International Kickoff-Symposium VIA REGIA - European Cultural Route
in the Thuringian States Chancellery Erfurt
02nd July till 04th July 2004
results
These texts are based on contributions of the participants during the symposium, on dialogues and on written reactions after and during the meeting.
The goal of the event was to clarify at the broadest possible levels existing interests and requirements necessary to the development of a network of complete and intensive common work among the regions of Western, Central and Eastern Europe against the background of the process of enlargement and integration of the European Union. Due to their location on the oldest and longest road between Western and Eastern Europe, the so-called VIA REGIA, the participating towns and regions have been connected in a specific way for almost 2000 years.
Thanks to this historical “binding”, the network can be a model for European integration in the future.
For that reason, at the symposium the following points of view were expressed:
- There is great interest in developing a common system of extensive work between the participating regions, locations and initiatives and in using the symbolic value of the road VIA REGIA as “European Cultural Route” as a thrust.
- The programme of the European Cultural Routes is an essential measure in order to ensure the “reparation” of Europe through trans-border and cultural projects. This programme also represents an instrument to make conventions, decisions and recommendations of the Council of Europe clear to laypersons and to suggest their practical applications to Europeans. This is a programme of European citizenship and an act of regional and cultural democracy.
- Several times, it has been emphasized that the VIA REGIA had a specific meaning as a long-distance traffic road that determined the economic and cultural development of the regions and sites through which it travels. Therefore, it should be associated with this meaning. The network should be developed and its first goal should be a lasting economic growth.
- On the side of the Council of Europe (Günter Mudrich, secretary of the Chambers of Regions), support for this intention has been expressed. This support is also shown by the fact that the General Secretary of the Council of Europe, Walter Schwimmer, is the patron of this project and that the Chamber of Regions voted positively for the project during its last meeting.
- It was clear that the future cooperation should begin developing equitable, self-governing and independent partnerships. It is also important to point out the particularity and singularity of each region. This basis should lead to the development of an intensive cooperation and particularly to the implementation of a common marketing concept which embodies the idea of Europe's unity and makes the VIA REGIA association competitive on an international level.
- At the same time, it has been emphasized that the road VIA REGIA did not have the same invariable course over centuries. Therefore, the development of the VIA REGIA network should permit the establishment of a “corridor” which takes into consideration the historical and partially varying courses and which includes the places that are located on the new European roads' network of the A4 (between Saarbrücken/ Mainz/ Frankurt am Main/ Kirchheimer Dreieck as A6/A63/A5) and of the E40.
For all these reasons, one can consider that the conference was very successful.
Forty-five towns expressed their interest in participating in the project.