Managing European Cross Border Cooperation Projects on Sustainability: A Focus on MESP Project

Abstract

Abstract:International cooperation is a must to achieve the goal of sustainable development, since only through cross border actions' complex issues like environmental degradation can be faced. Supranational initiatives and shared objectives are the only path for getting a durable and effective green strategy, which transcends boundaries or governments and fosters a common effort for sustainability through networking. The European Neighborhood and Partnership Instrument (ENPI) aims at reinforcing cooperation between the European Union (EU) and partner countries' regions placed along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. To this extent, MESP (Managing the Environmental Sustainability of Ports for a durable development) can be considered as a typical cross border cooperation project, willing to create a sustainable environmental management of port in northern and southern shores of the Mediterranean basin. This has been achieved through the development of specific guidelines towards environmental sustainability and the collection of common tools, methodologies, good practices and innovations focused on pollution reduction that can be replicated in Mediterranean ports and further. This was possible through the creation of a strong cooperation network and long-lasting collaborations among partners and stakeholders such as harbour cities, port authorities, universities, research centres and scientific skills.

Implementation of Sustainable Tourism in the German Alps: A Case Study

“…This is not only because of the EU financing programs, but because we can see here at our destination that the guests are moving towards Austria very naturally." Sustainable development is inextricably connected to international development and cross-border cooperation, since complex issues like environmental degradation can only be tackled through supranational initiatives, shared objectives and networking [71]. This is why organisations like Alliance in the Alps have been initiated, in order to " .…”

Management Innovation for Environmental Sustainability in Seaports: Managerial Accounting Instruments and Training for Competitive Green Ports beyond the Regulations

“…This approach concentrated on external costs evaluation, such as from environmental impacts. The ExternE model was not developed specifically for the maritime transport sector, but it was designed for quantifying all the energy-related external costs from electricity and heat production as well as transportation [75,76].…”

Sustainable Management of the Offer of Cultural Institutions in the Cross-Border Market for Cultural Services—Barriers and Conditions

“…In addition, over the last twenty years, along the borders of member states of the European Union, including the Polish and Czech border, the intensification of various types of activities aimed at supporting cross-border cooperation in the field of culture can be observed [7,8]. Among other things, these activities serve to blur the borders and divisions between the local communities, and to shape their new quality (they should become a place of meetings, and not divisions) [9,10]. On the Polish and Czech border, in particular in town divided by a border, such as Cieszyn-Český Těšín, it is expressed in the growing number of cultural events that are being organised, and which are often implemented as part of cross-border cultural projects co-financed from the funds of the European Union [11,12].…”