In order to attain the aims mentioned above, a number of projects and actions have been presented in ECV, some of which are displayed in Table 4.2 . According to its strategic agenda, ECV develops in its territory, mostly with partners, multiple pro- grams/projects that take water as a starting point. However, it is not only ECV itself that puts water into the centre of its projects: other organisations, public or private, also create projects in the ECV territory that imply water.
Table 4.2 summarises the main projects related to water that infl uence the ECV territory, regardless of whether ECV is one of the partners, thus displaying that water has been privileged as a main stimulus of regional development in ECV and adjacent territories.
We would like to note that not all the projects mentioned in Table 4.2 are the ini- tiative of the Eurocity or under its direct responsibility. Indeed, some of them were created without the explicit contribution of ECV. All the projects were submitted for European funding, some also received private funding (e.g. Unicer), some are con- cluded and others are still in progress. Another particularity is that some of these projects are complementary, with one component (e.g. infrastructure) being fi nanced by and integrated in one framework program, and another component (e.g. an imma- terial component) being fi nanced by another program, and so on. This is another
Table 4.2 Projects in ECV area focused on water (since 2005) Name of the project ( and translation ) + Acronym + Site + Code Main objectives/comments Funding given by Project leader Centro de Formação Turístico-Termal e de Investigação da Água Consolidation of a common cross-border strategy for the coordinated development of professional training and research in spa tourism and in water in the Galicia-North Portugal Euroregion
Integrated in POCTEP program and with EU funding via FEDER (Centre for Education in Tourism and Spa Services and for Water Research) EURO-REGIÓN TERMAL Y DEL AGUA Creation of a Spa Hotel School in Verín Deputation of Ourense http://www.euroregiontermal.eu Implementation of a spa for professional education purposes in Chaves Creation of a research laboratory for mineral and tap water in Chaves Implementation of a thermal route across the border area Centro de Competências em Turismo, Termalismo, Saúde e Bem-estar Provision of services, particularly in the areas of health and wellness, management and quality control, development and technological innovation and technology transfer With FEDER funding via O NOVO NORTE and RedeecoCITRAS (network of ecological and innovative cities of Trás-os-Montes)
(Competence Centre for Tourism, Spa, Health and Wellness) AQUAE Development of research and experimental projects Promotion and dissemination of results Competence building and propagation of scientifi c and experimental knowledge Chaves Municipality Forum for cooperation within the sector Balneário Pedagógico de Investigação e Desenvolvimento de Práticas Termais de Vidago Creation of a pedagogical spa for research and development of spa practices in Vidago (transforming part of the ancient railway station), in relation with Euroregión Termal e del Água
With FEDER funding via PROVERE program ( Pedagogical Spa for Research and Development of Spa Practices in Vidago ) Chaves Municipality CAMPUS DA ÁGUA The University of Vigo dedicated the campus in Ourense to water, giving priority to water-linked research, development and innovation and boosting of a multidisciplinary network to integrate research, teaching and knowledge transfer. Negotiations involving higher education organisations to cooperate in ECV are in progress Unknown ( Water Campus) University of Vigo
AQUANATTUR A private tourist project (UNICER) in Vidago and Pedras Salgadas, that comprises, apart from requalifying emblematic buildings, infrastructure and parks, the preservation of natural and hydro-mineral resources, respecting biodiversity and eco-systems and ensuring economic growth through tourism Mix of private and public funding (some FEDER funding via PROVERE program)
(A cronym of the equivalent in Portuguese of the nouns Water – Nature – Tourism) NORTE-05-0227-FEDER-000001 Unicer Valorización del corredor ambiental del río Támega Improving the management of water resources in the Tâmega valley Integrated in POCTEP program and with EU funding via FEDER (Valorisation of the natural environment of the Tâmega River) Valorising the river as the umbilical cord between the city centres of ECV, whenever possible incorporating natural, historical and cultural elements Municipality of Verín VALTAMEGA http://pt.eurocidadechavesverin.eu/projetos/ em-curso/valtamega 0674_VALTAMEGA_1_E
Developing and promoting the connection between the people of the two border towns through the riparian areas and associated ecosystems Monitoring and upgrading the water quality of the river Creating thematic routes along the river, places to sit and rest, and places to practice sports or cultural activities Sustainable Health and Wellness Destinations International conference in Chaves, where experts from different areas refl ected together on health and wellness tourism in the broadest sense, with special attention on the Northern Region of Portugal
With FEDER funding via O NOVO NORTE and QREN CHAVES 2011 NORTE-07-0927-FEDER-000197 http://chaves2011.wikispaces.com CETRAD (Centre for transdisciplinary research for development at the University of Trás-os-Montes and Alto Douro) Museu das Termas Romanas Creation of a Museum to preserve and showcase the Roman Baths With FEDER funding via O NOVO NORTE and QREN ( Museum of the Roman Spa) Sources: Based on the application forms of the candidatures, the websites mentioned above, including the Eurocity’s, and Joukes ( 2007 , 2009a , b ), Domínguez Castro et al. ( 2008 ), Heinz ( 2012 ) and ECV ( 2014a )
indication that in ECV different organisations are cooperating towards a sustainable use of water, which is seen as a valuable and distinct resource. That is, these projects support water as the region’s brand, so, in one way or another, they are all in the same line and strengthen the strategic agendas of ECV and the Galicia- North Portugal Euroregion. The ECV website gives full details to visitors on the local tourism offer, such as the existing water resources. Apart from capital- intensive interventions, con- stant small-scale initiatives are undertaken, as partially documented in ECV’s list of fi nished activities on their webpage (ECV 2014a ), in order to attain ECV’s objec- tives. Some of the events or actions were dedicated to natural mineral water, such as:
social spa tourism programs for the elderly, equipping a stand at a specialised spa fair, and a workshop about the future of the Euroregion of water.
The publishing and marketing sector should also be mentioned: the abovemen- tioned website is easy to use and contains plenty of information. Small brochures, maps and tourist guides, informative pocket books and even a menu card with sug- gestions on how and with what to drink the bottled waters of the Eurocity are avail- able on paper and can be downloaded on the ECV webpage (ECV 2012a , b , 2013a , b , 2014a , b , c , d ). The slogan in ECV-related webpages and booklets – “Eurocity, river and springs… Two countries, a river and nine springs” – is another way to make it obvious that water is a central element for ECV.
Furthermore, a tourism strategy has been elaborated, following a set of steps and principles in order to realise this “Eurocity of Water” with numerous facilities for locals on the one hand, and a pole of attractions for visitors on the other hand (ECV n.d, p. 25). Water was moreover integrated into the former and present logo of ECV.
This quick overview makes us conclude that for more than a decade, and in ever more evident ways, the Eurocity has been targeting water as the unifying force around which most of its programs/projects and consequent activities are developed.