Post on 27-Mar-2015
EGTC – the frame for successful CBC management
VISSI, András – KOMORNOKI, MihályWest-Pannon Regional Development
Agency Sopron - Hungary
Structure of the presentation
• Were are we? – geographical and historical background
• Institutional frames of cross-border co-operation
• Experience of the Phare and Interreg programs
• Opportunities and challenges of EGTC
Geographical location
Historical background
EuRegio West/Nyugat-Pannonia
Austria- Land Burgenland Hungary- County Győr-
Moson-Sopron - County Vas- County Zala
EuRegio West/Nyugat-Pannonia
Difficulties in the operation of the EuRegio- Different state structures: federal vs.
centralised- Imbalanced political and fiscal capacities- Imbalances between professional co-operational
partners- Competition in some branches
(tourism, thermal- and wellness spas)- Peripheral role of the EuRegio
in everyday life
10 years of Phare CBC and Interreg experience
• Phare CBC since 1995 (EU-accession of Austria)• One-sided large projects aiming at
infrasturctural investments of the Hungarian regions lagging behind
• Hundreds of projects for self-governemnts, NGOs and economic actors through Small Project Fund
• Due to Phare CBC:– Development network of West-Pannonia– Increased number of specialist staff– Numerous autonomous initiatives
The experience of CBC programs – factors that need to be
improved- One-sided projects, satisfying local interests- Appearance partnership- Lack of mirror and joint projects- Support based co-operations, developments
are not „self propelled”- Lack of innovative ideas, recurring projects,
missing „new faces”- Implementation system concentrates mainly
on regularity; less attention is paid on professionalism and project development
The opportunity of change – lead partner principle
• Pros- Unambiguous
responsibilities and authorities
- Joint budget, professional implementation
- Guaranteed cross-border effect
- Strong mutual trust
• Cons- Growing
administrative duties- Accaptable for
larger, more experienced managements
- Future of small projects is in question
The opportunity of change – EGTC
• Opportunities- Supplementary co-
ordinating capacity beside cross-border Objective-3 program
- Joint programming – realisation of strategic objectives
- Approximation of national policies, implementation
- Common specialist staff, single team, office
- EuRegio management
• Questions- Setting up an organisation
based on different national judicial systems
- Qua lege vivis? – functioning based on whose law
- Political neutrality – management independent from election results
- Real commitment of European border regions towards EGTC – is it really the best instrument?
The Hungarian Parliament incorporated the regulation into the national legislation
in the first place!(25. June 2007.)
Now, it is up to the regions to enforce and
implement the law.
Thank you for your attention.
András VISSIMihály KOMORNOKI