In September 2003 provincial governors and mayors have agreed upon founding the Central European Region Centrope. The signed declaration expresses the will to construct an economically competitive region. Nevertheless the declared goals are accompanied by the following statement: "In their efforts to create this common European Region, the signatories, in addition to the goal of economic prosperity and welfare, in particular also dedicate themselves to the goals of creating equal opportunities for men and women and of creating a sustainable intact environment.” (Political declaration 'Building a European Region' 2003.)
In the contribution "Constructing sustainable Centrope” we will take this statement literary and work on necessary characteristics of an sustainable Centrope. We will refer to an understanding of "sustainability" as a model ("Leitbild”) which stimulates debates and actions according to rather vague definitions of goals, which are translated by actors on different levels, who follow heterogenous interests, values and cultures. We are especially interested in contributions referring to the social dimension of sustainability, that is diversity of gender, generation, language, religion, because they will shape the process of becoming Centrope a sustainable European Region.
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