The first international study meeting which was organized within the framework of ‘TEIN – platform for cross-border dialogue’ co-financed from Polish-Czech INTERREG V-A Program, and took place from 20th to 21st June in the Irish Border region, has brought its participants many interesting experiences.

During the first day representatives of institutions involved in the project (‘Olza’Association, Institut EuroSchola, Centre for Cross Border Studies, Euro-Institut, Carinthia University of Applied Sciences, University of Girona) had an opportunity to attend the midmorning forum concerning different issues with regards Irish-Northern Irish cooperation as: overview of the special circumstances of the Irish Border Region – past & present; cross-border cooperation for health & wellbeing; cross-border cooperation by border region local governments as well as supporting Cross-Border Trade and Business Development. The afternoon session was dedicated to site visit in the “Peace Link” – community managed cross border, multi-functional facility in the border town of Clones County Monaghan. The facilities include, among others: a 400m tartan running track with field facilities, an in-field soccer sized grass pitch, a 3G multi-purpose playing pitch (of full GAA size and to a spec that will accommodate GAA, Rugby and Soccer), outdoor multi use games area, a sports centre with accommodation for indoor sports such as bowling, karate, archery, badminton, soccer, basketball, boccia and many more; changing facilities, a state of the art gym and other functional complementary facilities. This great example of bringing the otherwise divided community together could be an inspiration for communities living in the other cross-border regions to take similar initiatives,

The second day of the meeting was marked with meritorical and technical issues concerning ‘TEIN – platform for cross-border dialogue’ project as well as the approach to work on joint action plan with respect to use potential of selected TEIN members in order to effectively cooperate and be prepared for the new programming period.

The next international study meeting involving project partners will be held in French-German border on November 2017.

For further information:

http://crossborder.ie/good-practice-in-cross-border-cooperation-in-the-irish-border-region/

http://crossborder.ie/study-visit-to-the-peacelink-clones-as-part-of-the-tein-study-visit/