I am Aurora, and during my IVY experience within the Interreg Italy- Austria programme I had the opportunity to visit and make videos about several projects that promote interregional cooperation, support local communities and foster sustainable development across borders.
In particular, the Interreg Italy–Austria programme places strong emphasis on the CLLD (Community-Led Local Development) approach, a method within European Union Cohesion Policy. CLLD is a bottom-up model where local communities actively participate in designing and implementing development strategies. Instead of decisions being made at a higher institutional level, local stakeholders, such as municipalities, associations, schools, and businesses, collaborate to identify needs and shape projects that respond to their territory.
One example I visited is a cross-border project in the Terra Raetica region (a cross-border Alpine region spanning parts of northern Italy, western Austria, and Switzerland) focused on marble quarries and mining heritage. The project aims to valorise the historical and cultural significance of mining by connecting tourism, education, and local economic activities. It includes museum development, guided tours, school programmes, and the creation of cycling and rail tourism routes. What makes it a clear example of CLLD is its bottom-up nature: local actors such as museums, schools, and regional partners collaborate directly to decide how to preserve and promote their shared heritage, ensuring that the project reflects local needs and knowledge.
Overall, this experience showed me how Interreg projects go beyond cross-border cooperation. They actively empower communities to take part in shaping their own development, turning local heritage and resources into shared opportunities for sustainable growth and stronger regional identity.
– Aurora, IVY Reporter for Interreg Italy-Austria.
