📅 Date: May 23–24, 2023
📍 Location: Rzeszów County, Poland (hybrid format)
The Central Mountains project will officially begin with a Kick-off Meeting hosted by the Lead Partner – Rzeszów County. This two-day event will mark the start of a strategic collaboration between partners from mountain regions across Central Europe – including the Carpathians, Alps, and Sudetes – focused on improving governance models and enhancing cross-border cooperation in support of sustainable mountain development.
On the first day, partners will meet to discuss the project’s objectives, communication tools, management strategies, and planned pilot actions. Representatives from the Joint Secretariat and the Carpathian Convention will join the discussions, while each partner will present their organization and cooperation expectations.
On the second day, participants will visit the Cross-Border Functional Area “Kremenaros”, located at the junction of Poland, Slovakia, and Ukraine. The study tour will include visits to:
- Polańczyk – a picturesque spa village and Solina Lake resort known as the “Bieszczady Sea”,
- Ruins of the Discalced Carmelite Monastery in Zagórz – a historic site now used as a cultural centre.
These locations will provide insight into existing examples of regional cooperation, sustainable tourism, and the integration of local communities into long-term development strategies.
A special focus was placed on the exchange of experiences in existing cooperation models from the Carpathians – such as the Carpathian Sustainable Tourism Platform and Cross-Border Functional Areas.
📢 The Kick-off Meeting will lay the foundation for the project’s goal of building effective transnational governance and stakeholder engagement in Central Europe’s mountain areas.