The verification procedure

The verification and certification of transboundary protected areas according to the EUROPARC Basic Standards Criteria is currently the only method in Europe which analyses the progress of transboundary cooperation, identifies examples of good practice and encourages the exchange of experience and expertise in this field.

The verication procedure is based on a set of clear, universal criteria and indicators, the Basic Standard Criteria, which have been approved by the European Commission’s DG Environment. The criteria guide protected areas through a structured analytical process which enables a thorough and transparent examination of their transboundary cooperation, towards certification. They are evaluated objectively by independent transboundary verifiers.

The procedure consists of five steps. To complete the process the parks need to be a member of the EUROPARC Federation and to pay a small fee for the administration of the procedure.

Step 1 – self assessment and preliminary evaluation

The first step is the completion and submission of the self-assessment form by the cooperating authorities. The form is then examined thoroughly by EUROPARC before the STEC (Transboundary Steering and Evaluation Committee), who coordinate the EUROPARC Transboundary Work Programme, decide whether the application should proceed to the next level.

At this first stage the application may be deferred if the STEC decide that the cooperation needs more work before it can be successful. This often means that the applicants avoid unnecessary costs, which arise in the next step of the process.

Applicants may be asked for additional information on particular aspects of their cooperation during this phase. This again ensures minimal costs in the “field evaluation” phase.

Step 2 – field evaluation mission:

If the self assessment form is successful the STEC then appoints independent verifiers to evaluate the application. This involves a detailed analysis of the documents provided by the applicants and a thorough field (on-site) evaluation mission where the verifiers explore the cooperation within the parks and provide intermediate advice on the collaboration. Afterwards the verifiers provide the applicant authorities with expert recommendations about how they should further develop their cooperation and report the final outcomes of the evaluation to EUROPARC.

Each applicant transboundary area is evaluated by two verifiers. This ensures a high level of transparency throughout the process and thus guarantees the credibility of the final outcomes and recommendation. The verifiers are leading, internationally recognised European experts on transboundary protected area cooperation. They must have diplomatic and mediating skills and have some knowledge of the local political context because each verification is very specific.

Step 3 – expert recommendations and the final decision

During step three the verifiers’ report on the outcomes of the field evaluation mission is examined by the STEC and a final decision is made as to whether or not the protected areas receive the transboundary certification. Verifiers who are STEC members or are directly involved with an individual park or its application have to abstain from voting on the final decision.

At this stage a list of expert recommendations are made for the parks on how they can further develop their cooperation. These are presented to the protected areas along with the certificate in step four and are considered really beneficial by successful parks. The consultancy services provided by EUROPARC verifiers throughout the procedure are already included in the modest verification fee.

Step 4 – certification

If applicant protected areas are successfully verified their achievement is recognised by the EUROPARC Federation with the presentation of a certificate of excellence for transboundary cooperation. This certificate is awarded to the parks at EUROPARC’s annual conference and is valid for an initial period of 5 years.

The receipt of the EUROPARC transboundary certificate brings national and international recognition to the work of the recipient parks and gives new motivation for future work. It can also help raise the profile of the wider transboundary park region and project a positive image of the parks to both locals and visitors.

Step 5 – periodic re-evaluation and extending the validity of the Certificate

After 5 years the cooperation is monitored and verified again by EUROPARC. This periodic re-evaluation is less complicated than the original process and enables EUROPARC to monitor the progress made, check whether the certified authorities followed the expert recommendations and to advise the protected area administrations on how they can further improve their transboundary cooperation.

How to become a certified transboundary park