Numerous companies, associations, initiatives and projects have long relied on cross-border cooperation. Twenty years ago, when the initiator Reinhold Klika brought the Aenus Prize to life, this cross-border work was only occasionally noticeable, today it is almost indispensable in all areas. “We felt how much unites us when the borders were suddenly closed again during the corona pandemic,” said Klika at the anniversary evening in Ranshofen Castle.
Around 100 invited guests looked back together on twenty years of cross-border cooperation and twenty years of Aenus. Almost all winners or their representatives were present at the festive evening. Also the “midwives” Christoph Leitl. The long-standing President of the Austrian Chamber of Commerce and the European Chamber of Commerce gave a passionate speech for Europe and praised the Innviertel region and Bavaria in particular: “We can learn from you how cooperation works,” he emphasized with regard to the numerous cross-border connections. “Big” politics must also follow the example of “small” ones here in the region. “We must unite Europe to play a role in the world,” he said.
Also look to the future
Numerous representatives from the region also had their say, on the one hand emphasizing the importance of cooperation, but on the other hand addressing problems that still need to be solved. Among other things, the home office regulation for cross-border commuters (the OÖN reported), which led the cross-border commuter state association chairman Gerald Hamminger. What had to pause during the Corona period has to recover with a lot of commitment: For example, cross-border music projects that have been suffering since the pandemic, as the Mühldorf music school director Thomas Breitsameter explained.
What we have in common will remain in focus, that was the tenor of the evening, still according to the motto: from side by side to together.
The winners of the past two decades
The first Aenus was presented in 2001 (celebration this year due to corona). Since then there have been 157 submissions and twenty award winners:
- 2001: Cross-border commuters regional association Upper Austria, company F & K Delvotec, Braunau
- 2003: Geothermie Braunau-Simbach, Inn-Salzach-Euregio-Jugendorchester, border offensive;
- 2006: Braunau-Simbach Hospital, Schärding and Ruhstorf secondary music schools, Wernstein and Neuburg am Inn municipalities, “Fepo” association;
- 2008: Braunau Exhibition Center, Heading-Aidenbach Committee, Ornithological ARGE Unterer Inn;
- 2011: Druck & Verlag Vierlinger, Simbach, Red Cross (cross-border rescue service);
- 2014: Alpenverein Braunau and Simbach, Arnstorfer Tafel (Braunau issuing office), heuteessen.com;
- 2017: “Turbo”-HTL Braunau, Burghausen civil island, flood relief fire brigades.
asked
- “You have shown how to turn coexistence into togetherness. Now we have to make togetherness out of opposition in the world.” – Christoph Leitl, former WKO President
- “Thank God, the border crossing is nothing special anymore. We just have to continue well what we started well.” – Florian Schneider, Mayor of Burghausen
- “There is one region that can show how Europe works. And that is ours.” – Hannes Waidbacher, Mayor of Braunau
Source: Nachrichten
