LIMNEUS – Lakes, Identity, Memory, Nature, European Uniting Stories
LIMNEUS is a European project funded by the European Union's CERV – Citizens, Equality, Rights and Valuesprogramme (Town Twinning 2025 call) that promotes cooperation among European communities sharing a strong bond with lakes, rivers, and aquatic environments.
The underlying idea of the project is simple yet innovative: to transform the natural heritage represented by lakes and waterways into a tool for dialogue, democratic participation, and European citizenship. In LIMNEUS, a lake is not merely an element of the landscape, but becomes a symbol of shared identity, collective memory, and sustainable development, capable of uniting citizens from different territories through common values.
The project involves local authorities and organizations from Italy, Hungary, Lithuania, the Czech Republic, and Spain, working together to share best practices on sustainable tourism, the protection of natural and cultural heritage, civic participation, social inclusion, and the strengthening of local communities.
The main objectives of the project include:
• promoting active European citizenship and democratic participation;
• enhancing the natural and cultural heritage of lakeside and riverside communities;
• fostering models of sustainable and regenerative tourism;
• strengthening cooperation between local administrations and citizens;
• promoting inclusion, equal opportunities, and intergenerational dialogue.
People and Europe Cooperation APS, supported by the ACe20 project management team, coordinates the project by managing administrative, organizational, and methodological aspects, as well as activity monitoring and communication among international partners.
The first international event – Polgár (Hungary)
From July 24 to 27, 2026, the first international meeting of the project took place, hosted by the Municipality of Polgár in the protected area of the Tisza River.
The event, dedicated to the theme "Tourism, Sustainability and Democratic Participation in Lakeside and Riverside Communities," brought together delegations from Italy, Lithuania, Spain, and Hungary to discuss sustainable development strategies for communities living in close contact with lakes and rivers.
Activities combined training and discussion sessions with direct hands-on experiences in the field: visits to the KÉRÉSZ Eco and Active Tourism Centre, boat trips, cycling tours along Lake Tisza, a visit to the natural reserve's Ecocentre, dragon boat navigation on the Tisza River, meetings with local authorities, and participatory workshops dedicated to responsible tourism, environmental protection, and participatory governance.
The meeting represented the first concrete step toward building a European network of communities that recognize their water landscapes as a shared heritage to be enhanced through cooperation, sustainability, and citizen participation.
