Region description

LEADER Region Weinviertel Ost has a total area of 1,938.84 km², which is almost 10% of the Lower Austrian territory. It extends over the political district of Mistelbach, the north of the Gänserndorf district and the municipality of Ernstbrunn in the Korneuburg district. The eastern borders of the region run along the border to Slovakia, which is formed by the Morava river. The Weinviertel region borders the Czech Republic in the north, where the Thaya river partly forms the natural border. With 113,658 inhabitants, the LEADER region is one of the largest regions in Lower Austria, of whom 49.4% are male and 50.6% are female.

The Local Action Group Weinviertel Ost was founded in 2007 for the application for programme period 2007-2013 with 57 municipalities. In preparation for LEADER 2014-2020, the region increased by one municipality and it now comprises 58 municipalities. These are organisationally joined together in 6 small regions.

The geographically, socially and economically-connected region has a strong north-south divide. While the north is characterised by large population losses, the south welcomes the influx of inhabitants and the economic upturn. The reason for this is the proximity to the city region of Vienna. The geographical location on the border to the Czech Republic and Slovakia offers opportunities, but also language barriers. The region still has the lowest Gross Regional Product per inhabitant in Austria.