A STRATEGY FOR CENTRAL EUROPE - RESTRICTED CALL FOR STRATEGIC PROJECTS
Seven topics – one aim
Central Europe with its 148 million inhabitants, 67 regions and 12 languages spoken is a very diverse area. Reaching from the Baltic Sea in the North to the Mediterranean Sea in the South and from the Alps in the West to the Hungarian lowlands in the East it comprises a huge amount of landscapes and cultures. Nevertheless, there are issues which emerge in every region and every country. There are challenges which every region and every country in this area has to face.
Topics like climate change, the overcome of the economic crisis, energy consumption, accessibility or demographic changes are of relevance for all regions and every citizen living in these regions. At the same time these problems may not be solved by one Member State or one region on its own. Working together, profiting from experiences and finding common solutions is a key element to overcome these challenges. This is true for all projects, funded within the CENTRAL EUROPE projects. Nevertheless with the approach of the strategic call, using a top down approach and a pre-definition of project concepts these issues may be even better targeted.
Some major steps were already taken to identify the issues which are of high interest for the regions. As a first step, a desk analysis was performed giving a concise and updated picture of the EU and national strategic addresses. The analysis served as a starting point to identify the general topics of the future strategic projects, as well as the themes for discussion with the key stakeholders in all Countries of the CENTRAL EUROPE area. Out of the initial selected topics by the Monitoring Committee the following project concepts were elaborated:
- Boosting innovation through new cluster concepts in support of emerging issues and cross-sectoral themes
- Upgrading of Inland Waterways and Sea Ports
- Railway Hub Cities and TEN-T networks
- Introduction of regional energy concepts
- Demonstration of energy efficiency and utilisation of renewable energy sources through public buildings
- Innovative Housing and care solutions for the elderly and vulnerable persons in Central Europe cities
- Improved governance and management of infrastructures and services in regions and cities affected by demographic change
For further information, please find here:
- background information to all SEVEN PROJECT CONCEPTS
- EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST - first results
- the EXPRESSION OF INTEREST for participating in the restricted call (already closed)
- VOICES of the Member States
