General information about Pradziad Euroregion

The idea of rapprochement and cooperation between Poland and Czech Republic in Jesioniki area and also the first interactions were initiated by local authorities of both sides in 1990. The initiative of the first big meeting came about from the authorities of Jesenik  who organized on 21st June 1991 the conference with the participation of representatives of towns and communities of Jesenik region along with neighbouring towns and communities of Opole and Wałbrzych provinces. The Conference has concluded that natural cooperation in the border area is resticted because of the tight states border and strict Customs Regulations. Those mentioned issues should be solved by opening new border crossings and simplifying Customs procedures. Common initiatives are also needed in the area of environmental protection. It is necessary to bridge the communities on both sides of the border via organizing and supporting common ventures in the areas of tourism, sport, culture and education. It was considered that economical cooperation would intensify under the condition of direct contacts between businesses that could be accomplished by organizing business fairs and business information centres.

The crowning achievements of several years of efforts of local and provincial authorities and also the solidification of existing relations between authorities, schools, cultural centres, sport clubs and other social organizations was the general contract, formally creating Polish-Czech Eurodistrict named „Pradziad“, that was signed on 2nd of July 1997 in Jesenik. The name of the Eurodistrict comes from the highest local mountain top (Praděd – 1491 m asl). The contract creating Pradziad Euroregion was signed from the Polish side by representatives of the Association of Osobłoga Basin and Touristic Union of Nysa Land and from the Czech side by representatives of the 5 associations of Czech towns and communities from Bruntal, Jesenik and Šumperk districts.

According to the general contract, the purpose of Euroregion is to support Polish and Czech cooperation in: economical growth, increasing life standards, spatial planning, building and adopting cross-bording structures, protecting environments, prevention of natural disasters and liquidation of its consequences, expansion of cultural exchange and tourism, cultivating common cultural heritage, facilitating interactions between populations, social assistance and humanitarian aid.

Eurodistrict organs are Parliament and Presidium of Euroregion. Parliament- the highest Euroregion organ originally had 15 representatives from each Nation side. Currently it has 20 Polish representatives and 18 from the Czech side. Each side chooses one chairman and two vice-chairmen out of their own delegats. They become automatically members of Euroregion Presidium that manages the current Euroregion activity and represents it outside.