Within the project “DANOVA NEXT” (“Smart transport network for accessibility for passengers with disabilities and reduced mobility in the Danube region through innovative services”) Czech Smart City Cluster, z.s. has attended the transnational working group meeting in Varna, Bulgaria (27. – 28. 6. 2024). The event featured a comprehensive agenda aimed at enhancing transport accessibility in the Danube Region.

The first day of the workshop kicked off with registration and welcoming remarks, setting a collaborative tone for the event. Key sessions included:

• Project Implementation Overview:Dubrovnik Airport presented the current status and upcoming activities, highlighting the project’s progress and next steps.
• Strategical Framework for Accessible Transports:The University of Maribor and other partners presented updates on best practices, user involvement at local and transnational levels, and the innovative DANOVA NEXT toolkit.
• Defining the Strategy for Accessible Transport:The Municipality of Maribor and the Czech Smart City Cluster led discussions on the macro-regional strategy template and the involvement of key stakeholders.
• Smart Transport Network Creation:Sessions focused on defining a framework for PRM digital accessibility data, brainstorming among partners, and establishing the network’s next steps.

The second day focused on interactive working group sessions, coordinated by the Czech Smart City Cluster:

• Work Group Coordination:The morning session included the presentation of the coordination system and selection of working group leaders.
• Brainstorming Sessions:Participants engaged in brainstorming activities, recording outputs, and rotating group leaders to ensure diverse input and collaboration.
• Final Discussions:The workshop concluded with a summary of the outputs from the brainstorming sessions, fostering a shared understanding and commitment to the project’s goals.

The cross-border cooperation programme INTERREG-DANUBE 2021-2027 is being financed from the European Fund for Regional development (ERDF) within the framework of European Territorial Cooperation, which provides support between the countries of the Danube region. The DANOVA NEXT (PROJECT ID: DRP0200298) project is a continuation of the DANOVA project, which was successfully implemented as part of the INTERREG-DANUBE 2014-2020 programme.