The CENTRAL MOUNTAINS Final Conference, held in Rzeszów on 24 June 2026, marked the culmination of three years of transnational cooperation on improving governance in mountain regions across Central Europe. Bringing together representatives of ministries, regional and local authorities, the Carpathian Convention, researchers, project partners and stakeholders from across the Alps, Carpathians and Sudetes, the conference focused on how project results can support future policies and cooperation beyond the project’s lifetime.
The conference presented the project’s main achievements, including the Alpine-Carpathian Joint Strategy, governance solutions developed through pilot actions, and practical tools supporting Cross-Border Functional Areas (CBFAs), participatory governance and sustainable tourism. Videos, presentations and panel discussions demonstrated how these solutions respond to common challenges faced by mountain regions, from strengthening institutional cooperation and protecting natural resources to involving local communities and young people in decision-making.
Key conclusions
Discussions throughout the conference highlighted several priorities for the future of mountain governance in Central Europe:
- Cross-border cooperation must become a long-term governance mechanism, supported by stable partnerships between public authorities, academia, civil society and local communities.
- Cross-Border Functional Areas (CBFAs) offer practical frameworks for addressing shared territorial challenges and unlocking the development potential of border regions.
- Participatory governance should become a standard element of mountain policies by actively involving local communities, civil society organisations and young people in decision-making processes.
- Sustainable tourism requires coordinated governance structures, common standards and stronger cooperation between regions rather than isolated local initiatives.
- Knowledge exchange between the Alps, Carpathians and other mountain regions remains essential for transferring good practices and scaling up successful governance models.
From project results to future cooperation
The conference confirmed strong interest among regional and local authorities in applying the solutions developed by CENTRAL MOUNTAINS. Representatives of local governments expressed their willingness to cooperate within Cross-Border Functional Areas and to use the project’s digital tools supporting sustainable tourism. The Marshal’s Office of the Podkarpackie Region also highlighted the potential of incorporating project results into future macro-regional strategies for the Carpathians.
Beyond presenting results, the conference strengthened cooperation between public institutions, academia and regional stakeholders. It generated new partnerships, reinforced political dialogue between Alpine and Carpathian actors and demonstrated that the governance models developed within the project are transferable to other mountain regions across Central Europe.
The conference concluded that the long-term success of mountain governance depends on combining policy coordination, stakeholder participation and practical cooperation structures. The recommendations developed through CENTRAL MOUNTAINS provide a lasting foundation for future Interreg projects, public policies and cross-border initiatives supporting sustainable mountain development.