• Leonardo Partnership Meetings 2010-2012

    For two years, the partners have sought to get to know each other better, to exchange information on their practices and to learn from each other.

    Thus, the members of the network have developed “identity sheets” specifying their activities in terms of training, support and research in cross-border cooperation. Because each territory has its own specificities and we have taken into account these differences in the network, the members have also produced “presentation sheets” of the territories in which they are active. In terms of communication, the network has also adopted a logo and a presentation brochure.

    The results of this first stage of work were presented in Brussels at a conference held on 10 July at the Baden-Württemberg representation office, which was designed in collaboration with the MOT (Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière) and the AEBR (Association of Border Regions of Europe). 120 participants were able to discuss issues related to the future of territorial cooperation in Europe and the role of professionalization of actors in this context. It was on this occasion that the TEIN Charter was signed by the members of the network.

  • Meeting 1 – Kehl, Germany

    20 October 2010

    The report from the first meeting in Kehl was divided into 4 parts, which correspond to the four items the partners discussed and agreed upon during that meeting.  They were:

    • How to know each other better
    • The goals of the network
    • Schedule and content of the work of the network till 2012
    • How to promote the idea of the network at European level

     

  • Meeting 2 - Villach, Austria

    28 February – 1 March 2011

    The objective of the meetings and the reports throughout the lifespan of the project represent a strong basis for the elaboration of a roadmap for the future of the Network at the end of the LEONARDO project in 2012.

    This second report is divided into 6 parts:

    1. Identification of cross-border common features
    2. Cross-border Research
    3. Cross-border Training Patterns
    4. Charter of the Network
    5. Next meetings
    6. Steering Committee

     

  • Meeting 3 - Trinec, Czech Republic

    27/28 June 2011

    The third meeting of TEIN was characterised by the deepening of the co-operation.

    Once again the members realised that the unique feature of TEIN is the fact that the network consists of real practical actors of cross border co-operation – rather than being a network far away from the cross border realities and challenges. In this sense TEIN can really be seen as a bottom up approach[1] that represents a unique fusion of actors and an exclusive pool of experts and capacity.

    The vision of TEIN is to exchange know-how and good practices within the field of cross border co-operation. In order to make the most out of this exchange and to strengthen the future existence of the network it is essential that the members share, improve and transfer their knowledge in a concrete manner.

    Therefore the TEIN members will jointly identify and develop techniques and tools for practical cross border co-operation. As result of the discussion process of the first three meetings the network selected three tools, where they want to co-operate closely.

    Furthermore the members discussed, the network charter and logo, whether TEIN should create an own legal structure or not, future funding possibilities and the next meetings. Reflecting the discussion process and the main results of the third meeting this report is divided into 6 parts:

    1. Identified Tools
    2. Form of co-operation (legal form or not?)
    3. The TEIN Charter and Logo
    4. The Future of TEIN – potential Funding opportunities
    5. Cross Border Identity Sheets
    6. Next meetings of the TEIN Network

    Footnote

    [1] The members represent 9 different border regions within the EU. All of the members are working within the field of cross border co-operation. The shared activities of the partners range from cross border (CB) trainings, CB facilitation, the management and mentoring/advice for CB projects up to scientific studies regarding CB co-operation.

  • Meeting 4 - Cavan, Ireland

      27-28 October

    Over 130 people from 15 countries attended the Centre’s international conference – ‘Cross-Border Training and Impact Assessment in Ireland and Europe’ – in Cavan on 27-28 October. They came from border regions in France, Germany, Belgium, Poland, Czech Republic, Austria, Slovenia, Italy, Spain (Catalonia), the French Caribbean, USA, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland and Ireland. The highlight was the launch of the Impact Assessment Toolkit for Cross-Border Cooperation – developed jointly by the Centre for Cross Border Studies and the Euro-Institut in Kehl, Germany – by Dr José Antonio Ruiz de Casas of the European Commission’s Regional Directorate (DG REGIO).

    There were also presentations on health training in the Irish border region; business mentoring in the Irish border region; raising the participation of women in public life in NW Ireland and Scotland; teacher training in the Czech-Polish border region; intercultural training in the Upper Rhine region; the challenges of training and evaluation for EU Territorial Cooperation programmes; cross-border local authority training in Ireland; higher education and research cooperation between France, Germany and Switzerland; needs analysis in the Slovenia-Carinthia-Friuli region; the Transfrontier Euro-Institut Network (TEIN); and cross-border training and impact assessment from the viewpoints of the European Commission, the Association of European Border Regions, and France’s leading authority on cross-border cooperation, Professor Michel Casteights.

  • Meeting 5 - Banyuls, France

    6th and 7th February

    The network is growing together!

    The Members of the Transfrontier Euro-Institut Network (TEIN) got together in the Catalan city Banyuls near the Spanish-French border for their 5th meeting which took place at the 6th and 7th February. The meeting was hosted by the local TEIN partners: the EICT -Euro-Institut Catalan Transfontalier-, a project of the University of Perpignan (UPVD) and of the University of Girona (UdG).

    Much has happened since the last session in Armagh (Northern Ireland) in the end of October, which was hold in connection with the International Conference on Impact Assessment. In the meantime, TEIN has taken various strategic actions that will deepen the further cooperation and strengthen the network.

    Thus, chaired by the Euro-Institut, TEIN has repeatedly competed for European funding in the scope of the LEONARDO – Transfer of Innovation programme. The new project is aiming at a transfer of know-how within the network regarding tools/skills that are established and approved in the Upper-Rhine region.  This exchange will lead to a professionalization of the actors in the field of cross-border cooperation – accordingly the designative name “Professionalization of Actors of Transfrontier Cooperation” (PAT) has been given to the project.

    In view of the increasing importance of cross-border cooperation accompanied by the need of professionalization, TEIN is also planning, together with additional strategic partners – the MOT (Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière) and the AGEG (Arbeitsgemeinschaft der Europäischen Grenzregionen) – , a conference about the topic “The future of European territorial Cooperation: Capacity building in cross-border territories“. It will take place the 10 July 2012 in Brussels, in the building of the permanent representation of the German state Baden-Württemberg. More information about this event will be furnished in the near future.

    Furthermore, the members of the network are currently working intensively on an online-representation. In doing this, the network reacts on the one hand to a growing interest in TEIN, its members and activities, on the other hand to the increasing integration of the network itself. The TEIN-website www.transfrontier.eu will soon be officially opened and can be awaited with keen interest.

    In addition, the TEIN-partners will take advantage of their 5th meeting in Banyuls to organize, after the formal TEIN-meeting, a one-day training or multiplier workshop within the network which will be based on the Impact Assessment Toolkits elaborated by the Centre for Cross Border Studies and the Euro-Institut.

  • Meeting 6 - Kehl, Germany

    The 6th meeting in Kehl was well attended by 19 participants representing the TEIN partners (the Polish/Czech Partners have been excused due to health reasons).

    Real progress has been made on consolidating TEIN as a sustainable entity with a number of decisions made about a future programme of work and establishing the public profile of the Network.

    Core element of this sixth meeting was the preparation of the TEIN conference that will take place on the 10th July 2012 in Brussels.  Reflecting the aims of the 6th and for now ‘last official meeting’ of the ‘TEIN I PERIOD’ the convention was held in the following agenda format:

     1. Welcome University of Applied Sciences Kehl; Prof. Dr. Ewald Eisenberg

    2. Report from the last meeting; Anne Thevenet

    3. Actual points; Anne Thevenet

    4. Feed-backs on:

    • Language group; Martine Camiade/Milena Grion
    • Europe for citizen project;  Andy Pollak
    • Discussion on the INTERACT Potentialities; Andy Pollak, Sebastian Rihm
    • Charter – last modifications; Anne Thevenet

    5. Grids and Sheets; Anne Thevenet

    6. TEIN Website – last checks; Sebastian Rihm

     7. Conference in Brussels; Joachim Beck

    • Participants/ Invitation procedure
    • Organization/Costs
    • Communication
    • Programme
    • Letter of Intent

    8. Outlook: Future Tools and Projects; Joachim Beck

    1. Interdisciplinary Manual and Dictionary of the cross-border cooperation
    2. Database and Research activities of TEIN
    3. Future Initiatives / Services of TEIN (positioning as an Expert Pool, offering project team solutions, personalised competences on the net)

    9. Last report for Leonardo Partnership; Anne Thevenet

    • EST-Database
    • Microcosmi
    • Formular                               

    10.  Next steps – Anne Thevenet

    • PAT-TEIN: work-programme