iccmain

Invitation to the International EuroVelo13 conference and open day in the framework of the Iron Curtain Cycling project (Interreg SI-HU)

30th-31st of May, 2019. Hotel Balance, Táncsics street 8, Lenti 8960, Hungary

As you are aware, EuroVelo 13 – Iron Curtain Trail is the long distance cycle route that follows the former border that forcibly divided Europe into East and West for almost half a century. The 10,400 km route connects the Barents Sea with the Black Sea providing a unique insight into this difficult period in the continent’s history but also a reminder of the peace and reconciliation that have followed the fall of the ‘Iron Curtain’.

The project Iron Curtain Cycling (ICC, www.icc.zala.hu/en) has the aim of developing the Slovenia-Hungary section of the route into a competitive cycling tourism product by signposting the trail in the area, creating a new cross border cycling connection with a new border crossing point, improving cycling-friendly services, signposting and establishing Iron Curtain remembrance sites, etc. The ICC project is supported by the Interreg V-A Slovenia-Hungary Cooperation Programme. Three Slovenian and four Hungarian partners lead by Zala County Government have launched the project in 2017, including Westpannon Ltd., the organizer of this conference. The aim of the event is to bring together European, national and regional stakeholders involved in cycling tourism along EuroVelo13 in order to:
 Present the results of the ICC project 

    Share ideas, good practices, recent developments and future plans related to cycling tourism with a focus on the Iron Curtain Trail and the EuroVelo network, 

    Discussing perspectives of the Iron Curtain Trail becoming a European Cultural Route 

    Identify joint actions and potential synergies among current and future activities.

We invite partners and stakeholders involved in managing sustainable tourism and mobility networks along the Iron Curtain Trail and in our adjacent border areas. The event will provide an opportunity to hear discuss benefits of investing in the Iron Curtain Trail and the EuroVelo network and to network with other stakeholders involved in cycling route developments.

English-Hungarian simultaneous translation will be provided during the conference.

Please register by sending an e-mail to info@borostyankokft.com or by filling in the table https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/13zSHhAIiDW6m5Ox8jWHXyRQGy9Ol1oNrxTf LkwKNcGo/edit#gid=0 by 20/05/2019 at the latest.

The project is supported by the Interreg V-A Slovenia-Hungary Cooperation Programme and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund.

AGENDA

30th of May - International EuroVelo13 conference

9.30 Welcome Coffee, registration

10.00 Welcome speech Imre PÁCSONYI, vice-chairman of Zala County Council

10.10 Iron Curtain Trail history and perspectives Michael CRAMER, MEP, the godfather of Iron Curtain Trail

10:30 Presentation of the Iron Curtain Cycling project and promotional video Veronika KÁRPÁTI, Zala County Self Government Office

10:45 European and national cycling networks, strategies supporting sustainable tourism current activities, plans for the next 3 years with a focus on EuroVelo routes

Ádám BODOR, European Cyclists’ Federation

Máriusz RÉVÉSZ, National Government Commissioner for active leisure activities, Hungary

Peter KLUČKA, National Cycling Officer Slovak Republic

Uroš ROZMAN, project manager, Regional Development Agency for Koroška, d.o.o. (RRA Koroška d.o.o.)

11.45 Coffee break

12.00 Regional cycling networks supporting sustainable tourism current activities, plans for the next 3 years with a focus on EuroVelo routes


Zoltán NÉMETH, chairman of Győr-MosonSopron County Council

Bálint KONDORA, vice-chairman of Vas County Council

Imre PÁCSONYI, vice-chairman of Zala County Council

Julia BECKEL, 17&4 GmBH Austria

Béla NÉMETH, GYSEV-Raaberbahn AG.

13.20 Panel discussion, Q&A ICC project partners, conference participants

13.40 Lunch break

15.00 EuroVelo 13 forum

         Mutual exchange of information on planned developments and upcoming events along the Iron Curtain Trail ICC project partners, conference participants


31st of May - Iron Curtain Trail open day

10.00 Guided cross-border cycling tour to Lendava and surroundings with ICC project partners, conference participants