ICONIC
The ICONIC project is a European initiative that aims to improve the planning and financing of sustainable mobility, while continuing to promote intermodal, inclusive, and accessible transport solutions for all.
Network for sustainable mobility along the Danube
During the 2.5 years of implementation of the TRANSDANUBE.PEARLS project, a network of destinations that strive for sustainable mobility in tourism called “Transdanube.Pearls” will be established. By joining the Transdanube.Pearls network, the visibility of the participating destinations will increase, offering visitors a unique opportunity to travel along the Danube with sustainable means of transport. On the other hand, the Transdanube.Pearls network will facilitate the cooperation of stakeholders from the mobility and tourism sectors at different levels. Common standards and appropriate organizational structures will ensure the operation of the established network even after the end of the project. Mobility trainings will provide local and regional stakeholders with the capacity to further develop sustainable mobility services. The knowledge gained during the training will also be enriched by the experience gained during the development and presentation of mobility and information services within the project – mobility services that will contribute to overcoming gaps and improving quality, especially in the last kilometer of arrival at the destination and within this destination. By better connecting different forms of public transport and cycling, the project will also contribute to the improvement of intermodal travel chains, which will have an impact on increasing the quality of the entire transport system. Additional efforts will be made with the aim of improving accessibility to user-friendly information about existing mobile services. While regional mobility centers will act as VEM (All in One Place) points for mobility in all regions, international tourism and mobility information platforms will allow tourists to inquire about existing options for traveling around the Danube regions without using a car. A special offer of sustainable mobility tourism will also be provided in the form of attractive tourist packages intended for visitors who prefer to follow predetermined routes rather than explore on their own.
The main goal of the project: to ensure a sustainable, socially just, economically viable and environmentally and health-friendly promotion of mobility.
Specific objectives of the project:
- establish a network that will advocate for sustainable mobility for tourists and residents;
- establish a network that will advocate for sustainable mobility for tourists and residents;
- provide integrated sustainable mobility services;
- provide end users with integrated, easily accessible information about the services.
Main results of the project: Trandanube.Pearls is a project that aims to strengthen the existing cooperation between stakeholders from the transport and tourism sectors at different levels (local, regional, national). The main results of the project will raise awareness of the benefits of sustainable mobility in the field of tourism and increase the capacities & abilities of local and regional stakeholders from the transport and tourism sector with the aim of developing services that will bring the concept of sustainable mobility in tourism to the Danube area. The project will raise awareness of the benefits of sustainable mobility by implementing pilot actions (9) and implementing mutual learning activities (2 + 42), which will demonstrate the benefits of sustainable mobility and information services and provide formats for the exchange of ideas and opportunities to discuss implementation options. The capacities of local and regional stakeholders will be increased by carrying out the following activities:
- trainings will be held for interested stakeholders to become certified managers of sustainable mobility mobility (100);
- guidelines for the implementation of sustainable mobility and information services will be prepared and implemented (6).
Increasing the capacity of local and regional stakeholders will be influenced by:
- establishment and development of the Transdanube.Pearls Network, which will establish operational units (institutional structures and personnel) at the regional level and transnational management organizations that will support individual “pearls” or pearls by implementing joint promotional activities, consulting, providing knowledge , etc;
- by establishing Information-Mobility Centers, which will act as a driving force for the development, coordination and information on existing sustainability-mobility services (10).
Partners in the project: Lead partner: Environment Agency Austria (Austria) ERDF partners in the project: Danube Office Ulm/Neu-Ulm (Germany), WGD Danube Upper Austria Tourism Ltd. (Austria), Regionalmanagement Burgenland Ltd. (Austria), Bratislava Self-Governing Region (Slovakia), West Pannon Regional and Economic Development Public Nonprofit Ltd. (Hungary), STRDA South Transdanubian Regional Development Agency Nonprofit Ltd. (Hungary), City of Vukovar (Croatia), Development agency Sinergija (Slovenia), Regional Administration of Vidin Region (Bulgaria), Club “Sustainable Development of Civil Society” (Bulgaria), NATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT IN TOURISM (Romania) , The South-East Regional Development Agency (Romania). IPA partners in the project: Danube Competence Center (Serbia), Regional Development Agency Eastern Serbia (Serbia). Associated partners: Austrian Federal Ministry for Agriculture, Forestry, Environment and Water Management (Austria), Federal Ministry for Transport, Innovation and Technology (Austria), Neusiedler See Tourism Ltd. (Austria), Regional Government of Burgenland (Austria), Rail Tours Touristik Ltd. (Austria), Destination Marketing Association German Danube (Germany), Supreme Building Authority – Part of the Bavarian State Ministry of the Interior, for Building and Transport (Germany), Panonsko more d.o.o. / Panonian sea Ltd. (Croatia), Győr-Sopron-Ebenfurt Railway Corp. (Hungary), Government of Baranya County (Hungary), Association of Szigetköz Tourism (Hungary), Association of Tourism Development in Moldova (Moldova), National Authority for Tourism (Romania), Administrative Territorial Unit Tulcea County (Romania), Railwaiys of the Slovak republic (Slovakia), Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic (Slovakia), Bratislava City – Capital of Slovak Republic (Slovakia), Pomurje Tourist Association (Slovenia), Ministry of Agriculture and Environmental Protection (Slovenia), Development Agency of Serbia (Serbia), Municipality of Kladovo (Serbia), Ministry of Tourism (Bulgaria), Association of Danube River Municipalities “Danube” (Bulgaria), Municipality of Ruse (Bulgaria).
MATERIAL:
iCEAR
iCEAR – Integrated Approaches to Circular Economy in Rural Areas
Background and Objectives:
The Circular Economy (CE) is currently addressed in numerous regional and local programs, covering different sectors, material flows, and value chains, and supporting diverse activities. However, an integrated approach from a territorial perspective is often lacking.
The iCEAR project aims to strengthen the circular economy in rural areas by coordinating and further developing various policy instruments at the regional and municipal levels. The project focuses on:
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knowledge and information on the circular economy,
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networking and coordination of activities,
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strategic approaches,
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innovative measures,
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fostering a culture of innovation and raising awareness about circular economy opportunities.
The project analyzes support and policy instruments at regional, provincial, and national levels from eight EU member states. In addition, the Regional Council of Durrës (Albania) participates as a “Discovery Partner,” which does not revise its own policy instrument. The instruments are based on ERDF programs, LEADER strategies, and local climate protection strategies.
The diversity of policy instruments and partners enables not only peer-to-peer learning among similar policy actors but also a better understanding of complementary measures. The goal is to improve eight policy instruments through interregional exchange of knowledge and experiences and to align them more effectively with other policies to create better conditions for a circular economy in rural areas. The project will also test the development of integrated action plans for CE.
By revising existing policy instruments, iCEAR will contribute to the sustainable use of rural potential, the creation of quality jobs, and the preservation of quality of life.
Project Implementation:
The project involves learning both across and within European regions. Each semester, an interregional workshop and a study visit will take place, showcasing good practices and discussing their transferability. In addition, regional meetings will be held every semester in each region, focusing on a specific theme and step towards improving policy instruments.
Regional Stakeholder Group:
At the regional level, a Regional Stakeholder Group will be established, meeting once per semester. The recommended members include:
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Committee for the Masterplan “100% Climate Protection” (members of political parties in the district council, representatives of research and advisory institutions, LEADER, etc.)
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ReUse Netzwerk Gießen, a reuse and recycling company in the Gießen district
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Ministry of Economy, Energy, Transport, Housing, and Rural Affairs of the State of Hesse
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Ministry of Agriculture, Environment, Viticulture, Forestry, Hunting, and Homeland of the State of Hesse
CIVITEC
The CIVITEC project aims to make democracy more participatory, inclusive, and responsive by enhancing citizen involvement through new digital tools and processes.
Civic technology, often referred to as Civic Tech, plays a pivotal role in enhancing engagement and public participation across various levels of governance. By facilitating the co-creation of strategies and policies, it fosters dynamic shifts in the relationship between citizens and public institutions, revitalizing democratic processes.
Project partners will refine policies and identify a diverse array of emerging digital tools, and process methodologies aimed at amplifying citizen and community participation within the framework of a free and democratic society: strengthening the transparency, accountability, and capacity of local governments and augmenting citizen and stakeholder involvement in decision-making and policy implementation processes.
“Tools such as online petitions, open data portals, citizen evaluation and monitoring platforms, and participatory budgeting systems will empower citizens to collectively discuss community needs and priorities, subsequently allocating public funds accordingly”, Eleftherios Loizou, CIVITEC Project Leader.
More information can be found on: https://www.interregeurope.eu/civitec
Tourism development strategy in the municipality of Puconci
Where do we see the potential of tourism in our municipality? What are the opportunities that tourism in the municipality of Puconci can rely on?
We will answer all these and more questions through the preparation of the Tourism Development Strategy in the municipality of Puconci for the period 2024 – 2030. The chosen developer of the strategy is the Development Agency Sinergija from Moravske Toplice, which will conduct interviews with key stakeholders during the preparation of the strategy, a survey will be prepared for the general public, held public discussions/consultations in the villages, focus groups with associations, primary schools, an analysis of the situation, etc. will be carried out. 3 rich prizes will be drawn among all participating citizens who will take part in the survey for the general public.
You, the citizens, will be involved in all these stages, preparation procedures, and thus contribute to the preparation of a strategically important document, which will not only reveal the tourism potential of the municipality, but also the potential of other areas.
The preparation process began in February 2023 and will be completed in September 2023. We will inform you about all subsequent steps of the implementation via the municipal website and through municipal printed newsletters.
If you want to present to the strategy maker all our opportunities that you think should be highlighted, you are invited to get in touch with them by phone at 02 538 13 56 or by e-mail at tadeja@ra-sinergija.si, responsible person from the side of the strategy maker is Tadeja Horvat.