Action Plan for Cross-Border Cooperation Between Rostock and Guldborgsund Along the Scandria® Corridor

ACTION PLAN

for cross-border cooperation between Hansestadt Rostock and Guldborgsund Municipality

along the Scandria® corridor

Action plan for cross-border cooperation between Rostock and Guldborgsund along the Scandria® corridor

I. Introduction

Rostock and Guldborgsund have intentionally cooperated from the early 1990s on. Both municipalities decided to officially enter a durable twinning partnership with effect of November 2014. Thus, this new twinning will unite the Hanseatic City of Rostock (about 203,000 inhabitants) with the municipality Guldborgsund with about 61,000 inhabitants.

Priority development aim of the Hanseatic City of Rostock is to become a regiopolis region in the Baltic Sea Region. Thus, Rostock and the surrounding county plus interactional area Ribnitz-Damgarten form a regiopolis region1 with about 450,000 inhabitants. This region generates centripetal forces which give the regiopolis region Rostock a particular role within the metropolis triangle Copenhagen, Hamburg and Berlin.

Priority development aim of Guldborgsund Municipality is to utilize its position in the South Baltic Sea and along the transport corridors E 55 and E47, to cooperate with its neighboring countries and regions for the joint development of job creation and economic growth.

Guldborgsund Municipality will therefore cooperate with the Rostock Regiopolis initiative and enter a twinning partnership with Hanseatic City of Rostock.

The cooperation between Rostock and Guldborgsund that has tremendously increased from 1990 on needed only little political incentives; the advantages of neighborly cooperation spoke for themselves. Rostock and Guldborgsund have been unified by their good location over years; the neighbours are located only 52 km waterways away from each other, the regions’ inhabitants live up to the same values and are aware of the advantages of such a neighbourhood. The interlinking with Rostock needs special attention; as a self-determined neighbourhood has been possible in Rostock only after 1991.

Both municipalities are located in the sphere of the three metropolises Hamburg, Copenhagen and Berlin. As Guldborgsund has been the bridgehead to Scandinavia for Rostock, Rostock and Luebeck are Guldborgsund’s bridgeheads towards Germany. Rostock is 200 km away from the metropolises Hamburg and Berlin; Guldborgsund only

1 A regiopolis is a city outside a metropolitan area that acts as a driving force for development for the city itself and its suburban region. The concept is not only seen as a phrase for city marketing, but it has also the potential to bring these urban regions back on the national and European map. To use and further develop their (economic) potential a strong cooperation between the city and its surrounding municipalities (the Regiopolis region) is needed and should be accompanied by cooperation’s with other interest groups and the local business sector. 2

130 km from Copenhagen. While the large city Rostock combines economic power and prosperity, Guldborgsund increasingly profits from the booming Öresund region. Due to this, the joint efforts have mainly addressed an improvement of transport relations in passenger and cargo traffic so far.

Over the last funding period from 2007-2013, the Trans-European transport axis I via Berlin and Rostock to Copenhagen was successfully expanded. Thus, not only Guldborgsund is able to profit from North-South-traffics as well as from East-West- traffics as far as these are not only transits through the municipality territory. Hence, the north-south oriented Scandria alliance was started as development alliance between Berlin, Rostock and Guldborgsund and resulted into the EU-Scandinavia-Mediterranean Sea-Corridor (TEN-T) in 2014. Likewise, Guldborgsund is actively engaged into the development axis Copenhagen-Guldborgsund-Puttgarden. By acting in a coordinated way, integration into the eligible area of the new “Interreg Programme IVA South Baltic Sea Region” was successfully achieved.

The neighbourly integration proceeds rapidly. The public transport systems and ferry crossings have already been harmonized and integrated for a considerable period of time now. Guldborgsund is connected to Copenhagen at hourly intervals, Rostock to Berlin and Hamburg in two-hour intervals.

The preconditions for cross-border regional integration have remained good. Strategic objective to reach a status of ensured competitiveness before the Fehmarn-Belt crossing is commissioned.

Resulting from the joint commitment, local, regional, national and EU protagonists meet in Rostock and Guldborgsund in the new Scandinavia-Mediterranean Sea development corridor, important access routes (via Berlin) cross Rostock along the North Sea-Baltic Sea and Orient/East-Mediterran corridor.

The essential conclusion of numerous cross-border or transnational cooperation projects is that time has come to establish joint projects not only related to the favoured cooperation areas transport and business development but also in the fields of culture, sport, education and civic commitment in the future. Cooperation in the areas of labour market mobility and renewable energy supply are also relevant for the two municipalities.

The Baltic Sea region-wide Interreg project „BSR Transgovernance“ provided the opportunity to practically test the EU’s multilevel governance approach. Positive experiences have been gained over the past years, as where federal government, state government, Region Rostock, Hanseatic City of Rostock and private companies like Scandlines combined their efforts. On the Danish side the municipality Guldborgsund,

Region Zealand, the central government and private companies acted jointly too, with the aimed effect of deeper territorial cross border integration.

As, due to this, a lot has already been achieved regarding hard infrastructure modernization even before 2014, the BSR Transgovernance project selected the cross border neighbourhood Rostock-Guldborgsund to test, through the example of an intensifying neighbourhood relationship between Rostock and Guldborgsund, the transition from a “bottleneck” on an important European transport corridor into a cross- border – crossing the Baltic Sea - regional development axis. The focus was placed on removing a weak point, the cross-border car-free intermodal passenger traffic.

The tasks specified jointly by Guldborgsund and Rostock in an outline action plan, sometimes even far from the traffic development objectives, demonstrate that the path which has been pursued was the right one. The already quite well established traffic corridor from Berlin to Copenhagen is a “fertile soil” for various interlinking relationships between Guldborgsund and Rostock. The cargo and passenger traffic corridor converts into a regional cross-border axis section along the development from Berlin to Copenhagen. Even more than before, this development needs coordination as it by now influences much more than the cooperation in the field of transport infrastructure development.

Three cross-border oriented workshops and, to prepare and implement them, various regional meetings (see image) took place in the context of the project. The cross-border phone calls, emails and personal meetings can hardly be counted anymore. Aim was to promote the intended transition of a transport corridor into a cross-border regional development axis via targeted project activities. Thus, the joint efforts addressed the function of the passenger and cargo transport “hub” at the sites Rostock and Guldborgsund and, directly and indirectly, transport promotion.

Workshop Date & Responsible partners Partici- Location pants

R4 Regional Workshop Region Rostock 19 March 2014, Planning Association 39 “Potentials for cooperation in the Scandria transport corridor Fuglsang Rostock Region / between Northern Germany and Southern Denmark” Guldborgsund municipality R5 Regional Workshop, Region Guldborgsund 13 June 2014, Guldborgsund municipality 29 “Transport and business development in the North-South Falster Transport corridor in Guldborgsund Municipality” Center T3 Thematic Workshop Passengers services, ports, MoS 11 December City of Rostock / Planning 39 “Challenges and cooperation potentials for passenger and 2013, Rostock Association Rostock cargo traffic along the Scandria©-Corridor” Region

The Interreg BSR IVB project BSR Transgovernance provided partners from Rostock and Guldborgsund with an opportunity to elaborate an action plan for the future cooperation between Guldborgsund and Rostock. The “Outline Action Plan” will specify the twinning city agreement between Rostock and Guldborgsund. Furthermore, the joint regional development between Rostock and Guldborgsund got valuable inspiration from gained insights into partially comparable – Baltic Sea crossing – neighbourhood relationships, between Helsinki and Tallinn as well as between Umeå and Vaasa.

By the end of the project „BSR Transgovernance“ Rostock and Guldborgsund will be able to proof that, even with the partial implementation of the multilevel governance concept in the traffic sector, growth and prosperity have been achieved in the transport sector as well as in other regional development fields. Increasing co-operations initiate passenger traffic demands, increasing demands, again, justify a commitment for improving the cross-border intermodal passenger transport. The continued cooperation related to the topics agreed upon in the action plan shall stabilize and enhance this development.

II. Topics and measures for cross-border cooperation

A. Cross-border passenger traffic An attractive transport connection that can be used by and is affordable for all citizens is the probably most important prerequisite for a fast convergence of the regions Rostock and Guldborgsund. Furthermore, due to its position in the Scandria corridor, this connection has an important interface function for interregional traffics from and to Scandinavia.

Various cross-border projects between the two municipalities contributed significantly to reactivating the car-free cross-border passenger transport connection from Rostock and Guldborgsund. Furthermore, the hinterland connections from both regions, mainly towards Berlin and Copenhagen, have improved over the past years (mainly via trains and long-distance buses). This releases additional potential and improves the cooperation conditions related to cross-border passenger traffic. By now, the aim is to durably secure and expand the connection’s attractiveness. The most important fields of cooperation and measure proposals are listed below.

1. Long-term maintenance of a high frequency of rides for the public transport connection to the ferry ports in Gedser and Rostock

A significant improvement of the public transport connections of the ferry ports in Gedser and Rostock has been achieved over the past years. On this basis, an attractive car-free passenger connection between Rostock and Guldborgsund has been created. This has to be lastingly ensured.

Proposed measures:

 Securing the financing of a high-frequency and, thus, attractive public transport connection to the ferry ports Rostock and Gedser. Aim should be to connect as many ferry departures and arrivals as possible via coordinated public transport offers.

Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Public transport Association Warnow, State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Region Zealand, Guldborgsund Municipality

2. Ensuring a timetable that is durably coordinated with ferry arrival and departure

It has been demonstrated how important a regular coordination between transport companies located along the axis is, particularly regarding timetable creation and adaptation. To lastingly ensure the attractiveness of the connection, binding cooperation agreements have to be decided.

Proposed measures:

 Entering a binding agreement between all passenger transport companies along the axis Rostock–Gedser-Nykøbing about mutual information and coordination regarding timetable creation/adaption with the aim of durably ensuring attractive transfer and waiting periods at the interfaces in Gedser and Rostock seaport  In case of (even short-term) changes of ferry timetable changes it is important to change the related public transport connections accordingly (ferry = primary means of transport).

Responsible: Scandlines, Movia, Public Transport Association Warnow

3. Long-term securing of financial support with marketing the cross-border car-free passenger traffic connection Rostock and Guldborgsund

As a rule, new transport offers need several years to be recognized and, thus, finally accepted by customers. This particularly applies for car-free, cross-border traffic offers that shall address not only the local residents but also tourists. Tourists usually stay only for 3 to 14 days in the regions. The experiences with introducing and marketing „Intercombi tickets“ have shown that transport companies must not be left alone with the marketing.

Proposed measures:

 Ensuring long-term financial support of the transport companies with marketing the passenger connection („Intercombi ticket“) from both municipalities. Desirable would be, if the Hanseatic City of Rostock and Guldborgsund Municipality with the transport companies would agree upon a fixed budget over a longer period (5-10) and integrate this into their budget planning. This should be used earmarked for promoting the “Intercombi ticket” and other car-free passenger transport offers between Rostock and Guldborgsund.

Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Guldborgsund Municipality, Scandlines, Movia, Public Transport Association Warnow, Rostocker Straßenbahn AG

4. Intensification and consolidation of the „Intercombi tickets“ marketing or marketing of alternative car-free cross-border passenger traffic offers between Rostock and Guldborgsund

The marketing of the cross-border car-free passenger traffic must be intensified and enhanced based on this secured financial support (see above).

In this context, a detailed target group analysis must be implemented. The “Intercombi ticket” sales have shown that the acceptance of the offer differs among the potential target groups. Some target groups have hardly or even not been involved so far (e.g. commuters). Furthermore, a large difference in demand between Danish and German side can be observed which results not only from population density and different intensities of marketing, but also from differing demands, motivations and needs of the potential target groups on both sides of the border. The campaign „Visit your neighbour - reasons to travel without car“ implemented in the context of „BSR Transgovernance“ has shown that particularly the car-free cross-border passenger traffic needs bundled offers that are specifically oriented to individual target group needs.

Proposed measures:

 Intensification and consolidation of „Intercombi ticket“ marketing in Rostock and particularly Guldborgsund, in the main season as well as in the off-season. Common and new marketing instruments and approaches need to be identified and applied for expanding the ticket promotion (e.g. promoting the ticket in means of transport within and outside the region, e.g. DSB and DB).  Elaboration of a target group-specific marketing concept for car-free passenger traffic in the cross-border region. Aim is to identify all (potential) target groups for cross-border passenger traffic, to analyse the related needs and to develop, implement and market offers that specifically address these target groups.

Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Guldborgsund Municipality, Scandlines, Movia, Public Transport Association Warnow, Rostocker Straßenbahn AG

5. Expansion and integration of the „Intercombi ticket“ or other car-free cross- border passenger traffic offers into the ticketing and tariff systems of supra- regionally acting passenger transport companies

Within the context of the projects „Interface“ and „Interface Plus“, important structural and technical preconditions (booking system, real-time system, cross-border timetable information system) were created that allow an expansion of the “Intercombi ticket” (or other offers) to other relations or connecting it to the ticket and tariff

system of other transport companies. Aim is to strengthen the importance of the region Rostock-Guldborgsund for the supra-regional cross-border passenger traffic. Connection traffics mainly towards Berlin and Copenhagen and the connection with other regions along the Scandria corridor are in the focus here. This way, also a higher demand for cross-border car-free ticket offers shall be achieved.

Proposed measures:

 Expanding and connecting the „Intercombi ticket“ with the tariff and ticket systems of German Railways (Deutsche Bahn) and DSB for integrating the relations Rostock- Berlin and Nykøbing-Copenhagen/ Malmö

Responsible: Public Transport Association Warnow, Transport Association Berlin Brandenburg, DB (German Railway), Scandlines, Movia, DSB (Danish Railway), SJ (Swedish Railway)

 Expansion of the „Intercombi tickets“ or introduction of a separate passenger ticket offer on the ferry route Rostock-Trelleborg, the continuation of the journey until Malmö/ Copenhagen included.

Responsible: Public Transport Association Warnow, Stena Line, TT Line, Skanetrafiken, SJ (Swedish Railway), DSB (Danish Railway)

6. Expansion of the Intercombi ticket sale

Currently, the „Intercombi ticket“ can be booked via internet (www.intercombi- ticket.de) or at the service centres of the Rostocker Straßenbahn AG (RSAG) and the tourism centres. The sale system must be expanded for increasing popularity and demand.

Proposed measures:

 Related to point 5 (see above): Integration of the „Intercombi ticket“ into the tariff and ticketing systems of German railways (Deutsche Bahn) and DSB. Long-term aim shall be to enable customers a ticket booking via the (inter)nationally accepted portals www.bahn.de, www.rejseplanen.dk or www.dsb.dk.  Improving the booking of the „Intercombi ticket“ via mobile consumer devices (e.g. via App)  Intercombi ticket sale at the Scandlines counter of Rostock ferry terminal and at Scandlines ticket machines in Guldborgsund/ Gedser 9

 Intercombi ticket sale in cooperation with the transport organisation Verkehrsverbund Berlin-Brandenburg  Sale of Intercombi tickets at stations and/or in the busses in Guldborgsund and Rostock (at the ticket vending machines)  Sale of Intercombi tickets in interested shops/kiosks/restaurants in Guldborgsund and Rostock

Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Municipality Guldborgsund, Movia, Public Transport Associaton Warnow, Scandlines, DB (German Railway), DSB (Danish Railway)

7. Expansion of the intermodal dynamic passenger information system (real-time) to other cross-border relations

The Transgovernance project strengthened the results of the (Interreg South Baltic IVA) „Interface Plus“ project. Probably worldwide for the first time a cross-border intermodal, dynamic passenger information system was created. This innovative passenger information system had to interlink three different means of transport (bus, train/ local train and ferry) operated by five different transport companies (German Railways, Rostocker Straßenbahn AG, Scandlines, Movia, DSB). Real-time information makes a significant contribution to increasing the attractiveness of transport connections. This particularly applies for intermodal connections in cross-border regions as safe connection for customers who change the mean of transport is significantly more important here.

The ferry companies have also recognized this. Furthermore, they see potentials for the cargo transport sector related to real-time information. Rostock seaport is one of the most important ferry ports of the Baltic Sea Region and, thus, offers optimum preconditions for expanding the real-time offers to other cross-border relations. Aim shall be a transfer of the system developed for the axis Rostock-Guldborgsund to other axes. Ferry connections to Trelleborg are particularly in the focus here.

Proposed measures:

 Expansion of the real-time information system to the relation Rostock-Trelleborg- Malmö/ Copenhagen  Expansion of the real-time information system to other relations (e.g. Rostock – Helsinki)

Responsible: Public Transport Association Warnow, Rostock Port Authority, Stena Line/ TT Line, Trelleborg Port, Skanetrafiken, SJ (Swedish Railway), DSB (Danish Railway) (Finnlines)

8. Integrating Mecklenburg-Vorpommern into the cross-border timetable information system EU-Spirit

Connecting the timetable information offer of the public transport association Warnow with the international timetable information system EU-Spirit shall be achieved. On this basis, a real-time cross-border timetable information system between Rostock and Guldborgsund will be implemented. To integrate the connection Rostock-Gedser- Nykøbing also into the timetable information systems of continuing supra-regional passenger connections (e.g. Berlin-Copenhagen via Nykøbing), the state of Mecklenburg- Vorpommern would have to join the EU-Spirit network.

Proposed measure:

 The Public Transport Association Warnow is a member of the cross-border timetable information system EU-Spirit

Responsible: Public Transport Association Warnow, Transport Association Berlin Brandenburg (Coordinator of the EU-Spirit Group)

9. Internationalisation of the Danish timetable information system Rejseplanen

The timetable information system most frequently used in Denmark, www.rejseplanen.dk, shall be opened for international timetable information. Rejseplanen is a member of the EU Spirit network and gives other timetable information systems access to the own timetable information systems. Due to this, traffic connections in Denmark can also be inquired via other information systems (which are members of the EU Spirit network). However, Rejseplanen itself does not inform about travels from and to destinations outside Denmark. Consequently, customers from Denmark who wish to travel abroad have to use the foreign timetable information system which is less familiar to them (e.g. www.bahn.de).

Proposed measure:

 Opening the Danish timetable information system www.rejseplanen.dk for international timetable information (in www.rejseplanen.dk) via an active server located in DK

Responsible: Rejseplanen, DSB (Danish Railway), Movia

10. Intensified use of potentials for Rostock and Guldborgsund as intermediate and transfer point for long-distance route buses

Long-distance route bus connections that cross Rostock and Guldborgsund have become more and more important over the past years (E 55 Berolina, Euroline, Flixbus, etc.). Rostock and Guldborgsund set themselves the goal to increasingly use of potentials deriving from these developments.

Proposed measure:

 Development of a long-distance route bus strategy for Rostock and Guldborgsund

Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Municipality Guldborgsund

B. Cross-border cargo traffic Rostock Port is an important cargo and passenger transport hub on the Scandria corridor (and beyond). Multiple conversion and expansion measures have been implemented at the port over the last years, mainly financially supported by the German Federal Government and the European Union (Motorways of the Sea) to strengthen its position. This mainly includes the construction of a modern passenger terminal, reconstruction measures at the ferry pier or the expansion of the terminal for combined transports. Furthermore, a computer-assisted parking place management system was established, which allows a time-saving and energy-saving handling. The handling terminal for rail, road and ship cargo was expanded on an area of about 30,000 square metres. The entire Combined Transport (CT) terminal area amounts to about 70,000 square metres now. The ports have become a destination for 5 ferry companies now, which transport cargo and passengers from and to Denmark, Sweden and Finland. 35 intermodal trains per week pass the CT terminal. The number of handled trailer units amounts to about 65,000 per year.

The port of Gedser has experienced a fundamental change, too. In addition to the conversion of the previous ferry train station into a modern ferry terminal, the entire port basin and landside infrastructure were converted and expanded so that the new ferry ships of the shipping company Scandlines operated on the connection Rostock- Gedser can be received and handled from 2015 on. These measures were also financially supported by the European Union.

Parallel to the port development, the hinterland transport infrastructure has improved. On the German side, many optimizations of the road-sided connection to Rostock port have to be mentioned, mainly the expansion of the rail connection between Berlin and Rostock. On the Danish side, a bypass road is currently built in Nykøbing. The aforementioned measures enable time and cost savings that strengthen the competitiveness of the axis Rostock-Guldborgsund for international cargo traffic. In consideration of the coming fixed Fehmarn Belt crossing construction, these efforts have to be continued. Related cooperation fields and proposed measures have been identified, which are presented as follows:

11. Strengthening Rostock port as combined transport gateway

Investigations implemented in the project „BSR Transgovernance“ indicated new development potentials for Rostock port as CT site for traffics from and to Scandinavia (particularly from and towards Northern Italy and the Balkan states). However, existing obstacles and problems related to combined traffics have also been identified. Aim is to continue the positive development of the last years. 13

The expansion of existing and the establishment of new connections from and to Rostock’s hinterland are of interest here. The focus lays on combined transport with unaccompanied cargo units (e.g. by road semitrailers).

The ferry line Rostock-Gedser participates much less in the combined transport from and to Rostock compared to ferry lines to Trelleborg and Helsinki. However, this might change as soon as the new ferries will be operated with a higher capacity from 2015 on.

Proposed measures:

 Expansion of existing and establishment of new CT connections via Rostock port  Marketing intermodal transport solutions and offers of forwarding and transport agents (particularly SME)  Pushing the cooperation of smaller and larger forwarding agents (mainly regarding a joint use of equipment needed for CT traffic)  Initiation of projects and measures that aim to further improve the CT at the location Rostock (e.g. via projects in EU programs, such as Motorways of the Sea, Interreg)

Responsible: Rostock Port Authority in cooperation with relevant logistics partners

12. Continued expansion of the regional development and hinterland connection to the ports of Rostock and Gedser

Rostock and Gedser will implement further measures for improving the development of the ports or certain port areas. Furthermore, any efforts and measures that result into a further improvement of the supra-regional connection and implementation of traffic from and to the ports will be supported. Measures to be promoted here would be, for instance, the further improvement of the motorway connections in, from and to Poland, the further traffic improvement of the road connection to Gedser port or activities that aim to improving the traffic flow around Copenhagen (reduction of traffic jam).

Proposed measures:

 Implementing measures that contribute to further development the ports or port areas via traffic boosting (e.g. access to Rostock port via a separate motorway exit A19, improved development of single piers etc.)  Continued implementation of the Masterplan Gedser  Continuing the commitment in transnational development and implementation projects that aim to strengthening the hinterland connection for strengthening the

ports as important traffic interfaces for intermodal traffic in Europe (e.g. with the support of Motorways of the Sea projects accompanied by measures).

Responsible: Rostock Port Authority, Scandlines Gedser port, Municipality Guldborgsund, Hanseatic City of Rostock, Planning Association Region Rostock, Ministry for Energy, Infrastructure and Regional Development Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Danish Road Directorate, German Federal Ministry of Transport

13. Extension of the ferry line Rostock-Gedser

The ferry connection from and to Gedser is the backbone of cargo and passenger traffic for both sides. Consequently, a further strengthening of the connection is desirable. In the short-term or medium-term it is particularly an increase of the ferry operation frequency that would be desirable (operation in hourly intervals, 16 to 17 departures per day), as this would increase the attractiveness as well as the reliability of the connection. Precondition is an operation of one or several additional ships (in addition to the new Scandlines ferries that will be commissioned in 2015).

Proposed measure:

 Implementation of measures for strengthening the competitiveness of the ferry line Rostock-Gedser (long-term aim should be ferry departures in hourly intervals)

Responsible: Scandlines DE/DK (or other interested ferry operators) with the support of Rostock Port Authority, Guldborgsund Municipality, Hanseatic City of Rostock, Region Zealand

C. Cross-border urban and regional development / Regiopolis

14. Coordination and information on projects and challenges in the field of urban and regional development

The Hanseatic city of Rostock and Guldborgsund Municipality will sign a city partnership agreement on November 12th, 2014. Such a global commitment can not only be based on a monothematic cooperation in the transport sector. Instead, transport and infrastructure are the backbone of cooperation. The degree of capacity utilisation will increase with a closer cooperation in other fields. Thus urban and regional development has already been discussed on a common workshop (March 19th, 2014 at Fuglsang Museum Toreby, DK).

Proposed measure:

 Annual Meeting: Establishment of an annual meeting of planners (spatial and sectoral) from both sides. The aim is to learn from each other and to inform each other on main topics and strategic decisions.

Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Planning Association Region Rostock, Guldborgsund Municipality, optional also Regiopolis Rostock

15. Urban and regional development projects

Proposed measure:

 Cross-border exchange on the topic urban development at the waterfront: Rostock and Guldborgsund differ significantly regarding their urban structures. Still, for instance, Nykøbing und Rostock have similarities regarding „gently integrated urban development“ and “urban development at the waterfront”. Structural-spatial urban development at the waterfront and social life with and by the water remain a key issue for Rostock. There are enough interfaces between Guldborgsund and Rostock to revitalize the cooperation in the context of the UBC Commission for Urban Development and Spatial Urban Planning which was started some years ago. o Proposed measure: Elaboration of an Interreg project application „Urban development at the waterfront 2.0“ o Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Guldborgsund Municipality

 Smart, sustainable and inclusive urban development: Buzz phrases such a Transition Town (in Rostock) and regenerative villages (in Guldborgsund) display 16

the aim of a sustainable urban development. The implementation of redevelopment plan is done with different methods and instruments in both regions.

o Local methods and experiences should be exchanged. If interested, municipalities in the district of Rostock should also be invited. One occasion could be the annual meeting. A new EU project within the framework of INTERREG, HORIZON 2020 or URB could provide a framework.

o Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Guldborgsund Municipality

• Cooperation in the field of renewable energy supply

o This field has already been subject for joint cooperation between Rostock and Guldborgsund, especially in the projects ResChains and in SB OFFER, and topics for further activities have been identified.

o Continuation of the cross-border initiatives on based support from EU ERDF funds and specific Interreg programmes.

o Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Guldborgsund Municipality, Planning Association Region Rostock, Rostock Business

 Civic involvement/participation:

o In Germany the Ministry for Energy and Transport MV prepares during these times an EU project on civil involvement. In Denmark public participation concerning the municipal household give the possibility to establish working groups to implement the democratic interests of citizens within the region. An exchange on different experiences and a cooperation within the framework of EU projects should be started.

o Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Guldborgsund Municipality

16. Initiation and implementation of cross-border cooperation projects in the fields culture, sports, education, art, tourism and business development

An attractive transport connection and cross-border ticket offer provide various opportunities for long-term cross-border cooperation between Rostock and Guldborgsund. In addition to the favoured cooperation in the fields passenger and cargo transport, Rostock and Guldborgsund identified, in the context of the „BSR Transgovernance“ project and in preparation of the city twinning, other cooperation 17

options in the fields culture, sports, education and civil commitment. Joint projects shall also be established related to these topics in the future. The most important approaches are presented here as follows:

Proposed measures:

 Cross-border cooperation project in the field art/culture: o Expansion and long-term continuation of the project Kultur-Link; Continuation of the theatre marketing campaign Rostock, intensifying the cooperation Kunsthalle - Fuglsang Kunstmuseum; museum village Klockenhagen entering a cooperation with the Medieval Centre Nykøbing o Continuing a collaboration for the regional art and culture festival regio:polis, which has been celebrated as a cross border festival in 2014 for the first time (second time in Region Rostock). It is an instrument of regional and touristic development as it displays the various local artists and cultural sites that take place or can be visited within the region. Thus it helps prolonging the touristic season (it takes place in October) and can contribute to increase cross-border traffic. Additional, the festival brochure informs about the “InterCombi-Ticket”. A cross border working group has been established for this matter. o Establishing cooperation between Kunsthalle Rostock and Fuglsang Kunstmuseum and Art Colony Schwaan with Fuglsang Kunstmuseum o „InterCombi-Ticket“ campaign related to the „Long night of Museums“  Cross-border cooperation projects in the field Sports: o Haikutter race, running event, horseracing events, o Sailing regatta Rostock-Guldborgsund of the sailing clubs in Rostock, Kühlungsborn and Guldborgsund as well as Zealand  Cross-border cooperation projects in the field Education: o Annually repeated pupils excursion project (monastery „Kloster zum Heiligen Kreuz“, Darwineum Rostock Zoo/ Medieval Centre Nykøbing, Crocodile Zoo or Guided tours to wind farms).  Cross-border cooperation projects in the field Tourism: o Annual participation of Rostock Tourism in the town festival Nykøbing o Annual tourism event calendar Rostock-Guldborgsund in preparation of the tourism season in coordination with VVW and ferry companies, marketing via “Danen Kurier” or German magazines such as “0381”.  Cooperation in the field of labour market mobility, job creation and economic developmentcross-border cooperation potential in the vocational training sector o Investigating cross-border cooperation potential for the Rostocker Stadthallen- und Messegesellschaft Rostock, e.g. in the guest marketing field

o Continuation of the cross-border initiatives based on support from EU ERDF funds and specific Interreg programmes. o Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Guldborgsund Municipality, Rostock Business, Region Rostock Marketing Initiative, Business Lolland Falster.

The measures listed above could be implemented via smaller and larger Interreg projects (mainly within the South Baltic Sea Area).

Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Municipality Guldborgsund in cooperation with the institutions and project developers to be involved regarding the relevant field of cooperation

17. Enhancement of cross-border bike tourism

Bike tourism is a growth sector and contributes to prolonging the season. European long- distance cycle tracks cross both municipalities, particularly the Eurovelo 7 (sunshine route with its section Berlin-Copenhagen) becomes more and more popular. Still, the quality of the long-distance cycle tracks as well as the related marketing leave much to be desired. There are gaps in route connections and signposting and lacking information for bike tourists in the internet.

Proposed measures:

 Conception and implementation of measures that strengthen cross-border bike tourism (e.g. within the context of EU cooperation projects): o Expanding long-distance cycle tracks, improved signposting o Information system (internet, apps, maps etc.) for cycling tourists o Mutual interlinking of tourism offers

Responsible: Guldborgsund Municipality, Hanseatic City of Rostock, tourism centres Rostock, tourism centre Guldborgsund, Regional Tourism Agencies, Planning Association Region Rostock, County of Rostock, German Cyclist’s Association (ADFC)

18. Cooperation projects for sustainable transports in the region

Traffic is one important reason for climate change and environmental pollution. Demographic changes, urbanisation and the services of general interests in rural areas cause problems for both sides - Rostock region and Guldborgsund. Rostock, with its “Mobility plan future”, currently presents a new traffic master plan and thus, prepares the ground until 2030. New types of mobility, such as the e-mobility, new public transport operation forms, soft factors like mobility management, may contribute to solving these problems.

Proposed measures:

 Joint conception and implementation of sustainable transport measures in cities, towns and regions (e.g. in the context of EU cooperation projects): o Promotion and testing of e-mobility (e-cars, pedelecs, e-ferries) o Promotion of intermodal connection points and new forms of operation o Promotion of (intermodal) mobility management o Development of integrated parking solutions (with particular focus on e- cars and pedelecs)

Responsible: Guldborgsund Municipality and Hanseatic City of Rostock

19. Transition of the (former) train stations Gedser, Nykøbing and Rostock

The train and ferry stations along the former and current transport connection (Berlin) - Rostock – Gedser/Nykøbing – (Copenhagen) have been and are characterized by many years of impacting on the relevant urban communities and the spirit of the time. The cross-border train-ferry-connection on – according to former standards – high-tech level was commissioned in 1896. Resulting from this, commuting between clubs and theatres, between Berlin-Rostock and Copenhagen became possible for and popular then among the wealthier and culturally interested citizens. It was a pleasure to stop in Rostock on the journey from Berlin to Copenhagen. This regional characteristic got nearly lost, but provides many unique features and connecting factors for future developments. Without this high-tech train connection and without its former effects on the spirit of the time, neither the Rostocker Sozietät nor Rostock’s theatre would have gained supra-regional importance. And without this train connection architectural similarities along the route between the previous Rostock theatre and Copenhagen’s Glyptothek would not exist.

The train stations Berlin, Rostock, Gedser, Nykøbing and Copenhagen are characterized by reconstruction, expansion and modernisation or even conversion processes (Return to municipal ownership of the middle pier Warnemünde, redesign ferry terminal Rostock, construction freight station Rostock, development plan for the southern train station area Rostock, restoration and modernisation of Gedser ferry station and Gedser Remise).

Already in the recent past, some measures have been successfully prepared and implemented in joint cross-border projects (e.g. Inter-face and Motorways of the Sea). The mutual exchange resulted – as in the past – into added values of mutual interest, the cooperation was even honoured as „good practice“ in the URB ACT programme of the European Union. This development shall be jointly continued for the benefit of the neighbourhood in future projects (e.g. redesign station Nykøbing, urban environment

included, integrated local development Gedser, development Rostock-Warnemünde/ middle pier).

Proposed measure:

 Continuation of the cross-border initiative on the level of coordinated state (for Denmark) and ERDF funds and development of a Interreg project.

Responsible: Hanseatic City of Rostock, Guldborgsund Municipality.

III. Forecast: Long-term institutionalisation of the cross-border cooperation Rostock und Guldborgsund

The twinning partnership between Rostock and Guldborgsund shall differ from conventional twinnings by permanent active operation, but also by being supported by administrations; it shall neither have temporary campaign character nor – sooner or later – be reduced to mutual “courtesy visit”.

Cross-border neighbourhoods have the advantage of short travelling distances and a range of joint interests. For this, the twinning shall be accompanied and monitored by a joint steering group including the mayors of the two municipalities, additional local politicians and possible representatives of relevant private businesses, e.g. Scandlines. This Rostock-Guldborgsund Forum will be meeting at least once a year.

Within the TransGovernance project exchange visits by politicians from both Rostock and Guldborgsund and a meeting of the two administrations and other actors represented a broad involvement in Rostock-Guldborgsund cooperation. At the workshop at Fuglsang (“Potentials for cooperation in the Scandria transport corridor between Northern Germany and Southern Denmark” on March 19th, 2014) a wish has been formulated for a continued annual exchange among municipal administrations and relevant institutions. Annual working plans have to be elaborated for this, running projects have to be assessed and monitored regarding their progress. Furthermore, annual informal coordination with Rostock’s Regiopolis Initiative shall take place, e.g. to turn the Re:giopolis festival into a durable operated event.

Medium and long-term, neighbour city and sea-border crossing twinnings within the EU shall be investigated with the aim to adapt “best practices” for the benefit of the cooperation Rostock-Guldborgsund. A twinning provides only the frame for cooperation, additional – more suitable for certain purposes – forms of institutionalizing the growing cooperation have to be found. At this stage, a durably appointed steering and monitoring committee with temporary working groups seems to be the most workable institutional body.

Activities mentioned in the present Action Plan are also covered in the cooperation agreement between the Federal State Mecklenburg-Vorpommern (State Chancellery) with Region Zealand and Region Skane on the extension of transport facilities (signed within the activities of Scandria in April 2010).