Meeting of specialists in the field of cross-border culture and tourism organized in Tokaj within the project EPICAH – Effectiveness of Policy Instruments for Cross – Border Advancement in Heritage

EPICAH_EU_FLAG

Tokaj Borvidék Fejlődéséért Nonprofit Kft.-Hungary organized from 24-27 September 2018 the fifth cross-border culture experts meeting within the framework of the EPICAH –  Effectiveness of Policy Instruments for Cross – Border Advancement in Heritage project. Also during this period was held the sixth meeting of the project Steering Committee consisting of the project managers from each partner. At these meetings were discussed and clarified issues related to the project management and its main activities. Was discussed the Experts Report about structure of regional action plans for crossborder cultural and natural heritage  and tourism management.

tokaj5 tokaj4 tokaj2 tokaj1tokaj3

The meeting was attended by specialists in the field of cross-border culture as well as project managers representing all 9 partners: Eixo Atlántico do Noroeste Peninsular from Braga -Portugal having the role of  lead partner, Eixo Atlantico del Noroeste Peninsular-Vigo and Asociación Ibérica de Municipios Ribereños del Duero from Spain, Agenzia per lo Sviluppo Empolese Valdelsa Spa from Empoli-Italy, Tokaj Borvidék Fejlődéséért Nonprofit Kft.-Hungary, Regional Development Fund / Region of Western Macedonia from Kozani-Greece, Peipsi Koostöö Keskus from Tartu-Estonia,  Regionální rozvojová agentura Plzeňského kraje, o. p. s. from Plzeň-Czech Republic, Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association. The Satu Mare County Intercommunity Development Association was represented at this meeting by Paul  Dancu–assistant project coordinator within the project, Cristina Ilieş, projects local financial officer, Daniela Culic – manager of Satu Mare Chamber for Commerce and Industry as external coordinating expert of the local stakeholders group, Bogdan Georgescu and Vasile Pop,  members of the local stakeholders group.

In 25 September were held in Tarcal two parallel sessions of Experts and Steering Committee. In the experts meeting were discussed the structure for regional action plans in touristic, natural and cultural heritage.  In the frame of Steering Commitee session were discussed and clarified issues related to the project management and its main activities, and the project implemenation at partners level. The sessions merged at the end of the morning in the Joint Experts/Partners meeting where was presented the structure of regional action plans, agreed in experts meeting.In the afternoon in the second part of experts meeting were debated the structure and task for delivery of support-document required by Steering committtee  about the development of management for crossborder tourism at european level, appendix of report submitteed to European Comision. In the end of day was done the study-visit at Füzér Castle, with good practice examples about cultural heritage and tourism management. In 26 September in Tokaj was held the Forth  Thematic Seminar on „UNESCO heritage management: a good practice for the management of crossborder heritage?”. The first pannel of the seminar presented the  Past, Present and Future of the crossborder cooperation in the frame of Slovakia-Hungary cross-border programmes.  The second pannel about recent and new initiatives and projects in natural and cultural heritage aiming to sustainable tourism development in border areas of Hungary and Slovakia, focused in identified good practices.  In the afternoon was done the Study Visit to Tokaj, Sárospatak, Hercegkút şi Mád, focused on good practices about valorization of cultural and touristic heritage.

In 27 September the seminar was followed by a study visit in Aggtelek Caves Area, focused on good practices about valorization of touristic and natural heritage.

The project EPICAH aims to promote the improvement of the policy instruments for crossborder natural and cultural heritage protection and development, through the exchange of experiences and good practices between partners with large experience in developing strategies, projects and actions in this field based on crossborder cooperation processes. Within this project, the policy makers and technicians responsible for protection and promotion of natural and cultural heritage in the Satu Mare County shall have the possibility to participate in exchanges of experience in the field of preservation, protection, promotion and development of natural and cultural heritage and to learn new methods to approach for a more efficient management process of crossborder natural and cultural heritage. The project is financed through the Interreg  Europe Programme with a total budget  of 1.707.360 EUR of which benefits a grant in value of 1.451.256 EUR from the European Regional Development Fund and has a implementation period of 5 years.