchronised database that contains relevant location information


• Modelling cross-border accessibility matrices


• Programming a common GIS-Tool to calculate regional potentials; evaluate and present achievements in a ‘Potentials of the border region’ map


• Execution of pilot activities in partner regions

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Key Information

Summary

With the ÖkoBusinessplanWien in view, an exchange of information and experience in the Gyõr-Moson-Sopron region is facilitated between Hungarian and Austrian companies with the help of the Vienna Economic Chamber’s network in regard to energy saving measures and energy efficiency.

Within the framework of the project, informative events are organised for stakeholders that provide aid schemes in the field of energy efficiency in order to familiarise them with Austrian and Hungarian companies across the border. The project also includes developing training programmes for interested companies and consultants, as well as setting up a local coordination office. An informative website and brochures in German and Hungarian make the results of the project visible for the wider public.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Mapping ongoing activities supporting the energy efficiency of the business sector in the region


• Training programmes, network building, and exchanges of experience for energy consultants


• Developing a concept of consultative, training and information supply for companies


• 40 pilot consultations in the field of energy at companies


• Developing energy use concepts for relevant sectors in the region


• Awareness-raising, events, network building, and exchanges of experience for companies


• Evaluating ESP, analysing factors contributing to success in order to launch similar, sustainable programmes


• Creating a website and issuing press releases


• Creating a well-functioning project management in accordance with ETC directives

Key Information

Summary

The main motivation behind ESPAN is to achieve climate protection targets and to put local and regional resources to the best possible use in the production of energy. In the long term, the goal is to become completely energy independent from energy imports, especially energy generated from fossil fuels.

ESPAN represents an effort to work towards sustainable, diversified energy development at a bilateral, regional, municipal and private level. There is a special focus on the areas of energy efficiency (saving energy), energy storage (logistics) and energy production.

To these ends, requirement-oriented analyses and studies have been carried out e.g. regarding energy optimising through modernisation of Radkersburg High School, on the use of renewable energy at the Bük spa or suitability of infrared aerial images to assess buildings' thermal insulation and efficiency. To increase awareness and to set regional impulses, the concrete implementation is the most important part of the project. For this reason, 11 cross-border pilot projects have been planned.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Development of an energy strategy for the Pannonian region
• Development of a network with 50 active partners
• Creation of 30 municipal-public concepts and strategies
• 40-50 eco-checks for municipalities of various sizes
• Implementation of 11 co-operative pilot projects

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Key Information

Summary

The thorough knowledge of biological phenomena and ecological correlations is no longer enough for modern environmental and nature education. In order to be a successful environmental educator, one needs to display social and personal competences such as didactic expertise, methodological openness, flexibility and creativity.

A solid training and further training of environmental educators, nursery, kindergarten, elementary and secondary school teachers takes centre stage in the project. The major emphasis is placed on transferring the didactics and methodology of innovative and sustainable environmental education. Objectives include a bilateral environmental education course containing modules of different themes, content and methodology. Participants of the course can experiment with and apply what they learnt about environmental education in ten summer camps organised for school classes in Csömödér, Hungary, and in the CampLobau National Park in Vienna.

‘Fresh A.I.R.’ also serves the purpose of initiating the creation of a network and an environmental education programme in Western Transdanubia entitled ‘green nursery schools’. The comprehensive project documentation and a professional DVD video report also serve as pedagogical illustration and teaching materials, as a web presentation and as PR materials.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Bilateral course for environmental educators
• 10 bilateral training camps within the framework of the bilateral course with the participation of school classes
• DVD-documentation as pedagogical illustration and teaching material
• network initiative and environmental education programme in Hungarian green nursery schools

Key Information

Summary

This world heritage region and the cross-border national park are popular excursion and holiday destinations for cyclists and nature lovers. The St Martins thermal park is also a key tourist attraction in the region. In spite of this, there is no direct connection to the public transport network. One key step towards mobility development in this context is the NSB line.

To secure sustainable rail operation, a number of investments in rail infrastructure have been planned for the coming years. Furthermore, on the Hungarian side of the border, bike infrastructure is also lacking, both in terms of falling short of the quality criteria applicable in Burgenland and in terms of the routes and manner of construction.

This project is aimed at securing modern and high-performance rail transport and at achieving higher operational safety on the NSB line in accordance with the results of the ETZ project "NSB Feasibility Study". Key targets for this project include the construction of a seamless, cross-border bike network based on the bike transport concept which was developed as part of the "GreMo Pannonia" project and the positioning of the region as an "Model Ecotourism Region"

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Modernisation of NSB Bahn rail


• Connection of Hanság to the bike network


• Improving eco-mobility in Seewinkel

Key Information

Summary

The Lake Neusiedler-Fertõ-tó region and the neighbouring Seewinkels-Fertõzug and Waasen-Hanság landscapes are unique, internationally-significant natural corridors. For this reason, a number of protection initiatives have been established. In order to avoid conflicting goals from being set by economic interest groups and those interested in the conservation of the region's natural resources, it is of particular importance to develop this region in a sustainable manner.

This project is aimed at bolstering environmental protection, increasing co-operation in matters relating to nature protection and environmental education in the Austro-Hungarian border region, creating a joint exhibition on water and wetland protection and developing a sustainable partnership structure with an organisatorial foundation.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Improving the Seewinkelhof infrastructure
• "Mirror image" environmental education programme
• National park excursion guide concept
• Joint monograph for Fertõ-Hanság Nemzeti Park - Nationalpark Neusiedler See-Seewinkel 

Key Information

Summary

In October 2006, the site to promote mobility in Burgenland "b-mobile.info" was launched in Eisenstadt as part of the Austro-Hungarian-Slovakian project "Sustainable, environmentally-friendly transport and tourism in sensitive areas according to the example of the region of Lake Neusiedler-Fertö-tö".
"b-mobil.info" is a centralised, one-stop shop for all mobility or ecotourism-related questions in the region and is a source of information for passengers and a coordination hub for public transport projects.

The project features a comprehensive eco-mobility package for the improvement of regional travel in the Burgenland-West Hungary region.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Creation of a network of mobility centres as coordination points for public transport and cycling
• Feasibility studies: cross-border transport association
• Cross-border public transport concept
• Creation and development of a cross-border public transport information system
• Development of a cross-border cycling network
• Improving the connection to regional centres

Key Information

Summary

In the framework of the project “Cross-border railway connection Burgenland-Western Hungary”, which will be co-financed by the European Union through the EFRD in the framework of the Program for cross-border cooperation ATHU 2007-2013, Nyugat-dunántúli Regionális Fejlesztési Ügynökség Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft. investigates innovative solutions for cross-border public transport connections between Western Hungary and Burgenland. Such connections remain nonexistent, although about 8000 workers and students commute every day between Austria and Hungary.

Several concrete proposals for the creation of appropriate short-term bus connections between Burgenland and Western Hungary were already made as a result of earlier projects, but no recommendations addressing railway issues were drafted.

In order to cope with the lack of information, feasibility studies, technical analyses and cost-benefit analyses will be carried out for the following sections:

• entire reconstruction of the freight transport connection between Szombathely and Oberwart in the Pinka valley;


• extension of the two-tracks connection between Sopron and Ebenfurth.

For both new tracks, the technical and financial feasibility of planed works will be checked, i.e. the added-value of the investment considering costs induced will be checked through a cost-benefit analysis. Additionally, the regional economic impact of the Oberwart-Szombathely connection will be assessed, and a strategy to stimulate investments in the extension of the Hungarian-Austrian Ebenfuhrt-Sopron-Győr connection will be drawn up.

Following tasks will be implemented in the framework of the project:

• economic feasibility studies, technical analyses, analyses of operating costs and cost-benefit analyses for the Oberwart-Szombathely and Sopron-Ebenfurth railway connections;


• study of the regional economic impact in Austria and Hungary of the Oberwart-Szombathely railway connection;


• development of a strategy to increase investments in the Hungarian Austrian Ebenfuhrt-Sopron-Győr train connection;


• drawing up of an implementation report drawing conclusions and making recommendations concerning the Hungarian-Austrian railway network;


• technical analysis and comparison with alternative routes, definition of track routes (scenarios);


• comparative analysis between regional and light rail systems and increased integration of the railway system in the regional mobility system;


• organization of two target group-oriented events;


• project closing conference and press conference.

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Key Information

Summary

The first railway project to connect the area to the east of Lake Neusiedler was created in 1873. In spite of a number of comprehensive investment measures over the past years (expansion in 2002, laying of new track from Frauenkirchen - St Andrä in 2003, electrification in 2004, expansion of railway station at Neusiedl am See - Bad in 2006), tracks and the security technology are in need of renewal. As part of the feasibility study, it will be necessary to determine the optimal use of resources and the prioritisation of the investment measures over the coming years.

As part of the project, the maintenance and investment costs for the Neusiedler Seebahn AG railway company should be assessed. As part of this project, the measures which are to be carried out will be listed, along with the associated costs. This shall form the basis for future projects.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Collection of base data: Substructure, super structure and bridge construction from Neusiedl am See to Fertöszentmiklos
• Assessment of the state of repair of the FSE infrastructure from Neusiedl am See to Fertöszentmiklos
• Investment plan for substructure, super structure and bridge construction
• NSB AG investment programme for SFE infrastructure

Key Information

Summary

In front of the backdrop of the developments and experience in other areas with large nature reserves, an organisation model for nature reserves is to be developed. The Naturpark was the first cross-border nature reserve project between AT and HU. Since their establishment, both nature reserves have grown in popularity and are viewed as a model region for the development of ecotourism and related infrastructure. It is now time to focus on investing in software and the transition to a borderless nature reserve, transforming the region into a real model.

The goal of the project is to use nature reserves and world heritage on both sides of the border to create a new, borderless natural attraction. One key aspect of the project is raising awareness among the population of the value of these areas. Measures to position the cross-border nature reserve on the market, paying special attention to providing accessibility to people with disabilities. It will also be necessary to create the foundations for the development of a Hungarian national reserve strategy.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Know-how transfer through workshops and excursions and guidelines for cross-border co-operation
• Nature reserve awareness raising through workshops, photo competition, sporting competitions, a school competition and the distribution of a bilingual nature reserve magazine
• Study trips to the nature reserve for tourism operators covering the two nature reserves, nature reserve teaching book in two languages, training and qualifications
• Production of guidelines and a joint development concept, development of cross-border tourism activities using regional products
• Joint marketing and corporate identity (e.g. in the form of a corporate identity handbook, opening and closing conference)
• Advertising the nature reserve in other neighbouring regions (existing and future nature reserves) in the form of roadshows
• Preparing a nature reserve quality system using standardised criteria

Key Information

Summary

Through its role in school and extra-curricular education, sport makes a key contribution to the development of Europe's human capital. Sport teaches values which contribute to the development of knowledge, motivation, skills and responsibility. In addition to helping to develop sporting talent, time spent playing sport also has positive effects when it comes to education and health and fitness.

The goal of both institutions is the development of a sport-oriented training model that will improve education levels and provide students with international experience at a young age.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Carrying out three trainer professional development workshops in Hungary and three in Austria with competent international mentors
• Professional assessment
• Joint training camps (under 15- under 17) combined with language lessons in Hungary and Austria (a total of three times with rotating locations)
• Purchasing equipment (ECG, ultrasound device, bioptron light, massage bed, heart rate monitor, performance-measuring software and hardware etc.)
• Football tournaments for under 13-14, under 15 and under 17 (a total of nine times, six in Hungary and three in Austria) - organisation, venue and personnel and execution

Key Information

Summary

While Zsira-Lutzmannsburg-Nikitsch are neighbours, for a number of reasons, it is not possible to move freely between them.
There is a road leading out of Zsira in the direction of Lutzmannsburg, however access is closed to traffic by a "Closed to Through Traffic" sign, as traffic would disturb guests at the Lutzmannburg thermal spring.  There is another road which runs from Nikitsch to the Hungarian border. There is a low quality continuation of this street which was part of the former border guards' access path. This is another example of sub-standard and insecure vehicle and cyclist access. These problems are a point of constant conflict; Lutzmannsburg is a cyclist hub and it is recognised that the encouragement of eco-mobility in the micro-region is an important development point. In spite of this, the region's potential is not being realised.

This project is aimed at renovating and expanding three road stages which will provide complete cross-border mobility: 1) a new border crossing will be created between Lutzmannburg and Zsira, 2) the road leading from the border of Zsira to the new border crossing will be renovated, 3) continuation and expansion of the existing road which connects Nikitsch to the national border.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Preparatory work for investments


• Expansion of the infrastructure


• Public relations work


• Ecotourism programmes and cyclist events

Key Information

Summary

In the Austrian-Hungarian border region, it is a common and central objective to preserve biodiversity and the richness of natural resources, which are part of the cross-border ecosystem. Environmental education programmes aimed at raising the environmental awareness of children and young people are major tools in achieving these objectives. Pedagogical measures of this nature have only a limited place in the school environment.

The project introduces awareness-raising environmental education methods for children, young people and teachers. The central objective is to make them familiar with the values and significance of natural habitats, as well as to awaken curiosity and a researcher spirit in them. The five-day ‘Green Week’ summer camp organised in the CampLobau National Park in Vienna provides an opportunity for Hungarian children and young people to meet Austrians of similar age, to share adventure with them, to gain a lasting experience of nature, and to get to know different motivating forms of environmental education. The eco-railway is an attractive vehicle of transportation which takes its passengers to environmental stops where they can gain hands-on experience about biodiversity by completing tasks, solving quizzes and performing experiments. A dedicated network facilitates cross-border information exchange in connection with environmental education, and it initiates environmental education events for children, young people and teachers.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Developing the environmental education programme entitled ‘The Forest Experience’ and testing it in kindergartens and schools
• Building a network among environmental teachers of the partner regions
• Organising summer camps for Hungarian children and young people in the CampLobau National Park
• Transforming the small-gauge railway in Csömödér into an eco-railway with an emphasis on landscape ecology

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Key Information

Summary

The key goal of the ecological measures on the Raab River is to achieve uninterrupted accessibility, even across the border, allowing fish mobility across the entire Raab basin.

The measures which have been planned to meet the requirements of the EU Water Framework Directive are a significant step towards securing the waterway's good health. A joint monitoring system is to be put in place to assess the effectiveness of the measures that are put in place.

Synergies will be used to improve the efficiency and quality of the partnership between the relevant public authorities and measures will be taken to inform people about the river more effectively (e.g. regarding water quality, flood protection, leisure water activities). Another service which has been planned is an improved integration of the Raab into region's leisure water activities.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Steiermark: fish ladders, reactivation of old branches near the Hohenbrugg weir system
• Burgenland: fish ladders, reactivation of old branches, modifications to the Neumarkt weir system on the Raab
• Hungary: fish ladders, modifications to the Szentgotthard weir system

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Key Information

Summary

The last few years have seen a large number of nature reserves being established in Burgenland and in the three neighbouring counties in Hungary. In the Interreg programme European Territorial Co-operation (Europäische Territoriale Zusammenarbeit - ETZ AT-HU) the ARGE nature parks and the regional management of Burgenland established a project entitled "PaNaNet" to link these reserves together and to develop a regional nature tourism network. The increased use of co-operation and synergies in public relations and marketing are also a key part of the project.

There are a number of different parks participating in the programme: four national parks (Nationalpark Neusiedlersee-Seewinkel, Fertõ-Hanság, Örség and Balaton-felvidék in Hungary), all six nature reserves in Burgenland (Neusiedlersee-Leithagebirge, Rosalia-Kogelberg, Landseer Berge, Geschriebenstein, Weinidylle and Raab) and 4 nature reserves in West Hungary (Sopron, Irottkõ, Örség, Kerka). The master goal of the PaNaNet project is to increase acceptance and to inform the population of the importance of reserves for quality of life and for the economy. By establishing a lasting network of Pannonia's reserves, the region will be able to gain a reputation as a nature adventure destination. To these ends, it will be necessary to develop the existing infrastructure and to put in place nature tourism programmes which will appeal to the target audiences in question.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Package and product development
• Joint training and professional development
• Public relations and marketing activities
• Constructing and improving existing nature tourism infrastructure in the individual reserves

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Key Information

Summary

The waste water treatment system is outdated; it is at capacity and cannot cope with any additional volume. Furthermore, the quality of the treated water no longer meets emission threshold requirements. The authority responsible for the area, NYUDUKÖTEVIFE has instructed Szentpéterfa to modernise the facility to meet emission targets. The Austrian authority has also given the town of Eberau one year to solve its water treatment problems.

The overall goal of this project is to return the quality of natural and cultural values in the Pinka catchment area to a good, natural level and to build up the necessary infrastructure for sustainable development of the affected towns. These lofty goals are to be achieved by replacing the current waste water lines and treatment with a new, high-quality treatment system for towns in the region-catchment area.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Project management, professional project evaluation, public tender process
• Modernising the waste water treatment system
• Expansion of the waste water canalisation
• Connecting residents and institutions to the new system
• Trial operation

Key Information

Summary

The existing floodwater warning system between Austria and Hungary no longer complies with current requirements for early flood warning systems, as it only transmits current data. Predictive functions are, however, of considerable importance given the increasing frequency of natural disasters. For this reason, the Austro-Hungarian Water Commission has decided to take a joint approach to solving this problem.

The goal is to develop a floodwater forecasting model for the Raab River along similar lines to the international model for the Mur River (uniform master system). The centrepiece is an international (centralised) forecasting server located in Graz with local systems in each of the partner regions. This would provide the participating water boards – Wasserwirtschaft Steiermark, Wasserwirtschaft Burgenland and the Szombathely and Györ Water Board - with a key operational floodwater warning tool which would allow them to act swiftly in reaction to possible flooding to reduce damage.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Project management
• Data collection, control and conversion
• Calibration of the hydrological and hydrodynamic model
• Development of local and centralised models, installation and test operation
• Cross-border coordination and calibration including training and exercises
• Awareness raising, public relations activities, distribution of results

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Key Information

Summary

The existing floodwater warning system between Austria and Hungary no longer complies with current requirements for early flood warning systems, as it only transmits current data. Predictive functions are, however, of considerable importance given the increasing frequency of natural disasters. For this reason, the Austro-Hungarian Water Commission has decided to take a joint approach to solving this problem.

The goal is to develop a floodwater forecasting model for the Raab River along similar lines to the international model for the Mur River (uniform master system). The centrepiece is an international (centralised) forecasting server located in Graz with local systems in each of the partner regions. This would provide the participating water boards – Wasserwirtschaft Steiermark, Wasserwirtschaft Burgenland and the Szombathely and Györ Water Board - with a key operational floodwater warning tool which would allow them to act swiftly in reaction to possible flooding to reduce damage.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Project management


• Data collection, control and conversion


• Calibration of the hydrological and hydrodynamic model


• Development of local and centralised models, installation and test operation


• Cross-border coordination and calibration including training and exercises


• Awareness raising, public relations activities, distribution of results

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Key Information

Summary

In Austria and in Hungary, the bulk of demolished buildings are disposed of in landfill sites. EU member states undertake to reuse or recycle at least 70% of construction waste by 2020. Networks facilitating reuse contribute significantly to avoiding waste generation and to saving resources.

The project aims for the cross-border development of a concept for setting up networks of building element reuse (building element networks) in Austria and Hungary. First of all, technical, economic, logistical and legal obstacles must be mapped and removed.

In the next step, major market players (e.g. waste collectors, building and demolition entrepreneurs, craftsmen, etc.) are informed and then they try to contact successfully operating building element networks in Germany, Switzerland and the Netherlands. Based on six-to-ten demolitions, they analyse the steps involved in demolition with regard to cost, expenditure, and cost-benefit ratio. A web-based platform connects important players, thus facilitates the demolition, preparation, storage and eventually the reuse of building elements. A manual will be put together for this special purpose containing guidelines on how to remove different building elements without damaging them.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Analysing the framework conditions for creating a network aimed at the reuse of building elements


• Database of relevant market players


• Documenting and evaluating six-to-ten building demolitions (renovation, partial and complete demolition)


• Creating a web-based platform aimed at connecting relevant players into a network


• Bilingual manual

Key Information

Summary

In Austria, renewable energies make up a high proportion of the energy mix, however in spite of this, there are relatively few well-trained professionals in the area. Hungary suffers from an acute lack of experienced professionals. Our climate protection goals require high energy efficiency and higher reliance on renewable energy sources. For this reason, the energy platform of the local region of Schneebergland in lower Austria has launched a joint, cross-border co-operation project with a focus on energy and training in co-operation with the University of Pannon.

The goal is to achieve sustainable resource use, to increase energy efficiency, to meet EU environmental and renewable energy targets and to achieve economic development including the creation of jobs. To meet the aforementioned employment goals, it will be necessary to lay the foundations for good professional training.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Improving energy efficiency and education strategies in the Keszthely and Hévíz regions
• Training for energy technicians, provision of advice and ongoing training
• Development of teaching and course materials, accreditation of curriculum, developing infrastructure

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Key Information

Summary

To get regions to actively participate in the ETC programme, active measures to increase the acceptance of cross-border activities must be taken as well as measures to support co-operation and to intensify partnerships in the regions on both sides of the border.

As part of the project, RECOM partners work together to form important connections at a local, regional, national and international level. They provide support and guidance for existing ETC projects, create synergies and in doing so, increase the quality of the projects and the overall programme.

Cross-border networks will be built up in the areas of tourism, the labour market and employment, energy and environment, mobility and transport as well as trade, research and innovation. The excursions, intercultural management training and quality groups organised by RECOM have also been well received and support the relevant players in cross-border co-operation.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Supporting the development of cross-border project ideas
• Looking for partners, (multilingual) guidance and assistance in cross-border activities and projects
• Development of cross-border networks in five key areas
• Development of a know-how management network between Austria and Hungary
• Public relations work through events, workshops, reports and media articles 

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Key Information

Summary

Proactive measures increasing the acceptance of cross-border activities, the awareness about cross-border cooperation as well as measures stimulating joint regional initiatives between Austria and Hungary are essential to ensure a strong involvement of the regions in the ETC program.

RECOM partners thus seek to establish the necessary connections between local and regional levels, program bodies and the national, in this case even cross-border level. Their objective is to support ETC projects and assist project holders, create synergies so to increase the quality of submitted projects and, in this way, the added-value of the program.

Networks in the fields of Tourism, Employment, Education, Energy and Environmental Protection, Mobility and Transport but also Economy, Research and Innovation will be established. Field-trips, management trainings and quality working-groups initiated by RECOM-teams will also help actors involved in cross-border cooperation to fulfill their objectives.

Following tasks will be implemented in the framework of the project:

• assisting project holders in developing their initiative;
• conducting partner search, providing -multilingual- support and leading assistance for cross-border projects and activities;
• establishing cross-border cooperation networks in five thematic fields;
• improving Austrian-Hungarian knowledge management;
• ensuring public relations through events, workshops, reports and press articles.

Key Information

Summary

The cross-border cooperation between Austria and Hungary must help raise the awareness of the population on both sides of the border for sustainable consumption, and it must help create new and long-term employment forms for disadvantaged jobseekers.

New designer objects are made from waste and from objects that are no longer used, all of them with a unique design. This innovative idea contributes to saving resources and relieving the environment. A contest is organised for young designers, who can submit product ideas in three categories, and the contest is evaluated by an Austrian—Hungarian professional jury. The jury pays special attention to unique and attractive appearance as well as easy fabrication. At least 25 product designs are finally built by people who live in a difficult social situation and need external help. Within the framework of the project, a reuse shop and a web shop are planned to be launched as sales channels, and targeted appearance on social media sites promotes the initiative. In order to create demand for the products, higher education students participating in the project take part in a 8-10 day practice-oriented, modular professionalisation and training programme, which teaches them how to evaluate project ideas, how to map market potential and target consumers. Knowledge transfer in marketing, pricing and selling is also included in the project.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Making contact with stakeholders and potential cooperation partners in reuse and redesign


• Building at least 25 redesign products from different materials


• Organising a redesign design contest and awarding the redesign prize


• 8-10 day professionalisation and training programme for participating students


• Evaluating the professionalisation and training programme

Key Information

Summary

Burgenland and the counties in West Hungary are located in a common air quality zone. This means that any efforts to improve air quality must be supported by all authorities in the zone. One key element of air quality improvement plans is the necessity for reliable data regarding the current air quality. There is a lack of local measurements, especially in the direct vicinity of the former border.

At the end of the project, the region could institute a joint monitoring system which would consider and present all industrial, transport and residential heating emissions on both sides of the border. This data would be made available to the public online, making the region the "region of the glass chimney".

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Planning measuring activities, selecting measuring points, commencement of use of the measuring devices


• Data exchange


• Regular publication of reports


• Quality assurance


• Calibration


• Round robin testing


• Evaluation of measuring locations


• Public monitoring system 

Key Information

Summary

The varied use of the Danube has greatly affected its sediment balance. Impounded areas are affected by aggradation, while in free-flowing sections the riverbed is deepening. East of Vienna it amounts to 2 cm annually, and East of Budapest it represents 3 cm per year. Shallow dive depth at fords causes problems for navigation. As a consequence, sediment drift needs to be monitored. For the time being, Austria and Hungary do not have a harmonised approach in monitoring and management methodology, i.e. the two countries apply different measurement and modelling techniques for monitoring the river. Laboratory equipment of the two countries is not suitable for conducting water construction model experiments, either.

The project aims to lay down the scientific basis for the two countries to develop an integrative management approach and a common analysis method for tackling sediment drift in the Danube. The project also includes building an experimental research channel of 5m3/s capacity, which is also going to supply a water laboratory to be constructed in Vienna. Comparative analysis of different problems arising on the upper and middle part of the Danube (pebble and sand bed, high- and low-gradient sections), harmonised measurement strategy and modelling based on standardised protocols and manuals, as well as developing practical approaches to tackle the problem are also part of the project.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Monitoring sediment drift on the Austrian and Hungarian sections of the Danube in 2013 and 2014
• Computerised sediment model analysis
• Constructing a research channel of 5m3/s capacity
• Reports and publications
• Bilingual manual
• Catalogue of proposed new measures
• Optimised tools for measuring rolling and floating sediment

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Key Information

Summary

Even though the safety of level crossings has significantly increased in recent years, in 2010-2011 there were 5 casualties in Burgenland and 7 on the Hungarian GYSEV lines, with an additional 8 injured. In Hungary, there were 70 occasions when vehicles damaged the electronic railway equipment. These accidents have a higher severity risk, because trains often travel at high speed, thus the braking distance is longer and the barrier impact speed is high. The cause of accidents at level crossings is often the fault of the road users. Citizens arriving from another country are often not familiar with the traffic regulations that differ in these two countries and do not know how to conduct themselves in a proper manner at railway crossings.
The ‘Burgenland Transport Safety Programme 2011-2015’ also deals with accidents occurring in railway crossings: the number of incidents that involve personal injuries must be decreased by 10 %.

The project aims to implement a comprehensive set of measures in order to improve eco-mobility and regional accessibility in the Burgenland and Western Transdanubia regions.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Execution of safety checks at selected railway crossings on the examined railway sections
• Creation of a catalogue listing the measures regarding level crossings and preparation of a railway crossing renovation concept
• Shaping people's awareness regarding level crossing safety and adequate conduct at level crossings
• Setting up a cross-border working group that consists of transport experts and authority representatives

Key Information

Summary

As part of the EEE project, Güssing Solar School was established in co-operation with Güssing Trade School in 2006, following the establishment of Szombathely Solar School in 2005 in co-operation with Puskás Vocational School. A new line of qualification - solar technician or "Solarteur" was introduced into the basic electrician training course at Güssing and Szombathely. This qualification can also be attained through additional training.

One of the goals of this project was to modernise and to expand the electric technology laboratory at Güssing Trade School to allow basic training for solar technicians. At Szombathely and Güssing the existing training modules were extended with a third module, a "Heat Pumps" module. At Güssing, the "Solarthermal Technology" module has been expanded on. This should ensure that graduates are able to assess customers' energy needs and provide them with a technically-correct and professional solution and installation.

The main goals of the project were to modernise parts of the electric technology laboratory and to add extra modules such as the "Heat Pumps" module to the training curriculum. Furthermore, the project was aimed at intensifying the cross-border co-operation between the existing solar schools at Güssing and Szombathely.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

Target Group: Gewerbegymnasium Güssing Trade School

• The expansion and modernisation of the electric technology laboratory
• The designing and installation of the 3rd module – Heat Pumps –  for the Solarteur® course
• Providing the course manual for the Heating Pumps module
• Providing the teachers with the necessary training to teach the Heating Pumps module at their respective schools
• The installation of a heat pump for use, both as a demonstration system in practice-oriented lessons and to provide the school building with cost-effective heating
• Improving the Solarthermal Studies module using the new Solarteur school infrastructure and the updated teaching materials and course materials

Target Group: Puskás Tivadar Vocational School

• The designing and installation of the 3rd module – Heat Pumps –  for the Solarteur® course
• Providing the course manual for the Heating Pumps module
• Translation of the course booklet into Hungarian
• Providing the teachers with the necessary training to teach the Heating Pumps module at their respective schools
• The installation of a heat pump for use, both as a demonstration system in practice-oriented lessons and to provide the school building with cost-effective heating
   

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Key Information

Summary

It seems that people have lost sight of the fact that land and soil are the point of origin of all life. Since 2003, the state of Lower Austria has been part of the European Land and Soil Alliance has been implementing a number of projects in various municipalities as well as an exemplary soil awareness raising campaign, the "Boden-Kampagne". In West Hungary, soil is also an important issue, in particular with regard to its function as a ground water filter. Retention and filtration of nutrients and contaminants is central to the production of safe foodstuffs and to the protection of clean drinking water and waterways.

This project is aimed at achieving quantitative and qualitative ground protection through awareness raising. Demonstrations will be carried out throughout the region and documented. Furthermore, specially-educated "soil ambassadors" will be trained and a coordination office for the European Land and Soil Alliance will be established.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Providing information on soil protection (training soil ambassadors, holding conferences, distributing information, holding events, exhibitions, broadcasts)


• Developing an action plan for integration of soil information and instituting a soil protection mission statement in the municipal planning policy


• Use of mobile soil laboratory; development and holding of seminars


• Working on foundations and model projects on soil-protection and space-effective town planning


• Coordination of a sustainable soil protection network.

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Key Information

Summary

Against the background of the necessary systemic transition process of Europe’s economy a change of mindset has been brought about in commerce and politics. It includes shifting the emphasis from industrial production delocalised to the Far East to regional economic players and promoting reuse instead of discarding industrial waste coming from the processing of raw materials. In Austria, several companies play a leading role in corporate social responsibility (CSR). In Hungary, the country with the lowest employment rate in the EU, employing people with disabilities is an important goal. The SoPro HU-AT project supports all these ambitions. The model of socially produced goods (SoPro) is created by the coordinated cooperation of companies, the public sector and social enterprises.

The aim of the project is the joint development of contents and structures for long-term cooperation between companies, public players and social enterprises.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Developing SoPro- quality standards for processes among companies, public institutions and social institutions; carrying out contextual analysises; special training for partners on how to further develop their SoPro basic competences; developing a two-step SoPro consultation model.
• Creating a platform for the fabrication of social products, the backbone of the SoPro project, serving social economic purposes.
• Model projects of social products, e.g. establishing an exhibition-training centre for social enterprises (HU), SOPRO in the service of companies and SOPRO for social enterprises modules (AT), putting into practice the following model projects: ‘reuse of functioning computers on a social basis’, and social-integrative agriculture.
• Developing training for SoPro consultants.

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Key Information

Summary

Since 21 December 2007, Hungarian citizens have been able to cross land borders to other Schengen member states without border checks, whenever and wherever they like. Transport is an important element of modern trade. This makes it necessary to ensure that existing public transport systems are still suitable.

One of the key aspects of the project is the restoration of connections between Agendorf and Schattendorf, two towns which were cut off from one another by the Iron Curtain.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Restoration of the new road connections between the towns and the related infrastructure
• Improving the regional accessibility of the municipalities
• Development of the cross-border cycling network
• Restoration of the cultural and social connections

Key Information

Summary

Fuelled by the fall of the Iron Curtain and by the accession of Hungary to the Euro-pean Union and the Schengen Agreement, an economic integration of the CENTROPE region is taking place. This process causes an increase of transport. One of the big-gest future challenges will be the provision of environmentally compatible and sus-tainable transport infrastructure for both individual and public transport. To be able to assess transport infrastructure investments on a sound basis, transport models are used to simulate effects. Until now, for administrative and financial reasons, only several stand-alone transport models exist, which, however, end at the borders of administrative units and therefore do not allow for a cross-border view. This gap is being filled with the Cross-Border Transport Model AT-HU.

The aim of this project is to extend the existing cross-border model AT-SK (already including the regions of Vienna, Lower Austria, Burgenland, Bratislava and Trnava) by adding the HU border regions Gyõr-Moson-Sorpon, Vas and Zala and parts of Sty-ria in AT, to support the infrastructure planning process in the area.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Creating an integrated passenger transport model covering demand and as-signment modeling
• Integration and testing of the demand and assignment models
• Defining, modeling and assessing cross-border scenarios

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Key Information

Summary

The area covered by the Neusiedler See—Seewinkel (AT) and the Fertõ-Hanság (HU) national parks (Ramsar site) is one of the most important nesting areas of migratory birds in Europe. Due to the border, ecotourism and bird monitoring have followed a different path of development on the Austrian and Hungarian sides. Today cross-border cooperation in exploring the economic and scientific potential residing in bird watching and monitoring is indispensable in order to obtain and preserve an international position.

The objective is to achieve cross-border harmonisation in the Fertõ-Hanság region (2 national parks). Every new product of the project is adopted by both national parks. As an indirect consequence, the management of natural resources (Ramsar sites, territory of the national parks) is enhanced and streamlined across the border.

As part of the project, the following tasks will be carried out:

• Exploring the economic and scientific potential residing in bird watching and bird monitoring


• Building and improving infrastructure related to bird watching


• Putting together a joint publication containing the list of bird species living in the cross-border national park (where and when different species can be observed, description of species and their habitats)


• Developing a joint, cross-border ornithology training possibility


• Creating a user-friendly ornithological database – uploading Austrian-Hungarian data


• Creating a cross-border, internet-based ornithological information system for a wide target group


• Renovating and remodelling bird-banding establishments (Biologische Station AT – Esterházy Madárvárta HU)

Key Information

Summary

In 2001, the World Heritage Committee named Lake Neusiedler a cross-border world heritage site. As a result of this, a comprehensive management was developed and its execution supported by the UNESCO. This project is part of that execution.

The action plan, which is part of the management plan, is aimed at protecting natural and landscape assets and cultural assets as well as to support agriculture, viticulture, regional and municipal development, environmental protection and awareness raising.

Other key points include maintaining, caring for and sustainably using the heritage site within the meaning of the UNESCO World Heritage Convention, the coordination of world heritage activities, awareness raising and looking after cultural assets and the landscape of the site.

The activities include a wide information and public relations campaign which include two World Heritage days each year as well as conferences and workshops and a comprehensive networking programme with other national and international UNESCO world heritage sites consisting of 10 information meetings and conferences.

In addition to this, a range of trilingual marketing materials will be developed and produced (10000 maps, 2000 brochures, 1000 world heritage DVDs, 5000 world heritage boxes, 1000 T-shirts and 5000 sets of memory cards), helping us to reach as broad an audience as possible.
Design criteria for construction within the world heritage area will be determined by construction and architecture experts during the 10 meetings. They will also define a constructing zoning map for the world heritage area and issued documentation (reports to the state government, county administration, municipalities and world heritage associations). There will also be 10 meetings of the design council between 2008 and 2010 at which external assessors will contribute to efforts to secure the Lake Neusiedler region's UNESCO world heritage status into the future.

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