Half Time Project Conference: “Iron Curtain Trail: Sustainable mobility along
the newest EuroVelo route” , South East Europe Programme, Thursday
October 3rd 2013
On Thursday, October 3rd 2013, “Iron Curtain Trail” project Half Time Conference was
held in the New City Hall of Thessaloniki with the participation of project partners, non
governmental organisations (NGOs) and local development organisations, as well as
regional and local representatives and relevant stakeholders as cycling associations,
transport services representatives etc.
The Conference that was organised by the greek project partner “ANTIGONEInformation and Documentation Center on Racism, Ecology, Peace and NonViolence” had the aim to promote “Iron Curtain Trail” project and its objectives related
to the connection of South East Europe regions with a long distance cycling route
and also achieve a wide European cooperation for the development of EuroVelo 13
cycling route.
Mr Giorgos Dimarelos, representative of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, welcomed
the participants of the Conference before making an introduction on the perspectives
of Thessaloniki being a cycling friendly city in the near future. Following, Mr Tibor
Polgar from West Pannon Regional and Economic Development Nonprofit Ltd, leader
partner of “Iron Curtain Trail” project, presented the main objectives and goals of the
project concerning its implementation in South East Europe regions.
Thessaloniki’s Vice Mayor Mr. Andreas Kourakis also participated in the Conference
greeting “Iron Curtain Trail” project and its objectives. After presenting cycling policies
of the city that run under a Municipality project titled “Strategy of Everyday Life”, he
spoke about the need for the citizens of Thessaloniki to shift into their culture into a
cycling friendly one, also stating his deep will to collaborate towards changing
Thessaloniki into a European City for pedestrians and cyclists.
During the Conference, Mr Adam Bodor, representative of European Cyclists
Federation, introduced to the conference participants the common methodologies
that have been developed through partners collaboration in “Iron Curtain Trail” project
while Mr Roman Michalek from Regional Government of Burgenland presented
existent and potential sustainable offers in tourism and transport related to cycling.
Best practices of South East Europe region were presented by stakeholders from
Bulgaria and Hungary. Mr Evgeny Apostolov from Bulgarian Cycling Association, Mr
Bela Nemeth from GYSEV Cargo Zrt and Mrs Maria Csikai from Hungarian Cycling
Alliance introduced the audience to best practices concerning sustainable transport
and sustainable tourism. Following, Giorgos Farfaras from ANTIGONE-Information
and Documentation Center on Racism, Ecology, Peace and Non-Violence presented
relevant to “Iron Curtain Trail” transport and tourism projects in South East Europe
Region and Mr Tibor Polgar closed the circle of presentations presenting the planning
processes for the period 2014-2020.
“Iron Curtain Trail” Half Time Conference was covered by local and regional TV and
press. In the Press Conference that was held under the framework of the
Conference, Mr Adam Bodor (European Cycling Federation) presented the creation
of the first EuroVelo route in Greece and its importance for sustainable tourism, Mr
Tibor Polgar (West Pannon Regional and Econimic Development Ltd) introduced
“Iron Curtain Trail” and Mr Giorgos Farfaras (National EuroVelo Coordination Center
for Greece) presented the creation of “Cyclists Welcome Hellas” European cycle
friendly service network.
Project partners, stakeholders and participants of “Iron Curtain Trail” project
conference had the opportunity to raise questions and discuss the potential of a
collaboration in the Round Table Discussion that run as the closing session of “Iron
Curtain Trail” Half Time Conference.