{"id":2388,"date":"2026-01-08T12:37:37","date_gmt":"2026-01-08T12:37:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/historiapomorza.pl\/epoka\/euroregion-pomerania-past-present-and-future\/"},"modified":"2026-01-08T13:00:43","modified_gmt":"2026-01-08T13:00:43","slug":"euroregion-pomerania-past-present-and-future","status":"publish","type":"epoka","link":"https:\/\/historiapomorza.pl\/en\/epoka\/euroregion-pomerania-past-present-and-future\/","title":{"rendered":"Euroregion Pomerania \u2013 Past, Present, and Future"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>The idea of establishing euroregions in Europe emerged in the second half of the 1950s. The underlying basis for such cross-border agreements was the economic devastation of borderlands following World War II, as well as a lack of mutual understanding among people resulting from war trauma and language barriers. The first euroregion was established on the Dutch-German border and named &#8216;Euroregio.&#8217; Initially, the signatories focused on expanding transportation links, opening border crossings, and harmonizing administrative structures. The most difficult challenge was overcoming stereotypes and animosities; these processes took a very long time. Suffice it to say that as late as 1993, a Dutch mayor&#8217;s invitation to his German counterpart for a ceremony marking the end of World War II sparked a public debate. The experiences of Euroregio became the foundation for creating cross-border euroregions throughout Europe. Poland and East Germany only gained this privilege in 1990, following the collapse of the communist regime.<\/p>\n\n<p>In the spring of 1992, the District Administrator (Landrat) of Pasewalk, Rainer Haedrich, arrived at the headquarters of the Szczecin Voivodeship authorities accompanied by Peter Heise. As Maciej Jarmu\u017c, then-Chairman of the Regional Assembly (Sejmik), recalls, the guests proposed the swift signing of a euroregional agreement. While understanding their German partners&#8217; sense of urgency, the voivodeship&#8217;s local government authorities submitted the proposal for political and public debate. The beginning of this discussion coincided with the controversies sparked by the &#8216;Plan for the Oder Region&#8217; (Oder-Plan), presented by the Minister-President of Brandenburg, Manfred Stolpe. It was a cohesive vision for economic cooperation along the Polish-German borderland. Minister-President Stolpe proposed the creation of an economic zone along the Oder and Neisse borders and the establishment of a Polish-German bank. Furthermore, the plan envisioned a shift away from agricultural investment toward the creation of national parks. Dr. Marek Ta\u0142asiewicz, then-Voivode of Szczecin and co-chairman of the Committee for Cross-Border Cooperation, believed that despite the controversies, the Stolpe Plan intensified the debate on future cross-border cooperation between a reunified Germany and a sovereign Poland. A key element in this discussion was the attempt to invite a third, Scandinavian partner from Denmark or Sweden into the euroregional agreement. Initially, however, the local governments of those countries showed no interest.<\/p>\n\n<p>The idea of establishing euroregions along the Polish-German border was met with protests from politicians and scholars alike. Particularly vocal were the objections from members of parliament belonging to the Confederation for an Independent Poland (KPN), the Christian National Union (ZChN), and the Center Agreement (PC). In Szczecin, scholars affiliated with the Szczecin Scientific Society (STN) issued a sharply worded open letter protesting against the concept of Euroregion Pomerania. The authors of the euroregional idea were accused of implementing a German concept that threatened Poland\u2019s territorial integrity and allowed for the economic penetration of Poland\u2019s western lands by German capital. The letter was signed by the President of the STN, Professor J\u00f3zef Rutkowski.<\/p>\n\n<p>In order to prepare the structures necessary for the establishment of Euroregion Pomerania, the local governments of Germany and Poland established their respective municipal associations. The first of these was founded on September 9, 1992, and brought together German districts and towns. The Polish association, the Municipal Special Purpose Union of West Pomeranian Communes, was established on August 29, 1993.<\/p>\n\n<p>The final key issue was defining the role of Stettin (Szczecin) within the future structure of Euroregion Pomerania. Crucial to this matter was the political vision of Bart\u0142omiej Socha\u0144ski, who served as Vice-Chairman of the City Council from 1990 to 1994 and subsequently as the Mayor (Prezydent Miasta) from 1994 to 1998. As he recalls, his discussions on the value of a euroregion as a tool for cross-border cooperation began after a meeting with Jens Gabbe, a representative of the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR). From the outset, Bart\u0142omiej Socha\u0144ski believed that\u2014given its size and status as the capital for the entire Polish-German region\u2014Szczecin should be a distinct entity within this cross-border agreement. Furthermore, he insisted that the secretariat be located there. The negotiations were arduous. German partners were reluctant to accept Szczecin\u2019s arguments, with Peter Heise, director of Kommunalgemeinschaft Pomerania e.V., proving to be a particularly difficult negotiator. Ultimately, the view of the Pasewalk District Administrator (Landrat), Rainer Haedrich, prevailed. The objective set by Mayor Socha\u0144ski and the Szczecin City Council was achieved. On December 15, 1995, at the Ducal Castle in Szczecin, the President of Kommunalgemeinschaft Pomerania, Rainer Haedrich, the Chairman of the Municipal Special Purpose Union of West Pomeranian Communes, Zbigniew Zychowicz, and the Mayor of Szczecin, Bart\u0142omiej Socha\u0144ski, signed the Polish-German Agreement on the establishment of Euroregion Pomerania. On the German side, the agreement encompassed the then-districts of R\u00fcgen, Nordvorpommern, Ostvorpommern, Uecker-Randow, Uckermark, Barnim, and two independent cities, Greifswald and Stralsund. On the Polish side, the signatories included 35 communes (gminy) of the Szczecin Voivodeship and the City of Szczecin.<\/p>\n\n<p>The objective of the euroregion, in accordance with the provisions of the agreement, was to undertake joint actions for the equal and sustainable development of the region and to bring its inhabitants on both sides of the border closer together. Its areas of interest included: economic cooperation, technology transfer, vocational training, youth and professional group exchanges, cultural cooperation, environmental protection, improvement of forestry and agricultural management, and border and transport infrastructure. Furthermore, it aimed at coordinating cross-border spatial planning and cooperation in the event of fires and natural disasters.<\/p>\n\n<p>In accordance with the provisions of the agreement, the legislative authority became a 24-member Council, consisting of 12 representatives from the Polish side and 12 from the German side. On April 2, 1996, the first meeting was held to constitute the new Council. The Presidium of Euroregion Pomerania was appointed, including the Mayor of Szczecin, Bart\u0142omiej Socha\u0144ski, and the Chairman of the Municipal Special Purpose Union of West Pomeranian Communes, Zbigniew Zychowicz, alongside Rainer Haedrich, the District Administrator of Uecker-Randow, and Joachim Benthin, the District Administrator of Uckermark. Zbigniew Zychowicz and Rainer Haedrich were elected as the first Presidents of Euroregion Pomerania. Working groups were also established.<\/p>\n\n<p>A significant joint euroregional undertaking was the 1st Polish-German Youth Festival in L\u00f6cknitz, held from August 29 to September 1, 1996. It was attended by 1,500 young people. The festival became a flagship project for Euroregion Pomerania. By 2019, fifteen such festivals had taken place, and a new edition was held in 2024.<\/p>\n\n<p>On March 20, 1997, the Polish and German partners of Euroregion Pomerania received a formal application from the Swedish Association of Scania Municipalities for admission to the euroregion. The agreement on the accession of the Association of Scania Municipalities was signed on February 26, 1998, in Lund. Consequently, 33 municipalities from Scania were included within the borders of Euroregion Pomerania. According to the agreement, the Euroregion Council was expanded to 36 members, and a 6-person Presidium was appointed, consisting of: Zygmunt Meyer (Szczecin), Bogdan B\u0142aszczyk (Mayor of Ko\u0142obrzeg), Joachim Benthin (District Administrator of Uckermark), Joachim von der Wense (Mayor of Greifswald), Bengt-G\u00f6ran Hansson (Mayor of Ystad), and Axel Roslund.<\/p>\n\n<p>A careful reading of the agreements establishing Euroregion Pomerania from 1995 and 1997 clearly shows that the authors of these provisions intended to create an entity with its own legal personality. This is evidenced by the points regarding the seat of the Euroregion Council and the secretariat in Szczecin, as well as the mandate given to the Council to adopt future budget plans and approve financial reports. Under the legal framework of that time, these postulated provisions could not be fully implemented. Decades later, today, such a possibility is becoming a reality thanks to the emergence of Regulation (EC) No. 1082\/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 5 July 2006 on a European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC).<\/p>\n\n<p>On January 1, 1999, a local government reform was introduced in Poland. The number of voivodeships was reduced, and a new local government entity was established: the district (powiat). This fact changed the situation of the Municipal Special Purpose Union of West Pomeranian Communes (KZC GPZ) and the entire Euroregion Pomerania. Thirty-two new communes joined the Polish association. Consequently, the membership of the KZC GPZ grew to 64 local government units.<\/p>\n\n<p>An even more significant change affected the Polish partner in 2001. Due to legal requirements regarding the nature of a legal entity capable of managing European funds in the future, the Municipal Special Purpose Union of West Pomeranian Communes (KZC GPZ) was dissolved on January 10, 2001. In its place, the Association of Polish Communes of Euroregion Pomerania (SGPEP) was established on April 25, 2001. That same year, on November 25, the Szczecin City Council granted its approval for the City of Szczecin to join the SGPEP.<\/p>\n\n<p>The municipal union, and subsequently the association of communes, initiated many fascinating endeavors and projects. These included training for Polish local government officials on waste management, based on the experiences of the Swedish municipality of H\u00e4ssleholm. In Ystad, a conference was held on overcoming stereotypes among Germans, Swedes, and Poles, while Stargard Szczeci\u0144ski hosted a meeting regarding transport within Euroregion Pomerania. Furthermore, Euroregional Economic Presentations were organized twice in Szczecin for Polish, Swedish, and German producers and local government representatives. Initiatives involving School European Clubs at Jasne B\u0142onia and at Primary School No. 35 in Szczecin were of great importance for the education of the younger generation. The monthly magazine &#8216;Europomerania&#8217; was also established and published between 1999 and 2010; it was replaced in 2011 by a newsletter and a supplement in the &#8216;Kurier Szczeci\u0144ski&#8217; daily, edited by B. Twardochleb under the title &#8216;Across Borders&#8217; (Przez granice).<\/p>\n\n<p>Youth cooperation became a very important element of Euroregion Pomerania\u2019s activity. In 1994, a representative office of the Polish-German Youth Office (PGYO \/ PNWM) was established in L\u00f6cknitz. Two years later, the same office was opened within the Municipal Special Purpose Union of West Pomeranian Communes. To further expand the opportunities for youth cooperation, on April 1, 1998, the Municipal Union and the City of Szczecin signed a cooperation agreement with the Bavarian Youth Council (Bayerischer Jugendring).<\/p>\n\n<p>The significance of the euroregional central units of the PGYO (Polish-German Youth Office) was recognized by the main offices in Warsaw and Potsdam. In 2014, they became the only ones in Poland to be granted the right to a simplified funding procedure for projects. This significantly accelerated the acquisition of funds and the financial settlement of projects for applicants within Euroregion Pomerania.<\/p>\n\n<p>From 1996 to the present day, 4,988 projects have been funded using resources at the disposal of the PGYO (Polish-German Youth Office) Central Unit in Szczecin, for a total amount of approximately 30 million PLN.<\/p>\n\n<p>During the period of Poland&#8217;s efforts to join the European Union, the euroregion supported the establishment and development of School European Clubs and co-organized\u2014together with the &#8216;G\u0142os Szczeci\u0144ski&#8217; daily\u2014the regional &#8216;European 2003&#8217; competition. Since 1998, the European Academy for Sustainable Development (ESTA) has been headquartered within the euroregion&#8217;s office.<\/p>\n\n<p>One of the most important roles fulfilled by Euroregion Pomerania has been the coordination of cross-border activities among communes, districts, and NGOs through the distribution of available European funds\u2014initially from pre-accession programs and, following Poland&#8217;s entry into the EU, from INTERREG programs. INTERREG III A was introduced in Euroregion Pomerania in 2000, and the West Pomeranian Voivodeship joined it in 2004. In total, 97,615,044.00 EUR was spent during this period, with 18,799,515.00 EUR allocated in Poland. Between 2007 and 2013, the INTERREG IV A program was implemented, funding 69 projects for a total sum of 144,288,119.61 EUR. these funds were utilized across both Poland and Germany. The INTERREG V A program was carried out until 2022, providing co-financing for 70 projects amounting to 126.108 million EUR.<\/p>\n\n<p>Among the most interesting projects implemented in recent years, the following should be noted: integrated cross-border emergency medical services; an innovative Polish-German program for the early diagnosis and treatment of rare diseases in newborns; the Contact and Advisory Point for Polish and German citizens; the exchange of information and methods regarding the treatment of oncological and hematological patients; the adaptation of the Siekierki-Neur\u00fcdnitz bridge for tourist traffic; &#8216;Common Heritage, Common Future&#8217; \u2013 central Pomeranian museums in Szczecin and Greifswald; telemedicine in pediatric oncology; cross-border cooperation in the field of diagnostic imaging in ophthalmology; teaching the neighbor&#8217;s language from kindergarten to graduation; &#8216;On Two Wheels&#8217; around the Szczecin Lagoon; and the correlation of identifying and combating terrorism and crime through genetic and IT research; as well as improving road safety and traffic in the borderland. These last two projects were submitted thanks to the intensive work of the SGPEP, which facilitated meetings between potential police beneficiaries.<\/p>\n\n<p>The role of the Association of Polish Communes of Euroregion Pomerania in evaluating INTERREG projects was finalized in early 2005. At that time, the Monitoring Committee of the INTERREG III A Program was established, including one representative each from the State of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Brandenburg, the West Pomeranian Voivodeship, the Ministry of Regional Development in Warsaw, as well as the Association of Polish Communes of Euroregion Pomerania and Kommunalgemeinschaft Pomerania e.V. This was a major success for the euroregion, as initially, the then-marshal authorities did not envision the euroregion playing such a role.<\/p>\n\n<p>The role of the euroregion in managing the INTERREG program increased further in 2008, when an agreement was signed with the governments of the states of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern and Brandenburg, and the Republic of Poland, regarding the establishment of the Technical Secretariat in L\u00f6cknitz. Its staff consisted of two representatives each from the Polish and German euroregions, and two employees from the Marshal&#8217;s Office in Szczecin. This legal structure operated until 2024. Subsequently, a new Joint Secretariat was established, headquartered in L\u00f6cknitz, as part of the Ministry of Economy of Mecklenburg-Vorpommern.<\/p>\n\n<p>The Small Project Fund (SPF \/ FMP) has played a leading role in the management of European INTERREG funds within the KZC GPZ, and subsequently within the SGPEP. Originally, it was a program implemented in Poland prior to our country\u2019s accession to the European Union (using so-called pre-accession funds) known as Phare CBC. Until 2003, this program was carried out on two levels: Poland \u2013 Baltic Sea Region and Poland \u2013 Germany.<\/p>\n\n<p>Since Poland&#8217;s accession to the European Union on May 1, 2004, EU funds also became available on the Polish side of the Euroregion through the ongoing SPF (Small Project Fund) INTERREG III A program. In February 2006, the SGPEP signed an agreement with the West Pomeranian Voivode to launch the implementation of the SPF in the Polish part of the region. The office was responsible for managing projects with co-financing of up to 5,000 EUR. The Euroregion accepted, approved, and settled project applications. Each project had to demonstrate a so-called &#8216;cross-border effect.&#8217; It was mandatory to have a foreign partner whose headquarters were located within the eligible support area. Thanks to a simplified procedure, funding decisions were made within the Euroregion itself. These were small-scale projects requiring a 15% own contribution, with 75% co-financing from the EU and 10% from the state budget. Between 2005 and 2008, 230 projects were implemented on the Polish side. Interest in cross-border initiatives along the borderland grew with each passing year, as did the funds allocated by the European Union for this purpose.<\/p>\n\n<p>Between 2009 and 2015, the Small Project Fund was implemented as part of the INTERREG IV A program. The total value of the project amounted to 9,881,990 EUR, with 6,033,126 EUR allocated to the Polish side and 3,848,864 EUR to the German side. During this period, over 1,200 Polish-German initiatives were carried out on both sides of the border, with approximately 145,000 participants. The project was implemented jointly by the office of the Association of Polish Communes of Euroregion Pomerania (acting as the lead partner) and Kommunalgemeinschaft Europaregion POMERANIA e.V. During this phase, the maximum value of an individual project was increased to 25,000 EUR.<\/p>\n\n<p>In the subsequent edition of the INTERREG V A program, the Small Project Fund proved to be a vital element of cooperation along the Polish-German borderland. The program allocated over 14 million EUR for this purpose. More than 11 million EUR in grants reached beneficiaries on both sides of the border. A total of 883 projects were implemented, with the participation of over 90,000 Poles and Germans. Furthermore, the maximum value of an individual project was increased to 30,000 EUR.<\/p>\n\n<p>This edition of the SPF (Small Project Fund) was unique. It coincided with the global COVID-19 pandemic, which naturally hindered the organization of projects where direct contact was the fundamental basis for action. An alternative approach had to be found. This led to the idea of a special COVID-19 call for proposals within the Small Project Fund, titled &#8216;Combating the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequences in Euroregion Pomerania.&#8217; Starting from May 7, 2020, applicants were able to submit special applications with a maximum value of 50,000 EUR.<\/p>\n\n<p>The projects were primarily aimed at mitigating the consequences of the pandemic by developing solutions to maintain and expand social and cultural cooperation in the borderland, as well as establishing cross-border actions to combat the coronavirus (e.g., cooperation between healthcare institutions, information campaigns, and preventive measures) and model activities in the field of remote education. The stages of both submitting and settling projects were significantly simplified. For the first time, lump sums were applied. Beneficiaries did not report actual expenditures; instead, they were required to achieve specific indicators linked to the assigned lump sum in the project. The majority of projects concerned the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE), online education, or tourism. On the Polish side, 105 projects were implemented, while 77 were carried out on the German side. Projects within the SPF Interreg V A program could be implemented until the end of 2022.<\/p>\n\n<p>The following year saw the introduction of the SPF (Small Project Fund) INTERREG VI A, implemented in a new format. Previously, the Polish and German offices carried out the SPF jointly within a single project, with funds divided between the two countries. In the current edition, there are two separate projects, and the offices have become independent managers of these initiatives. A total of 13.75 million EUR from the ERDF (European Regional Development Fund) has been allocated to the SPF.<\/p>\n\n<p>Depending on the chosen topic, both Polish and German beneficiaries submit applications to their selected SPF manager. The maximum co-financing rate is 80% from the ERDF, with project funding reaching up to 50,000 EUR. Following the model of the special COVID-19 call, projects are now funded using lump sums. To receive a reimbursement, the applicant must achieve the intended project results and indicators. For the first time, a system of project advances has also been introduced, amounting to 25% of the co-financing sum.<\/p>\n\n<p>Such significant simplifications for applicants have meant that in the first three years of project implementation (since 2023), 140 projects have already been approved on the Polish side and 199 on the German side, with over 60% of the available funding pool already allocated. Beneficiaries are eligible to implement their projects until mid-2028.<\/p>\n\n<p>The total amount of funds granted to beneficiaries on the Polish side from 1995 to 2025 is presented in Table 1 below.<\/p>\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><tbody><tr><td>Programs<\/td><td>EFRR EUR<\/td><td>Number of projects<\/td><td>Number of participants<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Phare CBC Region Morza Ba\u0142tyckiego Edycja 1995-2001<\/td><td>4 086 790,00<\/td><td>368<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Phare CBC 2002 (Ba\u0142tyk)<\/td><td>895 228,43<\/td><td>55<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Phare CBC 2003 (Ba\u0142tyk)<\/td><td>311 459,38<\/td><td>12<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Phare CBC Polska-Niemcy 2003<\/td><td>446 022,73<\/td><td>26<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Phare CBC Region Morza Ba\u0142tyckiego &#8211; Schemat Wsparcia Edycja 2001<\/td><td>1 042 845,76<\/td><td>8<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Phare CBC Region Morza Ba\u0142tyckiego &#8211; Schemat Wsparcia Edycja 2002-2003<\/td><td>527 172,26<\/td><td>8<\/td><td><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fundusz Ma\u0142ych Projekt\u00f3w Interreg III A 2005-2008<\/td><td>1 775 638,00<\/td><td>230<\/td><td>34 954<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fundusz Ma\u0142ych Projekt\u00f3w Interreg IV A 2009-2011<\/td><td>2 097 075,39<\/td><td>227<\/td><td>21 495<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fundusz Ma\u0142ych Projekt\u00f3w Interreg IV A kontynuacja 2011-2015<\/td><td>2 924 303,56<\/td><td>356<\/td><td>47 537<\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fundusz Ma\u0142ych Projekt\u00f3w Interreg V A kontynuacja 2016-2022 \u00a0<\/td><td>6 909 087,92<\/td><td>320<\/td><td>37 169<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Total<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>21 015 623,43<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>1610<\/strong><\/td><td><strong>141 155,00<\/strong><\/td><\/tr><tr><td>Fundusz Ma\u0142ych Projekt\u00f3w Interreg VI A CS 4.6 (lata 2023-2028 projekt w realizacji)<\/td><td>6 273 285,90 4 286 338,00<\/td><td>140<\/td><td>24 600<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n<p>It is impossible to list all the thousands of important projects implemented on the Polish side of the Euroregion since 1995. These include hundreds of meetings for preschoolers as well as seniors; historical conferences; exchanges of experiences between communes and districts; and training for services such as the police and fire departments. These are albums, exhibitions, and books telling a shared history, alongside sports competitions and projects promoting tourist routes. Online meetings, apps, websites, and documentary films (e.g., &#8216;Max and Rosa \u2013 The Deportation of Szczecin Jews: Restoring Memory&#8217; or &#8216;The Stoewer Empire: From Washing Machines to Limousines&#8217;) represent the new face of the Small Project Fund (SPF).<\/p>\n\n<p>Despite the success in securing European and national funds, the expanded structure of Euroregion Pomerania unfortunately began to experience a crisis. Its causes included the difficult financial situation of the Association of Scanian Municipalities, the reduction of cross-border funds allocated to the Baltic Sea area, and the retirement of Stig \u00c5lund, the Director of the Scanian Association and a great friend of Poland. This accumulation of factors led the Swedish President of Euroregion Pomerania, Volker B\u00f6nning, to submit a statement to the Polish President of the Euroregion regarding Sweden&#8217;s withdrawal from the structures. As an attempt to mitigate the impact of the withdrawal of the Association of Scanian Municipalities, it was negotiated that the new cooperation agreement between the Scania Region and the West Pomeranian Voivodeship included a provision stating that all communal cooperation between the two regions should be conducted through the Association of Polish Communes of Euroregion Pomerania.<\/p>\n\n<p>In addition to managing the SPF within the Phare CBC and INTERREG programs, as well as the GPYW, and evaluating European projects, Euroregion Pomerania also implements its own initiatives. Among them, a very significant joint venture on the Polish-German border has been the Service and Advisory Centers (CUD) for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The mission of this project was, and remains, the realization of one of the core objectives of Euroregion Pomerania: the sustainable economic development and competitiveness of the cross-border region. In 2003, CUD offices were established across the entire euroregion in Schwedt, Neubrandenburg, and Greifswald, as well as in Szczecin, My\u015blib\u00f3rz, D\u0119bno, Koszalin, and Karlino. Since 2017, under the new programming period, additional locations were added in Strausberg and \u015awinouj\u015bcie. Today, the CUD offices have been transformed into the Information and Advisory Network offices, operating on the Polish side in Szczecin, \u015awinouj\u015bcie, Koszalin, and Przelewice.<\/p>\n\n<p>The centers assist entrepreneurs in establishing contacts and cooperative partnerships. The Service and Advisory Centers (CUD) conduct numerous training sessions on topics including economic law, fiscal law, and labor law on both sides of the border. Furthermore, the centers organize study visits to festivals, exhibitions, and trade fairs. By 2022, the maintenance costs of the entire CUD network in Poland amounted to 6.47 million EUR, and in the current programming period, the Information and Advisory Network (SID) has a budget of 5.95 million EUR.<\/p>\n\n<p>An important part of SGPEP&#8217;s activity was its participation in the development of the Cross-Border Development Concept for the Szczecin Metropolitan Region. Irena Str\u00f3\u017cy\u0144ska, Deputy Director of SGPEP, was a member of the team preparing this significant spatial planning study. Euroregion Pomerania is also an implementer (together with the Regional Bureau of Spatial Planning of the West Pomeranian Voivodeship) of a project focused on monitoring and collecting innovative data regarding the Szczecin Metropolitan Region.<\/p>\n\n<p>A special task implemented by the Polish and German offices of Euroregion Pomerania is a project focused on employees learning the neighbor&#8217;s language or English. This project also aims to overcome prejudices through lectures on German and Polish history and workshops for mutual cultural discovery. Board members of both associations participated in study visits to the French-German borderland and to the headquarters of EGTCs. A very important part of the activity of the Association of Polish Communes of Euroregion Pomerania is its participation in organizations uniting euroregions. The first of these was the Association of European Border Regions (AEBR). The city and voivodeship of Szczecin were already represented at an AEBR meeting in 1994 in Trieste. A year later, in 1995, the AEBR General Assembly was held at the Pomeranian Dukes&#8217; Castle in Szczecin. During this meeting, one of the most significant documents outlining the association&#8217;s goals was adopted. This document, known as the European Charter of Border and Cross-Border Regions, went down in history as the &#8216;Szczecin Charter.&#8217; On February 13, 2012, at the Chancellery of the President of the Republic of Poland, representatives of all euroregions operating in Poland established the Federation of Regions of the Republic of Poland. Czes\u0142aw Fiedorowicz became its president, and Krzysztof Soska, the Vice-President of Szczecin representing SGPEP, was appointed vice-president.<\/p>\n\n<p>The latest challenge is the Polish-German project titled &#8216;Together We Create the Future of Euroregion Pomerania.&#8217; Its implementation resulted in the Development Strategy for Euroregion Pomerania. For the first time, it was prepared jointly, rather than separately for the Polish and German parts of the euroregion as in the past. The study was preceded by numerous workshops, which served as the basis for formulating recommendations. The identified tasks for the euroregion include: cross-border public transport; a cross-border research center; a forum for attracting skilled workers; a joint tourism marketing network; a permanent offer for neighbor-language teaching; a standing health forum; environmental education; and the promotion of culture. The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) was recommended as the best tool for implementing these tasks. The document pointed out that despite the establishment of Euroregion Pomerania in 1995, it had not been possible to grant the euroregional structure a legal personality. In the meantime, European law from the European Parliament and the Council introduced a new cross-border cooperation structure called the EGTC. The aim of this new legal proposal is to enable the creation of organizations with legal personality at the EU borders. The EGTC also offers an opportunity to carry out clearly defined tasks arising from the needs of cross-border regions.<\/p>\n\n<p>Meeting the expectations of a new era, the euroregional partners have created a joint project (funded by the Interreg VI A Program) called &#8216;One Pomerania.&#8217; Within its framework, the necessary documents for the registration of the Pomerania EGTC have been developed. This will undoubtedly provide a new impulse for the development of our euroregional area. According to the plans, the Pomerania EGTC is to be registered in Poland with its headquarters in Szczecin. A separate EGTC secretariat will be established in L\u00f6cknitz.<\/p>\n<style>.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kb-btns2385_8e7af1-ad{gap:var(--global-kb-gap-xs, 0.5rem );justify-content:center;align-items:center;}.kt-btns2385_8e7af1-ad .kt-button{font-weight:normal;font-style:normal;}.kt-btns2385_8e7af1-ad .kt-btn-wrap-0{margin-right:5px;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns2385_8e7af1-ad .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button{color:#555555;border-color:#555555;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns2385_8e7af1-ad .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns2385_8e7af1-ad .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{color:#ffffff;border-color:#444444;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns2385_8e7af1-ad .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button::before{display:none;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns2385_8e7af1-ad .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn.kt-btns2385_8e7af1-ad .kt-btn-wrap-0 .kt-button:focus{background:#444444;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn kb-buttons-wrap kb-btns2385_8e7af1-ad\"><style>ul.menu .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn2385_57cfa0-b9.kb-button{width:initial;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn2385_57cfa0-b9.kb-button{background:linear-gradient(135deg,rgb(255,0,0) 0%,rgb(20,39,109) 100%) !important;}.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn2385_57cfa0-b9.kb-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn2385_57cfa0-b9.kb-button:focus{border-top:2px solid;border-right:2px solid;border-bottom:2px solid;border-left:2px solid;}.kb-btn2385_57cfa0-b9.kb-button::before{background:linear-gradient(300deg,rgb(255,0,0) 0%,rgb(20,39,109) 100%);-webkit-transition:opacity .3s ease-in-out;-moz-transition:opacity .3s ease-in-out;transition:opacity .3s ease-in-out;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn2385_57cfa0-b9.kb-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn2385_57cfa0-b9.kb-button:focus{border-top:2px solid;border-right:2px solid;border-bottom:2px solid;border-left:2px solid;}}@media all and (max-width: 767px){.wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn2385_57cfa0-b9.kb-button:hover, .wp-block-kadence-advancedbtn .kb-btn2385_57cfa0-b9.kb-button:focus{border-top:2px solid;border-right:2px solid;border-bottom:2px solid;border-left:2px solid;}}<\/style><a class=\"kb-button kt-button button kb-btn2385_57cfa0-b9 kt-btn-size-standard kt-btn-width-type-auto kb-btn-global-fill  kt-btn-has-text-true kt-btn-has-svg-false  wp-block-kadence-singlebtn\" href=\"https:\/\/historiapomorza.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/Euroregion-Pomerania.pdf\" role=\"button\"><span class=\"kt-btn-inner-text\">Download PDF<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n\n<p>More:<\/p>\n\n<p><em>20-lecie Euroregionu Pomerania,<\/em> red. Pawe\u0142 Bartnik, Iwona Kowalczyk, Irena Str\u00f3\u017cy\u0144ska, Aleksandra Warska, Szczecin 2015<\/p>\n\n<p><em>Przesz\u0142o\u015b\u0107, tera\u017aniejszo\u015b\u0107 i przysz\u0142o\u015b\u0107 samorz\u0105dowej wsp\u00f3\u0142pracy transgranicznej w Euroregionie Pomerania w latach 1993 &#8211; 2013<\/em>, red. Aleksandra Warska, Szczecin 2013<\/p>\n\n<p>Emilia Szczygie\u0142-Lembicz <em>Wsp\u00f3\u0142czesna polsko-niemiecka wsp\u00f3\u0142praca transgraniczna na przyk\u0142adzie FMP Euroregionu Pomerania <\/em>(praca licencjacka napisana pod kierunkiem dr. B. W\u00f3jcika), Szczecin 2020<\/p>\n\n<p>Marek \u017burek <em>Teoria wsp\u00f3\u0142pracy transgranicznej na przyk\u0142adzie Euroregionu Pomerania, <\/em>Szczecin 2011<\/p>\n\n<p>Pawe\u0142 Bartnik, Irena Str\u00f3\u017cy\u0144ska <em>Euroregionalne reminiscencje w codzienno\u015bci pogranicza.<\/em> <em>G\u0142os publicyst\u00f3w, <\/em>red. Bogdan Twardochleb, Szczecin 2015<\/p>\n\n<p><em>Pawe\u0142 Bartnik<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":2452,"parent":0,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kadence_starter_templates_imported_post":false,"_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false},"kategoria-epoki":[70],"class_list":["post-2388","epoka","type-epoka","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","kategoria-epoki-modern-times"],"acf":[],"taxonomy_info":{"kategoria-epoki":[{"value":70,"label":"Modern times"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/historiapomorza.pl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/3-1024x731.jpg",1024,731,true],"author_info":[],"comment_info":"","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/historiapomorza.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/epoka\/2388","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/historiapomorza.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/epoka"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/historiapomorza.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/epoka"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/historiapomorza.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2452"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/historiapomorza.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2388"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"kategoria-epoki","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/historiapomorza.pl\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/kategoria-epoki?post=2388"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}