Good Practice - Policy
Structured governance and information-sharing mechanisms improve Bratislava-Austria regional cooperation
A cross-border initiative – including a joint coordination office, regular mayors’ meetings and thematic working groups – strengthens urban-rural cooperation between Bratislava and Austrian rural regions.
Summary
The ‘baum_cityregion’ is a cross-border cooperation initiative between the City of Bratislava and its rural surroundings in Austria (Lower Austria and Burgenland). It promotes sustainable regional development by addressing suburbanisation, spatial planning, mobility, and environmental issues.
Initially funded through the Interreg Slovakia-Austria programme, it transitioned in 2023 to direct funding from participating regional and municipal authorities.
Results
- The initiative has created a governance framework, establishing a joint coordination structure involving regional and local authorities on both sides of the border, fostering long-term institutional collaboration and more efficient decision-making processes. This cooperation framework subsequently inspired six Interreg Slovakia-Austria spin-off projects addressing regional mobility, environmental sustainability, and spatial planning challenges.
- The preservation of the Bratislava-Hainburg cross-border bus service is an example of successful stakeholder coordination and the securing of long-term funding. The agreement ensured continued service availability, benefitting over 140 000 passengers in 2024 and improving regional connectivity.
- The joint coordination office has improved information exchange on cross-border planning and infrastructure developments, reducing administrative bottlenecks and ensuring transparency on key projects such as large-scale construction and transport initiatives.
- The office has fostered long-term partnerships among regional development key actors, leading to continued cooperation beyond individual project cycles and creating a stable framework for future initiatives.
Promoter
- City of Bratislava, public authority
- Federal State of Lower Austria, public authority
- Federal State of Burgenland, public authority
Funding
Budget: EUR 20 000 annually for operational expenses
- Since 2023: exclusively financed by the City of Bratislava and the Federal States of Burgenland and Lower Austria
- Prior to 2023: funded through the Interreg Slovakia-Austria programme (2014-2020 & 2007-2013)
Resources
Documents
Structured governance and information-sharing mechanisms improve Bratislava-Austria regional cooperation
(PDF – 402.42 KB)
Context
Bratislava’s functional urban region extends beyond national borders, with increasing suburbanisation affecting Austrian municipalities in the Lower Austria and Burgenland states. Approximately 7 000 Slovak citizens have relocated to the Austrian hinterland, contributing to growing cross-border commuting and pressure on infrastructure.
Despite strong economic and social ties, linguistic and administrative barriers hindered seamless regional cooperation. Different planning regulations and a lack of structured cross-border dialogue created inefficiencies in mobility, housing, and land use management. The ‘baum_cityregion’ initiative addresses these challenges by fostering structured governance and information-sharing mechanisms to improve coordination in regional development.
Objectives
- Promote sustainable urban-rural cooperation through governance and information exchange on spatial planning topics;
- Improve cross-border mobility and public transport integration;
- Enhance environmental and nature protection efforts across administrative boundaries;
- Strengthen cultural and tourism links between Bratislava and its Austrian surroundings;
- Foster information exchange and networking among municipalities and regional stakeholders.
Activities, key actors, and timeline
- From 2011 to 2022, the initiative was funded through three successive Interreg Slovakia-Austria projects, focusing on thematic areas such as spatial planning, transport, and environmental sustainability. In 2017, a dedicated joint coordination office was established in Bratislava, providing a stable platform for cooperation.
- In 2022, a strategy process based on interviews with representatives from Austrian border municipalities, Bratislava city boroughs, and the federal states of Burgenland and Lower Austria identified four key thematic fields. These are: culture and tourism; nature and climate protection; space and people; and mobility.
- In 2023, the ‘baum_cityregion’ transitioned to direct funding from the City of Bratislava and the Federal States of Lower Austria and Burgenland, ensuring long-term operational stability.
- Key activities include regular Austrian-Slovak mayors’ meetings and cross-border thematic working groups. Additionally, the initiative provides an information-sharing platform for major infrastructure and development projects near the border, ensuring transparency and facilitating coordinated decision-making.
Success factors/lessons learnt
- The establishment of a joint Slovak-Austrian coordination office enabled timely information exchange and early identification of cooperation opportunities, ensuring a proactive approach to regional challenges.
- Regular working meetings (20 per year, approximately) with interpretation services facilitated cross-border dialogue and problem solving, ensuring that linguistic and administrative barriers did not hinder collaboration.
- Expanding the thematic scope beyond spatial planning to include tourism, mobility, and environmental issues helped foster a more comprehensive approach to regional development.
- Securing long-term, institutional funding ensured continuity beyond EU project cycles, providing financial stability and allowing for sustained engagement from stakeholders.
- The ‘baum_cityregion’ model is replicable in other cross-border regions, showcasing how structured cooperation mechanisms can address shared regional challenges, support joint governance efforts, and enhance economic and social cohesion.
Contact Information
Christian Berger, office@baumcityregion.eu, +43 676 88 591 329