Euroregion Baltic Mobility Core Group
On 3rd December 2020 Euroregion Baltic, one of our project partners, had its last Executive Board meeting in 2020. During the meeting the Board members agreed to establish another task force in the Euroregion Baltic – Mobility Core Group.
The idea of establishing the Mobility Core Group, which will consist of partners from Interconnect project, as well as contact persons and experts from the ERB member organisations, was presented to the ERB Board Members by the representatives from the Blekinge Region, which will host a secretariat for the newly established group.
The Mobility Core Group will be working on behalf of the Euroregion Baltic Board with concrete actions and the work is supposed to contribute to project development and common activities improving mobility between the Euroregion Baltic member regions.
The group will focus on activities from the below perspectives:
Exchange of experience:
- Trends affecting public transport and sustainability change directions of the local and regional transport systems in the South Baltic area
- Public transport planning vs. strategies by private operators (e.g. ferry companies)
Shared challenges
- Access to cross-border public transport services for rural and more remote areas
- Low knowledge/awareness of leisure time attractions on ‘the other shore’
- Fighting climate change
Joint solutions
- ‘Low-hanging fruits’ (new or enhanced methods, services or products developed and/or applied in the Interconnect project and demonstrating a high replication potential)
- Cross-border perspective of public transport in the local and regional strategic documents
Impact on other sectors
- Tourism routes – adapted to different target groups
- Cross-border commuting / labour market travel patterns
- Student and youth travel patterns
The Mobility Core Group will apply a Multi-level governance perspective on its activities. The link between TEN-T development and contribution to the EU cohesion policies is considered weak. The focus will be to apply a holistic view on regional mobility and transport planning as a driving force for boosting potentials within other sectors such as tourism, education and business. This approach will strengthen the relationship between public transport, regional development and the citizens.
The Euroregion Baltic Mobility Core Group will aim to include members from all nine regions, in 5 countries. The basis will be the partnership from the Interconnect project with the possibility to extend the network with relevant representatives from each of the ERB member organisations. The group will also invite relevant participants from regions outside the Euroregion Baltic geographical area ie former Interconnect partners.