Project summary: 

The project centres on the question of how people live together in the historical cultural and economic area of Eastern Austria and Western Hungary.

More than 28 years after Austria's, and 20 years after Hungary's accession to the European Union, the Austro-Hungarian border region presents a contradictory picture. The opening of the countries after the fall of the Iron Curtain and finally their accession to the EU with the introduction of free movement of people and goods and the development of a common labour market and service sector have made the borders permeable, but have not led to the desired intensity of social interaction.

Today, actual cross-border contacts and connections are on the decline. People are distanced from each other and there is no longer any sign of the optimism that prevailed after the opening of the border, the spirit of the Pan-European Picnic (1989) and the "EUphoria".

Based on the initial situation described above, the declared main objective of the project is to create a "future region" in which citizens, administrations and organisations in the border region are able to think together about a common future and develop a perspective for the future. This is to be addressed and designed as part of the project’s activities (e.g. dialogue events, training sessions, school projects). This builds on the experience of the previous border(hi)stories project and the existing network of connections in the region.

The project focuses on measures that - in contrast to the traumatic events of the past (e.g. National Socialism, persecution of the Jewish population, persecution of the Pannonian Roma and Sinti) - promote peaceful coexistence in the region based on mutual respect. The important principles, approaches and methods according to which the project measures and activities are designed include bilingualism and multilingualism, the creation of inclusive framework conditions and settings and the use of different dialogue formats.

Lead partner:

• Nyugat-Pannon Terület- és Gazdaságfejlesztési Szolgáltató Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft.

Project partnership:

• Wirtschaftsagentur Burgenland GmbH

• Verein zur Förderung von Vielfalt, Dialog und Bildung
• Vas County Government Office - HU
• Győr-Moson-Sopron Vármegye Önkormányzata

Strategic partners:

• Educational District Centre of Szombathely - HU
• Educational District Centre of Sárvár - HU
• Győri Tankerületi Központ
• Soproni Tankerületi Központ
• Bildungsdirektion für Burgenland
• Bildungsdirektion für Wien

 „The project is implemented in the framework of the Interreg VI-A Austria-Hungary programme and funded of the European Regional Development Fund.”