A cooperation area
full of opportunities
The CENTRAL EUROPE cooperation area comprises the territory, or parts of the territory, of eight EU Member States and the western border area of Ukraine. It covers about 1,050,000 square kilometres, an area that is approximately a fifth of the EU landmass. This region is inhabited by approximately 148 million citizens, or about 28 percent of the EU population.
The cooperation area is characterised by a high population density as well as a high degree of urbanisation, with 73 percent of the population living in cities or urban areas. As for its economy, Central Europe shows marked disparities with regard to income and labour costs, and living standards in general: Besides encompassing some of Europe’s richest regions, Central Europe also includes some of Europe’s poorest ones.
The CENTRAL EUROPE programme contributes to reducing these differences through cooperation between regions, a quest for joint solutions to common problems and actions to harness the regions’ potential. The programme should also strengthen the overall competitiveness of the programme area by stimulating innovation and promoting excellence throughout the region.
CENTRAL EUROPE serves the following countries and regions:
Austria: Burgenland, Kärnten, Niederösterreich, Oberösterreich, Salzburg, Steiermark, Tirol, Vorarlberg, Wien
Czech Republic: Jihovychod, Jihozapad, Moravskoslezsko, Praha, Severozapad, Severovychod, Stredni Cechy, Stredni Morava
Germany: Baden-Württemberg, Bayern, Berlin, Brandenburg, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Sachsen, Sachsen-Anhalt, Thüringen
Hungary: Del-Dunantul, Del-Alfold, Eszak-Alfold, Eszak-Magyarorszag, Kozep-Dunantul, Kozep-Magyarorszag, Nyugat-Dunantul
Italy: Emilia-Romagna, Friuli-Venezia Giulia, Liguria, Lombardia, Piemonte, Provincia Autonoma Bolzano/Bozen, Provincia Autonoma Trento, Valle d'Aosta/Vallée d'Aoste, Veneto
Poland: Dolnoslaskie, Kujawsko-Pomorskie, Lubelskie, Lubuskie, Lodzkie, Malopolskie, Mazowieckie, Opolskie, Podkarpackie, Podlaskie, Pomorskie, Slaskie, Swietokrzyskie, Warminsko-Mazurskie, Wielkopolskie, Zachodniopomorskie
Slovak Republic: Bratislavsky, Stredne Slovensko, Vychodne Slovensko, Zapadne Slovensko
Slovenia: The entire country
Ukraine:* Chernivtsi, Ivano-Frankivsk, Volyn, Lviv, Zakarpattia
*Please note: Concerning the involvement of Ukraine, please refer to the CENTRAL EUROPE Operational Programme.