Round Table

Slovenia – Austria Cross-Border Mura River Bridge Round Table

After more than 76 years, it’s about time that we re-establish Slovenia – Austria cross-border bridge over the Mura River.
Mura-River-Bridge-round-table-cover-image
Date, Time & Format

Friday, 14. 5. 2021

9:00 - 12:00

Streamed Live Online]

Mission of the Round Table

Formal handover of the Declaration on the Mura's Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails Network

Slovenia - Austria Cross-Border Mura River Bridge round table has a very special mission. At the end of the round table, we will solemnly hand over the Declaration on the Mura's Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails Network to the representatives of the responsible ministers from Slovenia and Austria. Later in May, we will hand over the Declaration also to the European Commissioner for Transport and Mobility.
All with a mission to convince the authorities to re-establish two critical missing links – cross-border Mura's Bridge is one of them – in an estimated length of only 12 railway kilometres to fully regain the 440 and more railway kilometres that regions, cities, and people in the Mura and Drava river regions had already back in 1924.
Animated Video Presentation
Declaration on the Mura's Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails Network

(English, with subtitles in English; .mp4; 6:15 min; 23 MB)

Language & Translations
Online Bilingual Round Table
The round table will take place in an online form, bilingually in Slovene and German. Subsequently, all contributions of the round table will also be published, also with subtitles in English..
The introductory lecture by Dr. Janez Potočnik will be in English and published later with subtitles in English, Slovene, and German.
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years since this railway bridge over the Mura river was mined – at the end of the World War II, on April 12th, 1945.
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years since the Radgona railway line opened, on October 16th, 1890, of which this bridge was part.
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is the European Year of Rail and as such the ultimate opportunity to restore broken links that were the result of wars. Let's show some love for dear neighbourly connections and secure us all love locks on this cross-border bridge over the Mura river already today.
Round Table Keynotes

Keynote Speakers

Besides key stakeholders in Mura and Drava river regions, Mura's Bridge round table has three distinguished speakers that will introduce their topic, which will be subsequently discussed at the round table.
Janez_Potočnik

Janez Potočnik

Dr; Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel; Former European Commissioner for Science & Research and for the Environment; Partner at SISTEMIQ, London, United Kingdom
miro-kristan

Miro Kristan

Head of the Organizational unit for Environment, Space and Countryside at Soča Valley Development Centre, Tolmin, Slovenia
Marko Savić director of the Mobilitatis Omni institute

Marko Savić

Director of the Mobilitatis Omni institute; Senior Lecturer in Design Management at the Faculty of Design; Interdisciplinary Doctoral Student of Environmental Protection at the University of Ljubljana

Director of the Institute

CONTRIBUTIONS ARCHIVE
Discussion

Discussion at the Mura River Bridge round table

Key stakeholders from policy, economy, railways and civil society will discuss the importance of the re-establishment of Mura-Drava-Rails between not only Slovenia and Austria but also Croatia and Hungary, whereby cross-border Mura' Bridge presents the critical missing link.
Introductory presentation

Discussion after the presentation by Dr. Janez Potočnik : A System Change Compass (report summary)

The European Green Deal provides a timely North Star for a prosperous and sustainable Europe. However, as a political programme that bridges old and new theories of change, it is vulnerable. This report lays out an integrated systems perspective, based on a System Change Compass.
Never since the formation of the European Union has there been a better moment for Europe to transform itself on the inside and to lead on the outside. The European Green Deal (EGD) and a European COVID-19 response can – if handled well – address Europe’s climate, biodiversity, pollution, economic, political and health crises, and at the same time strengthen its institutions and reignite popular support for the European project. Efforts that, in their own way, support the EU’s delivery of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Europe’s history is rich and full of turning points. The ongoing COVID-19 crisis may well be such a turning point.
First, our global and tightly coupled human-ecological system is failing. After decades of economic growth evaluated against GDP indicators, societal needs are still unmet, economic gains are shared unequally and the social contract is eroding.
Second, deep transformational change is needed, and we now know that when faced with an emergency, people and societies can make change work.
Third, we recognise that we struggle to bring this transformational vision to life. Business-as-usual proponents criticise the EGD as unaffordable or untimely.
Europe’s determination for a green and social recovery through a robust EGD sets the direction for a more sustainable, low-carbon, equitable and inclusive economy. By treating the EGD and COVID-19 crisis recovery as two sides of the same coin, the European Commission is demonstrating genuine leadership. This report is written at a critical juncture for the EGD’s success and, ultimately, for its implementation across European Member States.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
Programme

Programme of the Mura River Bridge Round Table

Mura River Bridge Round Table programme has three parts. We are more than pleased to present an introductory speaker – the twofold former European Commissioner, Dr. Janez Potočnik. In the main part of the round table, our new colleague from the Organizational unit for Environment, Space, and Countryside at Soča Valley Development Centre in Tolmin, Miro Kristan, will present the case study of the Bohinj railway line, including the railway connection of the cities of Nova Gorica and Gorica at the border of Slovenia and Italy. Not least, in the final part of the round table, we will solemnly hand over Declaration on the Mura's Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails Network to the representatives of the responsible ministers for infrastructure and mobility in the Republic of Slovenia and the Republic of Austria, respectively.
Timetable
Time Contribution
9:00 – 9:30 Dr Janez Potočnik: Implementing the European Green Deal in a time of recovery
9:30 – 10:15 Discussion
10:15 – 10:30 Break
10:30 – 10:45 Miro Kristan: Case Study of the Bohinj Railway Line
10:45 – 11:30 Discussion
11:30 – 12:00 Solemn handing over of the Declaration on the Mura's Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails network
SUPPORT FOR THE MURA RIVER BRIDGE

Support statements to the Declaration on the Mura's Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails Network

Founders, members, and partners of the institute Mobilitatis Omni, Murska Sobota have been the first to sign the Declaration on the Mura's Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails Network and state their support to reforming the cross-border Slovenia – Austria Mura River Bridge.
Miran Fujs

Miran Fujs

Chairman of the Board at ARCONT, Gornja Radgona, Slovenia
Janez Smolkovič

Janez Smolkovič

Director at TELEING gradnje, Razkrižje, Slovenia
Janez Erjavec

Janez Erjavec

Chairman of the Board at Pomurski sejem, Gornja Radgona, Slovenia
Igor Kržan

The railway connection with Austria across the border river Mura represents an exceptional opportunity for the economy and tourism in all Mura and Drava regions

Igor Kržan

Director-General at REFLEX, Gornja Radgona, Slovenia
Stanislav Rojko

Stanislav Rojko

Former Mayor of the Municipality of Gornja Radgona, Slovenia
Jernej Zupančič

Jernej Zupančič

Director at Cleangrad, Ljutomer, Slovenia
Franz Weintögl

Franz Weintögl

MSc, Direktor-General at Graz-Köflacher Bahn und Busbetrieb, Austria
Peter Kronberger

Peter Kronberger

Procurator, Head of the Mobility Division at the Graz-Köflacher Bahn und Busbetrieb, Austria
Agnes Totter

Agnes Totter

M.Sc. M.Sc. Dr., Member of Parliament, Vienna, Austria
Vera Šinko

Vera Šinko

Expert Associate in the Municipal Administration of the Municipality of Gornja Radgona, Slovenia
Janez Potočnik

Janez Potočnik

Dr, Co-Chair of the International Resource Panel; Former European Commissioner for Science & Research and for the Environment; SISTEMIQ, Partner, London, United Kingdom
Robert Grah

Robert Grah

Director at the Pomurje Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Murska Sobota, Slovenia
Andrej Steyer

Andrej Steyer

Dr, Mayor of the Municipality of Apače, Slovenia
Cover image of the Central European Alliance for Sustainable Mobility
Impact of one cross-border bridge

Mura River Bridge

Sustainable, active, and inclusive mobility of all as a bridge to a low-carbon society. A regional, both rail and long-distance cycling hub as a bridge to connections throughout Central Europe.
Inter-regional sustainable connections as a bridge to greater security. Cultural heritage as a bridge to better understanding. Sports, especially volleyball and beach volleyball as a bridge of connections.
Sustainable tourism as a bridge to regional development. And regional development as a bridge to the stability of the European Union. Historical milestones as a bridge of co-working.
Last but not least. Love locks on the bridge as universal symbols of love.
Round Table Registration

Membership, Registration & Donation

We take seriously our responsibility to serve the public good, to consider the health and well-being of our participants, and to protect the communities we work with and in. Our Mura River Bridge round table will be held completely online.
We offer free registration for new members of our MBTT Club, a discount for early registration to attend the round table online and the possibility to contribute to our cause and help us cover the costs of organisation by contributing a donation of your choice.
Mura River Bridge Declaration Call to Action
Declaration on the Mura’s Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails Network

After more than 76 years, it’s about time that we re-establish Slovenia – Austria Cross-Border Bridge over the Mura River.

borna-abramovic-keynote-introductory-speaker-the-2021-mobilitatis-omni-conference
Borna Abramović: Increase mobility of the region using the local railway lines [Video 📹]

At the online celebrational signing of the Mura’s Bridge Declaration, dr. Abramović has presented the case of the regional railway line.

mura-s-bridge-icone
Celebrial Presentation of the Declaration on the Mura‘s Bridge in the Mura-Drava-Rails network [Video 📹]

Director of the Institute Mobilitatis Omni, Marko Savić, solemnly presented the Declaration on the Mura’s Bridge.