The implementation of the Carpathian Convention is a complicated process, requiring the adoption of additional international agreements (thematic Protocols) and strategic documents, either at the regional international scale (common Strategic Action Plans, and Strategies) or national scale of each Party (National Action Plans).
The implementation of the Convention is in fact a never-ending challenge, a task for both the contemporary generations and for those to come. The implementation of the Convention and its Protocols is not possible without the commitment and work of many people, organizations and institutions. Most of them are represented in different bodies established under the Convention, either at the international or national level. Such include the Conference of the Parties (COP), and its subsidiary bodies like the Carpathian Convention Implementation Committee (CCIC) or different thematic Working Groups, serviced by the Secretariat.
See also: Bodies implementing the Carpathian Convention
Involvement and commitment of the local stakeholders is truly indispensable for the successful implementation of the Convention, also due to the fact that the inhabitants of the Carpathian region should be the ‘end-users’ and main beneficiaries of the Convention. Last, but not least – the sustainable development of the Carpathian region cannot be achieved without or against the will of the local inhabitants. In 2008 the second meeting the Conference of the Parties (COP2) to the Carpathian Convention reiterated its recommendation (Decision COP2/10) on the establishment and development of national mechanisms that contribute to the implementation of the Convention.
See also: Public participation in the implementation of the Carpathian Convention
The implementation of the Convention remains to a large extent dependent on the success of different projects, undertaken either at the regional scale jointly by partners from several Carpathian countries, or at the national scale - within the territory of a particular Party. Unfortunately, there is no single EU financial mechanism which could support cooperation and joint activities of all Parties to the Carpathian Convention, similar to the Interreg “Alpine Space Programme”.
However, thanks to the support by Switzerland through the Swiss Contribution to the enlarged European Union, several activities were possible under the project "Carpathians Unite - mechanism for consultation and cooperation for the implementation of the Carpathian Convention", co-funded by the Swiss-Polish Cooperation Programme.
The “Carpathians Unite” project included e.g. the organization of meetings of three international thematic Working Groups of the Convention, and works on the first draft of the proposed Protocol on cultural heritage to the Framework Convention. The “Carpathians Unite” project initiated the new approach for the implementation of the Carpathian Convention, concerning the integration of nature and landscape conservation objectives with other sectoral policies, by organizing joint meetings of different thematic Working Groups of the Convention.
The “Carpathians Unite” project emphasized the role of spatial planning as a tool for the implementation of the Framework Convention and all its thematic protocols. This role of spatial planning has so far been slightly undervalued under the Convention, despite that e.g. the European Commission perceives it indispensable for the maintenance and restoration of the green infrastructure (GI).
See also:
Spatial planning for the implementation of the Carpathian Convention
Building a Green Infrastructure for Europe. European Union, 2013
