Call: Protection and development of the natural and cultural heritage of the border area

Interreg Poland-Slovakia supports the development of transport infrastructure to improve cross-border accessibility and provide easier access to TEN-T networks. At the same time, it will address environmental issues and promote effective and sustainable use of natural and cultural heritage. Actions in these two priority areas will be complemented by the development of education, in particular at the post-primary level and the development of lifelong learning opportunities in order to help people adjust to the labour market.

To achieve these strategic objectives, the programme aims to:

• create an integrated traffic network to accelerate economic growth and reduce travel time between the areas on both sides of the border,
• increase the attractiveness of the common natural and cultural heritage, taking into account environemental protection and climate change,
• adaptat the vocational education system to the requirements of the cross-border labour market and to the expectations of employers.

The programme will focus on the following three priorities:

1. Protection and development of the cross-border area's natural environmental and cultural heritage
2. Sustainable cross-border transport
3. Development of cross-border education and lifelong learning

• Construction or modernization of cross-border infrastructure, recreation close to cultural institutions, monuments, parks and national form part of cross-border tourist routes (eg. The creation of new and modernization of existing trails: bicycle paths, hiking trails, trails nature and landscape and greenways, thematic cultural routes and related infrastructure, viewpoints points "Park and ride" parking spaces close to the paths and trails and cross-border integration paths, etc.)
• Renewal and restoration work and the modernization of the objects of cultural heritage located on the cross-border tourist routes,
• Cooperation programs between institutions, including mutual exchange of movable monuments and museum exhibits (eg. Temporary exhibitions, Walking, common ticketing systems)
• Establishing and developing cross-border inter-sectoral cooperation on the heritage of the border area between the actors in the conservation and protection of cross-border cultural resources and natural: integrated projects in the border region, the organization of thematic conferences, seminars and workshops, cooperation of institutions and promotion of joint activities to protect natural resources, including protection of biodiversity)
• Development and implementation of joint cross-border standards and guidelines for the protection and preservation of cultural and natural heritage,
• Measures to cross-border integration and building a common identity for example. Coordinated programs / initiatives, including educational classes on the heritage of historical and cultural ecology and sport and language courses,
• A joint cross-border promotion implemented in order to promote natural and cultural attractions of land border and increase the number of visits (eg. The organization and participation in joint events, fairs, conferences, workshops and seminars)
• Activities for the joint protection of the environment, including the protection and restoration of the proper status of species and habitats, ensure the maintenance of ecological connectivity, to stop the influx of alien species, inhibiting the degradation of the natural and landscape values,
• Educational activities in the field of risk management and security,
• Common cross-border educational activities to promote cultural and natural heritage,
• Joint training for guides, conservationists and representatives of institutions involved in the efforts to protect natural and cultural heritage borderland,
• The use of ICT tools to preserve and promote the cultural heritage resources and natural applications for mobile phones, websites, creation of cross-border ecological products and e-products and services; Cross-border information and promotional campaigns carried out using modern communication tools, digitization and digital exchange of resources, a multimedia presentation of the cross-border heritage, exchange of expertise on the digitization of cultural heritage, creation of joint repositories of cultural heritage.

The programme is managed by the Polish Ministry of Infrastructure and Development

Wspólna 2/4

00-926 Warsaw