In 2003, the development plan for the German state of Saxony designated the area in which Saxony borders the Czech Republic as an area with a particular need for rural-planning action. The development in this area is strongly influenced by sustained demographic change, economic structural change, and existing disparities between areas.  Run by the IfL (as lead partner), the objective of the Saxon-Czech border-area study is to work out foundations for the development of the area and the planning activity of the state of Saxony / of the region more broadly; it is also intended to give impetus in specific areas so as to intensify cooperation, both across the border and between municipal authorities. The research project had been divided into the following three task areas:

• working out target requirements and recommendations for action to be applied to the Saxon-Czech border area, as a basis for updating the 2003 plan for development of the state of Saxony;
• producing the border-area study for the Saxon part of the Saxon-Czech border area, as well as adapting it and integrating it to harmonise with the Czech  area development study;
• drawing up recommendations for projects and measures or respectively project ideas for intensifying cooperation in the Saxon-Czech border area.

Within the framework of the border-area study, and making avail of a short analysis, the plan was to draw up recommendations for actions on the following areas:

• demographic change and its geographical implications
• provision of service and resources to secure peoples' continued ability to live in the area (social and technical infrastructure) taking into account the demographic changes
• situation for the provision of resources, particularly taking into account large-scale retail facilities
• cross-border transport infrastructure
• renewable energies
• nature and environment, the cultural landscape
• areas lying fallow (among others, areas for military/agricultural purposes, the borderlands)
• local recreation and tourism
• development of border towns and border communities

The project was brought to fruition in a closely-integrated process of coordination, together with the Czechs’ Brno-based Institute for Spatial Development (UUR) and the national Ministry for Regional Development, based in Prague.

Results/Publications

Discussion Paper, presented on the international conference "Regional Development and Perspectives for Border Areas – The Example of Saxony-Czech Republic" download