In March 2006, the CENTROPE partners formulated “Vision 2015”, a common master concept for the future development of the Central European Region. Eighteen months later, a detailed roadmap for concrete co-operation activities implemented by equal partners to gradually make Vision 2015 reality is nearing completion. The CENTROPE Political Conference, which for the first time took place in Bratislava with the motto “Ready for Take-off”, proved a strong sign of life of the Central European Region.

“Talking about CENTROPE means talking about a new quality of co-operation” – this sentiment put forward by Vladimír Bajan, Chairman of the Bratislava Self-Governing Region, in his opening statement was certainly shared by all participants in this year’s CENTROPE Conference on 26 November 2007. For the first time, this meeting of the 16 partners took place in the Slovak capital Bratislava. Representatives of the fields of economy and politics from all parts of CENTROPE spoke about their ideas for successful co-operation within the Central European Region, where many things have changed since the CENTROPE initiative was launched 50 months ago. All partner regions are now part of the European Union, border controls will be eliminated in December 2007, and the labour market, too, will be liberalised.

Vladimír Bajan agrees that this golden opportunity must be used for the benefit of CENTROPE: “The Central European Region is an ideal space for joint activities.” Specifically, Bajan addressed the co-operation between educational institutions in the region, which he believes should be further intensified, e.g. by setting priorities for common educational standards. After all, education is a crucial factor for the future of the region, he maintained. The Mayor of Sopron, Tamás Fodor, equally identified the necessity of novel training structures to meet rapidly changing needs. For Andrej Ďurkovský, Mayor of Bratislava, the capacities of institutions of higher learning must be stepped up and made accessible across borders throughout the region.

“CENTROPE is damned to succeed”

Or, as János Kondor, Chairman of the Association of Employers and Industrialists of Vas County, put it: “CENTROPE is damned to succeed. For this co-operation in Central Europe has a long tradition.” In his opinion, enterprises show how cross-border co-operation can function smoothly. The Governor of the Federal Province of Burgenland, Hans Niessl, is likewise convinced that “CENTROPE offers ideal preconditions for economic success. It is a new form of working together that calls for efficient infrastructure and a qualified workforce.” The Deputy Governor of the Federal Province of Lower Austria, Ernest Gabmann, agrees: “We are on the right track and want to make use of this opportunity – economically, culturally, but also with a view to environmental protection.”

These assessments were shared by the participating scientists. Peter Huber, an expert with the Austrian Institute of Economic Research and co-editor of the first CENTROPE Business und Labour Report, noted that the Central European Region disposes of excellent prerequisites for a variety of processes based on the division of labour. Already today, it creates locational advantages and cost-effective development opportunities, above all for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), he claimed. In its turn, such a region needs strong infrastructure, more cross-border investment activities and intensified co-operation between public actors. Yet the successful exploitation of all available opportunities is contingent on focused and increasingly fine-tuned policies of all CENTROPE partners, he concluded. The CENTROPE Business und Labour Report, which will henceforth be published annually, offers a valuable basis towards this goal.

Bratislava Memorandum: “Long-term and Professional Co-operation”

As the previous CENTROPE Conferences, this year’s “summit” of governors, county presidents and mayors of the capital cities once more jointly adopted a document to serve as a milestone for the intensification of cross-border co-operation. In the Bratislava Memorandum “Long-term and Professional Co-operation”, the CENTROPE partners agreed to set up a common, multilateral co-operation management to serve as the backbone of future co-operation. To coincide with the beginning of the new EU funding period, a number of “strategic alliances” was moreover established with the objective of promptly implementing co-operation projects in a great variety of thematic fields and on a basis of true partnership. Thus the “Vision CENTROPE 2015” presented in 2006 is gradually being transformed from theoretical vision into tangible reality.

Back to content Newsletter 06 Top

Political Conference CENTROPE 2007, Bratislava



CENTROPE ready for take-off: The partner regions and -cities agree on the next steps for deepening the cooperation



The CENTROPE Newsletter 06


The current issue that moves the Central European Region: Economic Area CENTROPE



The CENTROPE Business & Labour Report



A tool for cross-border policy making



STANDARD Newspaper Supplement about CENTROPE



CENTROPE newspaper supplements released in four languages on various topics. The topic of the current issue: Innovation and Technology



CENTROPE moves



The up-to date brochure about results, projects and strategies of the Central European Region



NÖN/BVZ Newspaper Supplement about CENTROPE



CENTROPE newspaper supplement of „Niederösterreichischen Nachrichten“ and „Burgenländischen Volkszeitung“ .




Route CENTROPE – discovery trips in the heart of Europe




Issue No. 1: Wine & Architecture



Vision CENTROPE 2015


Agreed by the CENTROPE partners: The roadmap towards a common future in the Central European Region.



CENTROPE – Investor service



Based on the independent EU-project DIANE (Direct Investment Agencies Network),
'CENTROPE – Enter The Growth Market' offers a competent access point for potential investors in the region.



CENTROPE is supported by the European Commission