The Benefits of Cross-Border Cooperation Inspiration from the South Baltic Programme European Regional Development Fund COLOPHON Published 2020: Guldborgsund Municipality Editor: Anna Topp Gustavsen Layout: Club 1 Reklamebureau Translation & editing: Maria Danborg Cover photo: Freya Anduin Introduction The Umbrella project was meant to be exactly that A gradual process with great potential - an umbrella to gather other projects and a way to This development is not without obstacles, and ca- connect people through cross-border projects. It was pacity building should not be seen as a goal in itself, aimed at newcomers who had not yet been involved but rather as a process. To build a house you need to in projects in the South Baltic Programme. These lay brick by brick, starting from the foundation. That included small local and regional organisations with is why the Umbrella project was introduced with an interest in developing a South Baltic identity. awareness raising events to say: “Hey you! Change is just around the corner! Go out and see what is going Stakeholders were invited to participate in national on in the region you live in.” And for those who were training courses in project management and offered already aware of the great potential of the Baltic Sea tailor-made solutions to help build capacity. Differ- Region, well, knowledge can always be increased. ent initiatives and micro-activities such as “meet- your-neighbour” have helped break down barriers We have been looking forward to introducing you and spread the concepts and values of cross-border to the benefits of cross-border cooperation in the cooperation. South Baltic Sea region. These 12 Interreg Souh Bal- tic projects are here to motivate and to inspire – and A cross-border project to inspire we are pleased to include our own achievements more cross-border cooperation – and tips & tips on how to be part of the Interreg The overall purpose of this project was to enlighten South Baltic family. people that cooperation is important for geographic, economic, and social cohesion, and that approach- This is our Success Story Book ing the field of EU grants and projects can be an To inspire. To encourage. To bring action! advantage in local development policies. 2 | The Benefits of Cross-Border Cooperation Contents PART 1 PART 2 Get inspiration Umbrella: Boosting South Baltic Programme projects cross-border cooperation • Attractive Hardwoods - Best practice in Tourism • Awareness Raising Events: Developing your Development, marketing and sustainable man- idea and cross-border network agement of Attractive Hardwoods • Providing expert help for project development • DUNC – Development of UNESCO Natural and Cultural ASSETS • Thematic cross-border conferences: Expanding your knowledge and network • BioBIGG - Bioeconomy in the South Baltic Area: Biomass-based Innovation and Green Growth • Essential knowledge for cross-border cooperation: EU-project training workshops • CaSYPoT - Capacity Building for Strategic Youth Policy and Transnational Cooperation • Meet your South Baltic neighbours: The impact of study visits • South Coast Baltic - Establishing durable cross- border boating destination management • Live Lagoons - The use of active barriers for the nutrient removal and local water quality improve- ment in Baltic lagoons PART 3 • Biking South Baltic - Promotion and development of the Baltic Sea Cycle Route (Route No. 10) in Best tips & tricks from Denmark, Germany, Lithuania, Poland and Swe- the Umbrella partnership den • Association of Polish Communes • BalticMuseums: Love IT! - New brand of gamified Euroregion Baltic (Elbląg - Poland) tourist products for sustainable development of natural and cultural heritage tourist destinations • Pomorskie in the European Union Association (Gdańsk - Poland) • Interconnect - One ticket to the future • Baltic Institute for Regional Affairs - • SB BRIDGE – Building bridges for green-tech BISER (Gdynia - Poland) future • Klaipeda University, (Klaipèda - Lithuania) • FOCUS - Facilitating blue growth with open cours- es by utilizing R&D products and virtual mobility • Region Kalmar County (Kalmar - Sweden) • SB Food INNO - Developing food innovation • Guldborgsund Municipality, capacity in the South Baltic Region (Nykøbing - Denmark) The Benefits of Cross-Border Cooperation | 3 PART 1 Get inspiration South Baltic Programme projects 4 | The Benefits of Cross-Border Cooperation Get inspiration South Baltic Programme projects The Benefits of Cross-Border Cooperation | 5 Budget 1.493 252,65 EUR Programme co-financing 1.189 875,44 EUR Duration July 2016 - June 2019 TIPS AND TRICKS LEAD PARTNERS: • Swedish Forest Agency, Sweden Communication and willingness to cooperate is the most important factor to success. PROJECT PARTNERS: Region Blekinge, Sweden Be positive and always truthful within the partnership. Do not try to • hide the problems nor think that you are there for yourself. • County Administrative Board of Blekinge, Sweden If you gain trust, you will benefit your organisation directly from the • Regional Directorate of particular project and benefit personally, as you will meet the fantas- State Forests in Gdansk, Poland tic people from around our region or Europe. • Pomorskie Tourist Board, Poland • Directorate of Žemaitija Do what you promise to do and do not avoid taking responsibility. National Park, Lithuania 6 | The Benefits of Cross-Border Cooperation Get inspiration South Baltic Programme projects Attractive Hardwoods Best practice in Tourism Development, marketing and sustainable management of Attractive Hardwoods Connecting nature and Some of the main difficulties the partners people through ecotourism faced were due to a lack of knowledge How can we bring people closer to nature, about why tourists visit forests and a low and boost ecotourism in the South Baltic interest from commercial operators in of- Region? This is the question connecting fering hardwood ecotourism. In addition, the many different partners involved in the much of the information available was Attractive Hardwoods project. The solu- outdated and only available in the differ- tion: To find and promote best practice ent countries’ own languages, making it by sharing the challenges the partners difficult for the partners to share ideas and experienced. difficult for tourists to access the informa- tion. To solve these issues, the partners While that may be easier said than done, conducted surveys in their respective a main part of solving the challenges the countries to learn more about the tourists region faces has been through developing visiting hardwood forests, like why they international cooperation. Piotr Neubauer, came to visit, and how long they stayed. manager in the Regional Directorate of the State Forests in Gdansk, stresses the Shared solutions to shared problems Hav- importance of building “the multidimen- ing gained this knowledge, the partners sional relations, both between the institu- have produced tourist maps, made movies tions and what is even more impor-tant: about the hardwood forests - and Poland between the people.” and Lithuania have even developed na- tional strategies for promoting ecotourism. Identify common challenges By working together, the different coun- to find common solutions tries can share not only their challenges, The Attractive Hardwoods project began but also their strengths. Neubauer de- in 2016 as a partnership between mu- scribes it as an organic process: “we learn nicipalities, national parks, tourist boards, from each other and there is a diffu-sion of and private organisations from Lithuania, habits and activities between us, like the Poland, and Sweden. The participants seek Swedish order flowing to us and Polish or to support cross-border cooperation in the Lithuanian spontaneity going north.” South Baltic Region and aim to provide the partners with knowledge and skills to solve problems and implement solutions. The Benefits of Cross-Border Cooperation | 7 Budget 1.713 067,00 EUR Programme co-financing 1.364 113,25 EUR Duration August 2017 - August 2020 TIPS AND TRICKS LEAD PARTNERS: • Municipality of Karlskrona, Sweden It is amazing what you can achieve in an international project when you unite with a PROJECT PARTNERS: common goal. Municipality of Mörbylånga, Sweden • Taking part in an international project is an Curonian Spit National Park administration, Lithuania • opportunity for a shared experience where we • EUCC Baltic Office, Lithuania can learn from each other and develop. • EUCC - The Coastal Union Germany, Germany • Tourist Board Stralsund, Germany Seeing things from different perspectives can • Tourist Board Wismar, Germany result in even more productivity, problem solv- ing and creativity. 8 | The Benefits of Cross-Border Cooperation Get inspiration South Baltic Programme projects DUNC Development of UNESCO Natural and Cultural Assets Unlocking the full potential Cooperation and a common purpose of the Baltic Sea World Heritage sites Some of the steps the DUNC project takes The Baltic Sea region is rich in natural and to promote the development of UNESCO cultural heritage. Some of the most emark- Natural and Cultural Assets are working able UNESCO World Heritage Sites and Bio- together with local businesses and creat- sphere Reserves lie along the shores of the ing long term and holistic management Baltic Sea. Due to their outstanding value strategies and action plans for the partner and their growing international recogni- sites. They also work to secure genuine tion, these sites