What is INTERREG?
INTERREG is an initiative of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) that aims to promote cooperation between EU member states and neighboring non-EU countries. The programs are embedded within European Territorial Cooperation (ETC). The program supports cross-border cooperation measures such as infrastructure projects, collaboration between public utilities, joint business activities, and cooperation in the areas of environmental protection, education, spatial planning, and culture.Cross-border cooperation Austria-Czech Republic
Interreg V-A Programme for Cross-Border Cooperation between Austria and the Czech Republic 2014-2020.
Project Priority Axes:
• PA 1 Strengthening Research, Technological Development and Innovation
• PA 2 Environment and Resources
• PA 3 Human Resource Development
• PA 4 Sustainable Networks and Institutional Cooperation
INTERREG Programm AT - CZ
Current projects
BioReMo (INTERREG AT-CZ)
Project title: Biodiversity Research & Monitoring AT-CZ 2024 -
2028
Duration: 1.1.2025 - 31.12.2028
Project objective: The overarching goal of the project is the research, monitoring, and conservation of biodiversity in the border region of Lower Austria, South Moravia, and South Bohemia (Czech Republic). A comprehensive system is being developed on a scientific basis, which can be transferred to other study groups and geographical areas. An innovative approach using new technologies enables more efficient and cost-effective work than conventional instruments. Initial investigations are also underway.
Project partners:
Nationalpark Thayatal GmbH
Správa Národního parku Podyjí (Podyjí National Park Administration)
Umweltbundesamt GmbH, team for biological diversity and nature conservation
Výzkumný ústav Silva Taroucy pro krajinu a okrasné zahradnictví, v.v.i. (Silva Tarouca, abbreviation VUK)
Naturschutzbund Österreich Austria Regional Group Lower Austria
ZO ČSOP Kněžice
Total project budget: € 1.470.521,90
Joint website: interreg-central.eu/projects/reco/
Dyje Bridge (INTERREG AT-CZ)
Project title: Construction of a new pedestrian bridge to manage visitor traffic around Hardegg
Project duration: March 2024 - February 2027
Project objective: In accordance with the EU Biodiversity Strategy, large-scale habitats are to be protected and made accessible to visitors. To achieve this, a pedestrian bridge is being built over the Thaya River, connecting the national parks and the town of Hardegg, and a new circular tourist trail is being created. This construction will open the protected area to the general public. At the same time, visitor flows will be managed, which will reduce disturbance in the less developed areas of the national parks and thus protect species and habitats.
Total project budget: € 256.348,24
ReCo (INTERREG Central-Europe)
Restoring degraded eco-systems along the Green Belt to improve and enhance biodiversity and ecological connectivityProject duration: March 2023 - February 2026
Program Objective: ReCo aims to promote the sustainable and targeted implementation of ecological restoration activities for degraded habitats along the Green Belt within the program area, as an important part of the EU's green infrastructure. Improved coordination between public and private nature conservation stakeholders will lead to the protection and preservation of nature, biodiversity, and habitat connectivity in order to address the specific challenges of climate change and habitat fragmentation. The network of international partners implements targeted restoration measures and jointly develops a guideline for ecological restoration. The Thayatal National Park focuses its measures on the target species, the European wildcat, which is a particularly good indicator of interconnected landscapes.
Total Project Budget: € 2.820.399
Joint homepage: interreg-central.eu/projects/reco/
Gemeinsame Website ReCo (INTERREG Central-Europe)
Completed projects
Thaya2020 (INTERREG V-A)
Project title: Dyje 2020 - Thaya 2020
Duration: 01. 05 2016 - 31.12.2021
Program objective: To create methodological foundations for coordinated water management development in the region and to improve habitats and ecosystem services in the border region through:
1) Integration of isolated Thaya meanders and structuring of average flow areas
2) Improvement of aquatic ecology in the area of the two national parks
3) Coordination of cross-border water management
Partners: Österreich (drei): Via Donau - Österreichische Wasserstraßen Gesellschaft mbH, the Federal Environment Agency and the National Park Thayatal GmbH
Czech Republic (two): Povodí Moravy, s.p. (Lead partner), Výzkumný ústav vodohospodářský T.G. Masaryka, veřejně výzkumná instituce
Total project budget: € 2.791.244,45
Where is the border? (INTERREG V-A)
Project title: Improving cross-border visitor infrastructure and assessing visitor impact in the Thayatal-Podyjí National Parks
Project duration: April 1, 2021 - December 31, 2022
Program objective: The project aims to enable visitors from Austria and the Czech Republic to have intensive and sustainable nature experiences in both national parks, thereby raising awareness of the need to protect these diverse natural areas.
To achieve this objective, the existing visitor infrastructure and visitor management systems of both national parks will be expanded and improved. Simultaneously, environmental and sociological surveys will be conducted to evaluate the impact of visitor behavior on the natural environment of the national parks. The aim is to identify sensitive areas and develop recommendations for managing visitor flows.
Partners: Austria: Thayatal National Park GmbH (Lead Partner), University of Vienna; Czech Republic: Podyjí National Park
Total project budget: € 686 647.69
nATCZwork (INTERREG V-A)
Project title: Borderless cooperation in the Podyjí-Thayatal National Park region
Duration: 01.10.2020-31.12.2022
Program Objective: The main objective of the project is to strengthen cross-border cooperation, firstly between the two national park administrations of Thayatal and Podyjí, and secondly between stakeholders in the border region, including municipalities, towns, educational institutions, and other organizations. Specific objectives include the development of a joint management plan between the two national park administrations, improving the language skills of staff, and offering cross-border educational programs for children and young people.
Partners: Austria: National Park Thayatal GmbH; Czech Republic: Národní park Podyjí (lead partner)
Total project budget: € 360 940
Bridges to the Neighbor (INTERREG V-A)
Project title:Development of the natural heritage in the area of the Podyjí National Park and Thayatal National Park
Duration: 01.11.2019-31.12.2022
Program Objective: The Podyjí National Park and the Thayatal National Park jointly protect the natural environment of the Thayatal valley between Vranov nad Dyjí and Znojmo. Since nature knows no borders, the two protected area administrations work very closely together in fulfilling their tasks.
However, currently only one direct connection exists between the two protected areas: the Thaya Bridge in Hardegg. The creation of two cross-border circular hiking trails via two new suspension bridges will allow visitors to experience the Thaya Valley even more as a shared natural space and a joint protected area. Through encounters between Czech and Austrian visitors, the Thayatal-Podyjí National Park will become a project fostering international understanding.
Partners: Austria: National Park Thayatal GmbH; Czech Republic: Národní park Podyjí (lead partner)
Total project budget: € 379 030,4
Connecting Nature AT - CZ (INTERREG V-A)
Project title: Crossborder Habitat Network and Management - Connecting Nature AT-CZ
Duration: October 1, 2017 to June 30, 2021
Program Objective: The overarching project objective, in line with the EU Green Infrastructure Strategy, is to secure and link large-scale habitat connectivity between the Limestone Alps, the Bohemian Forest, the Bohemian-Moravian Highlands, and the Carpathians across borders, and to preserve core habitats through coordinated management measures. This will enable the implementation of Natura 2000 conservation objectives and promote biodiversity (e.g., wildcat), important ecosystem services of the landscape, and attractive recreational areas for the population.
Partners: Austria (six): Thayatal National Park GmbH (lead partner), Office of the Lower Austrian Provincial Government, Department of Nature Conservation, Austrian Federal Forests AG, Austrian Nature Conservation Association, Lower Austrian Regional Group, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Lower Austria Regional Group, NÖ.Regional.GmbH (project organization)
Czech Republic (five): Agency for Nature Conservation of the Czech Republic, Institute of Botany of the Czech Academy of Sciences, South Bohemian Region, Vysočina Region, Podyjí National Park
Funding program: Interreg Austria - Czech Republic
Environment and resources - 2b Conservation and restoration of biodiversity and soil and promotion of ecosystem services, including via Natura 2000, and green infrastructure
Total project budget: € 2.171.069,09
MaGICLandscapes (INTERREG Central-Europe)
Project title: MaGICLandscapes
Managing Green Infrastructure in Central European Landscapes
Duration: 1.7.2017 - 30.10.2020
Program objective: MaGICLandscapes will provide policymakers, regional managers, municipalities, and other institutions with the knowledge and tools to ensure the functionality of green infrastructure and, consequently, valuable ecosystem services at different spatial scales. In collaboration with experts from Poland, the Czech Republic, Austria, Italy, and Germany, the project aims to connect vital natural areas with urban centers and enhance their functional role within the ecosystem. The results will include a collection of transferable tools, such as technical manuals and evidence-based strategies, to successfully manage future projects and investments.
Total project budget: € 2.191.263,66
