Görlitz-Zgorzelec

• Historical and geographical context
• The move to cross-border cooperation
• Cross-border governance
• Symbolic projects
• Unique features of the territory project
• Conclusion

The move to cross-border cooperation

Cross-border collaboration has been gradually established since its beginnings in the mid-1960s. On 5 May 1998 Görlitz and Zgorzelec brought the ‘Eurocity Zgorzelec/Görlitz’ into being by signing a joint declaration. Poland’s entry into the European Union in 2004 positively contributed to the evolution of this cooperation. In order to provide a framework, a common development strategy¹ has been jointly developed. This cooperation approach, based on strong links between the two mayors, has developed on a day-to-day basis, and all the more so as the size of the two towns and the proximity of the two local authorities make exchanges easier. This cooperation, based upon strong ties between the two mayors, has grown from day to day, and all the more so as the size of the two towns and the proximity of the two local authorities facilitates exchanges.

1. Wspólna strategia rozwoju Europa-Miasto Zgorzelec/Görlitz / Gemeinsame Entwicklungsstrategie Europastadt Zgorzelec/Görlitz, May 2006.