Slovenia 2020 PH: MATEJA PELIKAN

THE PRESIDENT MATEJ ARČON Gorizia-Nova Gorica: a unique cross-border city

EGTC GO is an innovative territorial cooperation tool for Europe THE ISONZO RIVER AND THE CITIES - THE BORDER IS INVISIBLE

ollowing the trag- today they are characterised by a er, the year in which the EGTC with legal personality which has of the cross-border area was car- e ciary of European funding and ic events of the twen- varied socio-cultural mix. In the GO-European Grouping of Ter- authority in the three municipali- ried out to create a unique model the single cross-border commis- tieth century, after the most recent period of Europe- ritorial Cooperation “Territory of ties: it can go beyond borders and in Europe, thanks to the particu- sioning body, thus concentrating Second World War the an programming, the lack of suit- municipalities: Comune di Gori- face, for the rst time, the chal- lar shape of the urban agglomer- some of the most innovative tools Feastern border saw the split of able legal tools to provide a com- zia (I), Mestna Občina Nova Gori- lenges of a cooperation that plans ation that allows the three towns made available by Europe to sup- the Gorizia territory between It- mon strategy in a cross-border ca (Slo) and Občina Šempeter-Vr- and creates at the same time, to be considered as a “single” city. port cross-border collaboration in aly and Yugoslavia (now Slove- context has really slowed down tojba (Slo)” was established, the thinking no longer of three dis- EGTC GO represents the rst a single entity. Among the pro- nia), with the birth of the town the creation of joint infrastructure two cities have been collaborat- tinct Municipalities, but of a single case, on a European scale, imple- jects of EGTC GO, funded by the of Nova Gorica close to the bor- or services between Gorizia, No- ing on some crucial issues for the cross-border city, without any divi- mentation of an integrated terri- Interreg VA Italy-Slove- der with Gorizia. Two Cities divid- va Gorica and neighbouring Šem- whole area. EGTC GO (www.eu- sion. Thanks to this tool, a process torial investment (ITI) based on a nia 2014-2020 Programme, ed by an iron curtain for 57 years, peter-Vrtojba. Since 2011, howev- ro-go.eu) is an Italian public body of rethinking the entire governing common strategy as the sole ben- we have the “Isonzo-Soča

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EVENT FOR THE SIGNING OF THE JOINT CANDIDACY OF NOVA GORICA AND GORIZIA AS EUROPEAN CAPITAL OF CULTURE 2025

Cross-border Park”, which PH: MATEJA PELIKAN and its challenges will be the cen- sees the creation of a com- tral theme and the main strength mon cross-border net- of the candidacy, together with the work of cycle and pedes- use of EGTC GO. The primary trian paths along the Isonzo river and main objective of the Europe- and along the national border con- an Capital of Culture is to improve necting Solkan to Šempeter-Vrtoj- the quality of life of the inhabit- ba. The cycle path will run exact- ants of the cross-border territo- ly on the border, where there was ry and its surroundings, strength- once a barrier. Other infrastruc- ening their sense of community. tural works included in the pro- This is a unique opportunity to ject are the green area with park- connect, through cultural commit- ing spaces for campers in Vrtojba ment, all the potential of the two and a cycle/pedestrian bridge on cities in a single tourist, cultural, the Isonzo river in Solkan. The THE MOSAIC LOCATED BETWEEN economic, training and infrastruc- Isonzo represents for Gorizia, No- THE TWO STATES IN PIAZZA DELLA tural whole, which will allow it to va Gorica and Šempeter-Vrtoj- TRANSALPINA/TRG EVROPE increase economic development ba a shared identity heritage and and investment, to attract cultural the ultimate goal of the project is tourists and to improve the quality precisely to “return” the river to eas: physiological pregnancy, men- of life of current and future inhab- the cities. Furthermore, the “Sa- tal health, autism, the creation of a itants. “Cross-border collabora- lute-Zdravstvo” project represents single cross-border booking centre tion - says Matej Arčon, president the rst attempt to compare, an- and joint social services. A further of the EGTC GO - is the real key alyse and search for synergies be- direction of growth set to be devel- to the development and repairing tween the Italian and Slovenian oped in the next ve years is linked of our territory. Together we are social and health services and in- to the title of European Capital of no longer two cities on the edge of tends to improve their quality and Culture. At the end of the year, in two countries, but a single territo- the quality of life in the Municipal- fact, the title of European Capital ry in the heart of Europe”. ities of Gorizia, Nova Gorica and of Culture for 2025 will be award- Šempeter- Vrtojba. In line with ed to a Slovenian city and a Ger- Publication funded as part of the Directive 2011/24/EU on patient man city. Nova Gorica and Gorizia Interreg VA Italy-Slovenia Coop- mobility and developing health- have jointly drawn up the candi- eration 2014-2020 Programme, - care in the European Union, the dacy programme “Go! Border- nanced by the European Region- “Salute-Zdravstvo” project aims to less ”, which promotes the unique al Development Fund and national encourage this mobility in ve ar- cross-border area. Collaboration funds.

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