1.

Brief account of the history The Euroregion Pomerania

1.2. Background of the founding of Euroregion Pomerania An example of such

cooperation between border areas is the Euroregion Pomerania, which was
founded in 1995. This German-Polish border region has a very special
characteristic on. While it was one of the quietest European border regions for
centuries , This state changed as a result of the Second World War: German
Territories have been annexed to the Polish territory. As a result of The division
of Pomerania by the Soviet Army was carried out on the eastern side of the
Border predominantly residents of Central and Eastern Polish origin, Whereby
from then on people lived together, who had no common past had. Accordingly,
it was a lengthy process before A common local identity among the resident
population
(See Children / Roos 2013).
Particularly against this background should be the creation of Euroregion
Pomerania
Make an important contribution to international understanding. On December
15th
In 1995 the contract was concluded between
the municipal purpose association of the municipalities of West Pomerania
"Pomerania";
This association covers a large part of the Polish cities and municipalities
From the West Pomeranian Voivodeship as well as other municipalities
From the Pomeranian and Great Polish voivodes;
the municipal community Europaregion POMERANIA e.V. with two former
members
(The Hansestdte Greifswald and Stralsund) as well as
Six counties of the countries of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg;
the Polish city of Stettin (Szczecin).
On 26 February 1998, the accession of the Swedish
Municipality of Skne. This is the area of the
Euroregion Pomerania has been expanded by 33 Swedish municipalities and
Now encompassed a territory of approximately 50,000 km and a population
Of more than 3.8 million people. However, this municipal association is
Re-emerged from the Euroregion in May 2013

1.3. Objectives and organizational structure of the Euroregion Pomerania The

Interreg region of Pomerania is an association of particular importance. By
connecting Swedish, German and Polish territories It constituted a link between
North, Central and Eastern Europe Cross-border entry areas for business and
services The margins of the individual subregions in their respective countries
To transform an internal situation within the whole European context Between
the inhabitants and the institutions of the border areas As well as the national
borders to administrative boundaries. In the Harmonization of living conditions
in the EU as a whole Also be promoted in this area (see Pomerania.net 2008a).
These objectives are to be achieved through a set of measures, Including initial
investment in vocational training and programs The fight against
unemployment. Other important aspects are the Cooperation and the exchange
between society, science or technology Youth groups for a better understanding
of the population groups among themselves. Furthermore, the development of
rural areas, Which is a characteristic feature of the southern Pomerania region
The Alliance's actions. Also an intensive cooperation In the areas of
infrastructure expansion, adapted to the needs Border traffic, technology
transfer, data exchange, and spatial planning And the prevention of disasters
(Euroregion Pomerania 2003: 8).

1.4. Development periods of cooperation

The Euroregion Pomerania has set its targets for the year
1995 for the period up to 1999 a first cross - border development and
development
Concept, the results of which are concluded in a
Report, and have been updated for the respective period to date
become. These concepts are intended as a tool for the internal reconciliation
process
Between the members and as a basic document for
The outward appearance (see DPU 1999: 4ff.).
In the first period of action 1995-1999, Poland was not yet the EU
Three main objectives were pursued: the development of a
Functioning economic structure geared to the existing potential
And the profiling to an ecologically sound economic and
Tourism region, the improvement of cross-border regional
Organization also with regard to transport infrastructure and reinforcement
Cross-border cooperation and human contacts.
The investments made during this period have been overall
Effective tool to promote the Euroregion. Support
Infrastructural measures has focused on this,
Which is the particular relevance of the removal of existing grievances in
This area. In addition, the fields of tourism,
Education and culture, numerous important projects with a regional impact have
been implemented.
Moreover, in this phase for economic cooperation
Already laid the first foundation (cf. DPU 1999: 4ff.).
The development phase between 2000 and 2006 has shown that
The accession of Poland to the EU, as well as the opening of the Community
Initiative
INTERREG III A for the whole border region, cooperation within
The Euroregion. Special development impulses were set up in
Projects to improve transnational accessibility
Such as the project "South Baltic Arc", the creation of developmental
alternatives
For rural areas, as well as a transnational network for
Water tourism, the integrated coastal zone development and, above all, the
Development of strategic development activities and political platforms
As a whole (see ARGE 2006: 32 ff.).

In the third development period 2007-2013, the positive effects Cooperation.

Thus the increasing Exchange of information and experience and the
transmission of results To common solutions and progress on local and regional
levels Regional level. Overall, the competitiveness of the region continued And
above-regional awareness, although none Complete satisfaction with the
expression of these two aspects. These deficits should be supported by the
concept of action for the coming Cycle by 2020 (cf. CEP 2013: 8 ff.).

1.5. Project focus of the Euroregion Pomerania

Since the establishment of the Euroregion, a total of 1,592 projects have been
Has been supported. The emphasis was on the expansion of transport
infrastructure,
But also clearly on the support of the tourism sector. So
71 projects were of a tourist nature and about 41.1 million euros were invested
EU funds into such projects. The total budget, which is the Euroregion
Through grants from EU funding since 1995, is a total of
181.7 million euros (see Pomerania.net 2008b).
An important tourism project was the "SuPortNet" project
II ", which promotes the sustainable linkage of ports to the Baltic Sea and thus
the
Sports boating tourism. The main focus was on smaller and smaller
Traditional port facilities to support the local revenue
And the employment rate. The thought was that for
Sustainable design of small ports
It is important that they are involved in urban and regional planning,
And nature conservation should also play an important role. Also
Agreements between public and private stakeholders have been intensified
(See Planco 2013).
The "Pommersche river landscape" is another example of the promotion
Tourist activities in the Euroregion. This idea of
The regional tourism association Vorpommern e.V. with support
The West Pomeranian Tourism Organization (ZROT). This gave the opportunity
Which is already considered one of the top regions for cycling tourism
Mecklenburg-Vorpommern in its popularity for this recreational value
And to link them to the Polish side. Mainly due to the
Successful tourism sector on the east coast,
Also make the land more focused in the focus for potential visitors,
What by this project with a focus on cross-border cycling and cycling
Water tourism should be achieved (see Hansel 2013).

1.6. The future vision for the Euroregion

Even if the Swedish province of Skne has left the Euroregion again
And it is thus "just" a bilateral, German-Polish cooperation
, It is also important to continue developing the Euroregion Pomerania,
In order to pursue and pursue the long-term objectives
The successes to date. Therefore, the development and
Action plans for the past three periods also for the period of
From 2014 to 2020.
The primary objectives of the cooperation for this interval lie in the
In the following areas:
education, training and further education,
science, research and business,
cross-border labor market,
tourism with a focus on water tourism,
continuous cross-border information and knowledge transfer.
Especially against the background of the feared future financial weakness
Of the municipalities on both sides of the border is to set strategic priorities,
Joint key and focal projects as well as network projects
To develop and consolidate further (see KEP 2013: ff.).