PRESS RELEASE
Meeting
of work between the Vikos-Aoos Geopark and the Natural Park Sauerland
Rothhaar Mountains of Westphalia
Ioannina,
23/10/2019
Between 14-17 October 2019,
working meeting between representatives of the Natural Park management body
Sauerland - Rothaargebirge of Westphalia and the Development Corporation AE (EPIRUS
AE), as the management body of the Vikos Aoos Geopark. The purpose of the meeting was
the final determination of the cooperation framework between the bodies of the two
areas (Geopark-Nature Park) according to a set agenda
of themes and with the use of specific
financial instruments.
The arrival of representatives from the Natural Park and the subsequent meeting
It comes as a follow-up to two previous working visits, which took place
In June 2018 and June 2019
in Greece and Germany respectively.
At this meeting, the director from the German side attended.
and the deputy director of the Sauerland-Rothaargebirge Nature Park, Mr. Detlef Lins and Georg Schmitz, and the director of the LEADER LAG of the Sorpesee region, Mr. Morgenbrod Lars. From the Greek side, the director participated
and executives of EPEIROS SA: Mr Gerasimos Papailias, director, Mr Charitakis Papaioannou, Head of the Vikos-Aoos Geopark Structure, Mr Aristotelis Stasikas and Ms
Georgia Kitsaki Member of the Vikos-Aoos Geopark Structure / European Programmes Team and Ilias Mokos CLLD LEADER Programme Coordinator. Also in
Ms Gabriela also attended the meeting
Scheiner on behalf of the German-Greek Assembly, which encourages and
supports from the outset the shaping of the framework for this collaboration.
Cooperation issues were discussed during the meeting.
between the two regions as regards the administrative structure of the two regions as
nature park/geopark, the further development of alternative tourism, the
optimisation of services and information provided to visitors
(e.g., information centres, routes, etc.), the implementation of counting systems
visitors, the promotion of local products, the way of operation and application
of the LEADER programme in the two
areas etc.
Specifically, it was decided to submit proposals for intergovernmental
programmes and specifically the CLLD LEADER programme, focusing on cycling and hiking tourism in the two regions
and in ERASMUS with the theme of exchange of specialists, such as
professionals in the field of alternative tourism (e.g. eco-guides) as well as
young people (e.g. students) between the two countries with the aim of improving
knowledge and skills. It was also decided to further investigate
possibility of submitting proposals to other funding instruments, beyond the two that
mentioned above.
Concurrently, and with the participation of Ms. Sofia Fouki, Head
of the Epirus Region Tourism Directorate, the issue of promoting local
products of the Geopark and the wider region to the Municipalities of the Natural
Sauerland-Rothaargebirge Nature Park through a well-known German supermarket chain
with which the Nature Park maintains excellent cooperation.
The visitors, accompanied by executives from Epirus SA / Geopark
The Vikos-Aoos Geopark visited the two Municipalities of the Geopark, Zagori and Konitsa.
and met with the Mayors and members of the Municipal Councils as well as with
local product producers.
The working meeting was held as part of the strategic development.
cooperation of the Vikos-Aoos Geopark with other areas with similar
features in Europe.
