Cross-Border Cooperation in Euroregion Białowieża Forest

1. Travel trails in The PolandEuroregion Białowieża Forest Ewa Omielan Wyższa Szkoła Administracji Publicznej w Białymstoku im. Stanisława Staszica w Białymstoku

2. What are Euroregions? The name "Euro-region" means both a separate European region, located on The Border of two or more neighboring countries and The organization set up to coordinate cooperation in that Area by The parties euroregional and accepted by The European Union (The Maastricht Treaty: European Community) who can financially support its activities.

3. Where did they come from? The interaction between The Border regions from The need to mitigate The adverse effects of The borders and The desire to prevent The marginalization of remote areas of The capitals. The formation of The post-war Europe cross-border cooperation structures, such as Euro-regions, arose from The natural desire of local communities to establish contacts, Exchange of cultural heritage among its neighbors, to bridge The economic gap and overcoming mutual prejudices.

4. What is their role? Euroregions The bridge in The process of European integration. That role was played in West Europe, North and South At The turn of The 60th and 70 and so is The beginning of The 90s along The borders of The countries of Central and Eastern Europe, particularly At The borders between EU Member States and candidate countries.

5. Euroregion bodies are: • Council - the supreme body of the Euroregion, it consists of ten members - five representatives of each party. At the head of the Council is the President, who directs its work • Secretariat - the executive body of the Euroregion established in Hajnowka, it shall consist of: Secretary elected by the Polish side, and his deputy was elected by the Belarusian

6. Euroregion Białowieża ForestSinging Contract Agreement on The Establishment of The Euroregion Bialowieza Forest was signed on 25 May 2002.

7. Euroregion Białowieża Forest Bialowieza Forest Euroregion is an international Association of local communities on The Polish and Belarusian Border.

9. EUROREGION NIEMEN

10. In the pre-accession period Euroregion Niemen Association managed the following programs of the European Union: • 1) CBC Phare Programme Baltic Sea Region in the editions of 1999,2000,2001, 2002, 2003. The program served two Funds Association:- Small Projects Fund - soft Projects in the fields of cultural Exchange, local democracy, environment, tourism, social affairs, training and employment, economic development, research, planning and development. Grants ranging from 20,000 to 50,000 euros.- Grant Scheme - soft and investment Projects. Grants ranging from 50,000 to 300,000 EUR per project.

11. In the pre-accession period Euroregion Niemen Association managed the following programs of the European Union etc. • 2) Phare Integrated Eastern Border in editions 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, under which the Association served three Funds:- Small Projects Fund (grant ranging from 5,000 to 50,000 EUR per project)- Business Support Infrastructure Fund in the edition 2003 (co-financing in the amount of 50,000 to 300,000 EUR per project)- Small Infrastructure Projects Fund in the editions of 2002 and 2003 (co-financing in the amount of 50,000 to 300,000 EUR per project)

12. Euroregion Białowieża Forest • Euroregion Appointment to life was The result of contacts maintained for many years by local governments on both sides of The Border. • Towards The creation of The Euroregion Bialowieza Forest began in January 2002, when representatives of The district hajnowskiego areas in Poland and The Republic of Belarus signed a formal Agreement on The goals of cross-border cooperation. • On The Polish side Euroregion is represented by The Association of Local Authorities of The Euroregion Bialowieza Forest, one of The statutory purposes of cross-border cooperation.

13. Objectives • The aim of cooperation within The Euroregion is taking joint action in particular on: • Environmental protection and rational use of natural resources • Approximation of The peoples of both countries • Preserve The unique natural complex across Europe, to a significant extent on The climate affecting The continent, which is The Bialowieza Forest • Raising The Euroregion in quality of life by obtaining cross-border investment and The implementation of economic programs

14. Objectives • Cooperation and Exchange of social groups, academic, professional, cultural, sports, and youth • Creating a bridge between countries to facilitate economic cooperation - planning in border areas, including expansion of cross-border infrastructure • Cooperation in The prevention and liquidation of consequences of natural disasters and emergencies • Create a modern, uniform system of municipal waste and industrial

15. Acractive places in Poland

16. Podlasie region -Area: 19,994 km2.-Population in an Area of 62 hiking trails lead with a total length of 2.082 km. We have journey through The National Parks: Bialowieza, Biebrza, Narew and Wigry and landscape Parks, nature reserves, forests and wetlands, conservation of bison, elk and beaver, birds, plants and protected areas, inhabited for centuries by people of various nations and religions.-Podlaskie Province of Suwałki Region is also The Area that can serve as a living textbook glacial landscape. Trails ideal for hiking, skiing, cycling, canoeing and areas for sailors.

17. In Podlasie is worth to see: Bialowieza Forest, The Area designated a dozen hiking trails. • They serve mainly tourists pedestrian, but equally well seem an examination as bicycle routes. The silence, The smell of The Forest and fresh air - it's The most valuable assets of this region. If you want to feel it - welcome to all lovers of hiking trail and bicycle trips.

18. Some pictures from Białowieża Roadside Crosses They are symbols of The Orthodox religion, whose followers constitute a majority among The local Population.

19. Some pictures from Białowieża One of The backyard gardens

20. Some pictures from Białowieża "Hill Chateau"

21. Some pictures from Białowieża Backwoods wilderness

22. Some pictures from Białowieża Melt ponds in The Forest

23. Some pictures from Białowieża View of The valley of The river Narewka

24. CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS IN BIAŁOWIEŻA

25. CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS IN BIAŁOWIEŻA In this Area for centuries lived side by side The different nationalities and religion. Culture Polish, Belarusian and Ukrainian created unprecedented composition. Old habits, holidays, and especially The local dialect are The hallmarks of this region. Also religions: Catholic and Orthodox, have played a significant role in shaping today's society Hajnowskiego County.

26. CULTURAL ATTRACTIONS IN BIAŁOWIEŻA There are numerous centers of folk art: weaving, wood products, straw and twigs of birch, sculptures, reliefs. An added attraction is The local architecture Architectural value are mainly houses adorned with elaborate carvings, wooden churches, brick churches, chapels, wayside crosses of high artistic value. The attractiveness of The region is also cultural and folk traditions associated with ethno - cultural Population.The biggest event of International importance in The district are The celebration of Orthodox Church Music Days.

27. Orthodox Churchs

28. Orthodox Churchs HAJNÓWKA CITY Orthodox Church. Trinity Church with interesting architecture and unique ceramic iconostasis

29. Orthodox Churchs BIAŁOWIEŻA CITY Church p.w. St. Nicholas, iconostasis of color, china

30. Orthodox Churchs CZEREMCHA CITY Church p.w. Loving Mother of God

31. Photo shows The cultural diversity and creativity brings local artists and craftsmen. ART GALLERY

32. ART GALLERY Seasonal held here Podlasie Thematic exhibitions of artists.

33. Bibliography: • http://szlaki.pttk.pl/podlaskie/podlaskie.html • http://www.powiat.hajnowka.pl/ctrpb/default.htm • http://niemen.org.pl/

34. Jakie dokładnie projekty są w Niemenie, ile ma kasy skąd.