RRA GIZ Academy: European Territorial Cooperation

The theme of the 6th RRA Academy, organized by RRA Koroška on April 4, 2024 , was European Territorial Cooperation. To ensure that the participants experienced this in practice, this time the academy took place in two countries, Slovenia and Austria.

RRA Koroška, the Regional Development Agency for Koroška and the European Association for Territorial Cooperation Karavanke Geopark presented the participants with a success story of European territorial cooperation based on the example of good practices in the establishment and operation of the cross-border Karavanke UNESCO Global Geopark.

In the morning part of the program, which took place on the Slovenian side, at the Info Center of the Pece Underground in Mežica, the introductory speech by Karmen Sonjak, Director of the RRA Koroška, was followed by a presentation of the Karavanke UNESCO Global Geopark, conducted by Dr. Darja Komar, Director of the Pece Underground, previously employed at the Karavanke Geopark. Primož Vodovnik from the RRA Koroška presented the process of developing cross-border cooperation between the regions of Koroška, from Slovenia, and South Koroška (Südkärnten) from Austria, leading to the establishment of the European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation, and the role that the RDA played in this.

The afternoon part of the program was held across the border, at the new Geo.Dom visitor center on Mount Pec. Mag. Gerald Hartmann, manager of the Karavanke Geopark EGTC, presented the organization and operation of the Karavanke Geopark EGTC, key projects implemented in the first ten years of operation and the vision for further development 2034+.

During interesting lectures and informal socializing, the academy participants learned a lot of useful information about the key factors for successful and lasting cross-border cooperation.