We promote social participation in transport

On July 8, 2022, the European Commission selected the application submitted by the Center for EU Transport Projects as part of the call for proposals for another project aimed at strengthening the involvement of citizens of EU Member States under the Cohesion Policy.

In accordance with the requirements (joint application of a public institution and an NGO), the application was prepared in cooperation with the Social Cooperative FADO (FADO) and on April 29, 2022 it was submitted for assessment to the European Commission. For better use of the project’s products, the Upper Silesian-Zagłębie Metropolis (GZM) was invited to its joint implementation.

Design assumptions

The project assumes the involvement of the CEUTP with the maximum use of experience and practice acquired during the implementation of the first stage of the pilot project, completed in December last year.

The involvement of FADO, which specializes mainly in the issues of increasing accessibility of public investments for people with special needs, will make it possible to engage previously excluded groups in participation processes. On the other hand, the participation of GZM will let solutions be developed and tested in practice on a local and regional basis in a way that allows to increase the involvement of local communities in particular.

As part of the project, innovative mechanisms of social participation will be used to shape the needs of residents and, on the basis, to present appropriate proposals for transport solutions with an emphasis on rail as the most ecological means of transport.

The main goals of the project are:

• increasing the level of social participation as part of the planned improvements in the functioning of the indicated transport corridor in selected communes within GZM,
• increasing the role of excluded groups in participatory processes by applying digital, architectural, information and promotional accessibility standards,
• help in building a participatory culture among investors and residents.

The project should be completed no later than in December 2023.

More information on our selection and other projects aimed at strengthening the involvement of citizens of the EU Member States as part of the EU investments for 2021-2027 can be found on the website of the European Commission.