Görlitz-Zgorzelec
Overview
Unique features of the territory project
- Two border towns with an uninterrupted urban fabric yet difficult to integrate in a territorial project
Although some remain reticent on the Polish side regarding total integration of the cross-border urban area the local authorities continue to cooperate with the goal of establishing a joint urban development plan.
- Some issues remain in spite of a clearly committed political process of cross-border cooperation
The language barrier as well as the socioeconomic divide and differing legislation are the main difficulties encountered but this process has the advantage of not relying on changes in the council majority.
- Involving the populations and the emergence of a cross-border identity
While on the Polish side the emergence of a feeling of cross-border identity is constantly increasing, on the German side the usefulness of the border region is regarded more or less positively by the inhabitants.
There is no specific communication policy for the promotion of the Eurocity Görlitz/Zgorzelec but the local media report on cross-border cooperation activity.
- Networking of European cross-border conurbations
From 2004 to 2006, Görlitz and Zgorzelec participated in the project “City Twins Cooperation Network”, co-financed by the Interreg IIIC programme. It brought together ten towns and cities separated by an international border, and its aim was to promote best practice exchange in the fields of local administration, education, culture, social affairs, economic development and cross-border cooperation.
