• TEIN Platform for cross-border dialogue

    Co-financed by the Polish-Czech INTERREG V-A Program, this project aimed at creating a platform for cross-border dialogues between European countries with historically conflictual pasts. During a series of study visits to different border regions in Europe, the TEIN project partners exchanged experiences and best practices regarding obstacles caused by historical, political and ethnical or national tensions with representatives of governments, universities, research institutions, NGOs and other actors of cross-border cooperation.

    Based on the conclusions of the cross-border forums, site visits, discussions and brainstorming sessions a joint action plan of recommendations was developed for the area of ​​the Polish-Czech Euroregion Cieszyn Silesia, focused on building and developing mutual relations between Poles and Czechs, taking into account their difficult mutual history.

  • 1st international study meeting in the Irish-Northern Irish border region

    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/

     

  • 2nd international study meeting in the German-French border region

    The second 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 7th to 8th November in the French-German 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 and University of Perpignan) had an opportunity to attend the midmorning forum concerning different issues with regards French-German cooperation as: historical perspective of the cooperation in the Upper Rhine Region; Franco-German relations as a tool-box? On the transferability of reconciliation and structured cooperation; Le Mémorial Alsace-Moselle and “Inter-religio” project presentation.

     

    The afternoon session was dedicated to site visit in the “Centre International Albert Schweitzer” – educational youth hostel financed by The National Service for the Maintenance of German Military Tombs. It carries out its projects of intercultural mediation, historical transmission and political and civic training. Moreover it collects and investigates the memories of families as well as offers a variety of pedagogical modules so that teachers can cater any stay to their own personal needs and desires.

    The Centre links also historical questions to topical questions as far as possible, as well as to philosophical and ethical questions. During the visit its participants had a possibility to see German Military Cemetery 1939-1945 in Niederbronn-les Bains which is a part of the Centre. In the chaos of the fighting in the north-east of France during the Second World War, the fallen soldiers were initially buried in more than 600 communes in the region. In the early 1960s, following the French and German military burial agreement, the German soldiers were exhumed and transferred to the German Military Cemetery. The inauguration took place on 1 October 1966. 15835 people, mostly soldiers, have their last resting place there. This number has steadily increased since the inauguration, since it still happens today that people find human remains dating from the Second World War. There are approximately 1500 non-identified soldiers, 2200 SS soldiers, 17 different nationalities are represented, of which 88 Hungarians as well as people with different careers: soldiers, civilists, prisoners of war and war criminals. This study visit left traces on the awareness of all its participants.