The project Accessibility Improved at Border Crossings for the Integration of South-East Europe (ACROSSEE) was officially launched on the occasion of a three day kick-off meeting held in Trieste at the premises of the CEI, which is the project Lead Partner.
In particular, on 21 November a public event was organised under the title: “Doing more with less: achieving growth with existing transport infrastructure: easing up red tape and bottlenecks. Prospects for enhanced co-ordination in North East Italy and in whole South East Europe region”. The aim of the event was to showcase to the wider public the main objectives of the ACROSSEE project and to discuss effective strategies for easing up transport red tape and cross-border bottlenecks that are major obstacles to unleashing SEE's economic potential. The event was attended by the representatives of Ministries of transport and infrastructure (Austria, Croatia, Italy, Montenegro), Regions (Friuli Venezia Giulia and Smolyan), Universities (Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Venice International University, University of Trieste and Odessa University), Chambers of Commerce (Belgrade, Venice and Trieste) and other relevant stakeholders, such as CEFTA (Central Europe Free Trade Agreement), CER (Community of European Railway and Infrastructure Companies), ITALFER, Union Trasporti, and other technical operators from the South East Europe (SEE) region. A project meeting was held on 20 November with the participation of partner institutions in order to discuss about the start up of activities, with a specific focus on the methodological approach and the technical actions to be performed in the initial phase of the project, as well as on the general project management requirements. The ACROSSEE project aims at establishing a large and coherent platform that will contribute to rationalising and optimising the existing transport network in South-East Europe (SEE). The project is promoted by the CEI through its Secretariat as Lead Partner, in cooperation with 24 partner institutions (Project Partners) from 13 countries and is co-financed by the South East Europe transnational programme. The project officially started on 1 October 2012 and will last until September 2014.For information: fortuna@cei.int