The transnationally organised project PREPARITY aimed to prepare policy makers of the regions located on the Central European border of the European Union for the enlargement of the European Union. Based on scientific analyses relevant decision-making aids were developed in preparation for the accession of Central and Eastern European countries to the European Union. PREPARITY  delivered the basis for a draft of a strategic concept for economic regional development and planning for the border areas of the Central European border of the European Union. Geographically, the study concentrated on the Austrian, German and Italian regions on the border of the European Union. Five neighbouring Central European states (Poland, the Slovak Republic, Slovenia, the Czech Republic and Hungary) were included in the analyses.

The interdisciplinary approach of the project (economics, regional planning, geography) provided a variety of instruments in the area of policy consulting for decision-makers and a highly operational final draft. The results of the country-specific analyses were tied together in a transnational final report presented in 2001 at the conclusion of the project.

Type of service

Scientific direction of the Italian Project part.

Cooperation at transnational level.

Project design, organization and management.

Coordination of project activities.

Carrying out of Project’s general parts:

• Institutional framework conditions (EU-CEEC),
• Macroeconomic development in the CEEC,
• Regional economic development in areas of the CEEC bordering on Italy.

Drawing up of the technical approach for Italian analyses; coordination of the activities of the Italian partners; data collecting, data base setting and carrying out of the analyses for Friuli Venezia Giulia: Foreign trade, FDI and cooperation Italy-CEEC, Sectoral competitiveness (agriculture, industry, services), Transport infrastructure and services, Regional competitiveness, Effects on labour market, Regional and macroeconomic effects, Development of settlements and territorial structure, Decision-making tools for economic policy and planning, Strategic conception for economic and territorial development.

Project presentation, conferences.