Sustainable flood risk management demands cooperation across disciplines, states and national borders as well as funding programs throughout the whole river catchment.

In this context, the conference "Elbe without borders - flood risk prevention in the INTERREG projects LABEL and SAWA" took place on June, 14th and 15th, 2011. The conference was organized by the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg and the Saxon State Ministry of the Interior, together with 42 partners from eight countries to enable an in-depth exchange between the activities of the projects LABEL and SAWA, the project partners and with other professionally and geographically interested stakeholders.

After introductory presentations of the projects LABEL and SAWA as well as the funding programmes "CENTRAL EUROPE" and "North Sea Region", first common topics and differences could be identified. Both projects, for example, put much emphasis on the involvement of the cities and regions affected by floods. To these the questions "What does flood risk mean to the cities and regions in the Elbe catchment?" and "How does the cooperation between up-and downstream riparian work?" were directed during the next block. After vivid contributions from the Region of Liberec and City of Prague, the examples followed the Elbe downstream from Dresden to the Elbtalaue until reaching the Free and Hanseatic City of Hamburg. The presentations and subsequent discussion made clear that state- and regional exchange is being practiced successfully. Not only positive experiences are shared, but also lessons-learned from the failings of other regions.

The second day was devoted to the core topics of the projects with thematic blocks on flood risk management and adapting to flood risk. In addition, visitors gained insight into the numerous projects’ activities to raise the flood risk awareness among the affected population.

A final conclusion stressed once again the importance of exchanges beyond the project and funding program areas. Common approaches and ideas were identified, for which a more extensive exchange will be sought, e.g. regarding project days on flood risks in schools. Differences were also evident as for example in the spatial approach: In LABEL the unifying element is the river Elbe, in contrast to SAWA, where partner regions with different geographical features exchange on the topic of flood risk management.