European Dialogue on Future European Dialogue on Future IInterregional Co-operationnterregional Co-operation

The main outcomes The main outcomes of the CENTURIO project within the of the CENTURIO project within the

ppartnership co-ordinated by artnership co-ordinated by Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok CountyJász-Nagykun-Szolnok County

Strasbourg, 2nd October, 2006

Anita Galó International Officer, project co-ordinator

European Integration OfficeSelf-Government of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County (H)

JÁSZ-NAGYKUN-SZOLNOK COUNTYJÁSZ-NAGYKUN-SZOLNOK COUNTY

Territory: 5,582 km2

Population: 410,000 County seat: Szolnok (80,000 inhabitants) Distance from Budapest: 100 km

No of settlements: 78 (18 towns & 59 villages)

Hungary Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county

OUR CENTURIO PARTNERSHIP 1. OUR CENTURIO PARTNERSHIP 1. - - The way to this PartnershipThe way to this Partnership

Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County has an extended international relation (16 twinned areas)

Previous joint programmes were implemented before launching the CENTURIO

Common aims in development strategies

Specific objectivesSpecific objectives by achieving the project aims &

objectives we would like: to contribute to the economic & social

development of our small regions and municipalities

to improve the human resources of the self-governments (professional knowledge and foreign language skills)

to learn best practices & identify potential joint projects

to enhance and develop the county’s especially rich & fruitful international relations

Beneficiaries Beneficiaries && target groups target groups

Direct beneficiaries: Civil servants of self-governments

Target groups:

professionals working in the field of regional development, tourism, environment protection & EU project management

OUR CENTURIO PARTNERSHIP 2.OUR CENTURIO PARTNERSHIP 2.

• Eight of our partner regions take part - Asti (I),Brandenburg (D),Durham (UK), Harghita (RO),Häme (FIN), Pas-de-Calais (F), Somme (F), Teltow-Fläming (D)

• Sustainable quality tourism as thematic component• Total budget for Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county: 92.170 euros.

SPECIFIC SPECIFIC PROJECT MANAGEMENTPROJECT MANAGEMENT

SPECIAL ATTENTION WAS PAID TO:

Creating a multinational environment for the trainees

Public application process for recruiting trainees

Tailor-made programmes & flexibility in traineeships

Evaluation, monitoring & follow-up (e.g. Evaluation Seminar in Szolnok, 2006)

Disseminating events & activities (Dissemination Seminar, quiz in the local newspaper, etc.)

Exchange activities by numbers

Host traineeships: 16 x 2 weeks

Guest traineeships: 25 x 2 weeks

Dissemination events & activities: 88

Identified new project ideas: 45

Identified best practises: 25

MAIN OUTCOMES 1.MAIN OUTCOMES 1.

MAIN OUTCOMES 2.MAIN OUTCOMES 2.

2. Identification of new innovative regional development strategies

3. Elaborated tourism development projects

4. Extended co-operation among participating regions

5. Upgraded project management skills

6. Disseminated experiences

7. Improved foreign language skills

DISSEMINATIONDISSEMINATIONAS KEY ELEMENT OF THE PROJECTAS KEY ELEMENT OF THE PROJECT

Main Events Main Events && meetings meetings

Regular participation in Centurio conferences organised by the AER (3)

Dissemination Conference with foreign partners in 2005 organised by the Self-Government of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County

Evaluation Seminar for trainees, managers and employers in 2006 organised by the Self-Government of Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok County

Tools Tools && methodsmethods Regional, local mediaRegional, local media Press conferences, discussionsPress conferences, discussions Workshops for presenting the Workshops for presenting the

experiencesexperiences Web-sitesWeb-sites Presentation of the results in Presentation of the results in

training courses, etctraining courses, etc

PROBLEMS ENCOUNTEREDPROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED

Later launching than originally planned

Lack of 3rd countries funding

Late re-funding of the costs

Administrational workload due to the different working

methods of the national auditing authorities ( lack of

information, late issue of certification of expenditures, etc.)

THE FUTURE OF CENTURIO THE FUTURE OF CENTURIO 1. 1. - - First steps toward a new CENTURIOFirst steps toward a new CENTURIO

Modified conditions have been pre-announced by the AER project co-ordinators:

new specific topics were identified in accordance with the Lisbon and Guthenburg Strategies & the new priorities of interregional co-operations defined by the EC

less but more active Partnerships are demanded

focus to be addressed not only on exchange of experiences but also on added value

THE FUTURE OF CENTURIO 2. THE FUTURE OF CENTURIO 2. - Why to launch a new CENTURIO?- Why to launch a new CENTURIO?

In accordance with the EU regulation referring to European Territorial Co-operation & AER priorities for 2007 and 2012 the new project should

promote the modernisation and internationalisation of regional governance

promote innovation, growth and employment (R&TD, innovation capacitites, entrepreneurship)

reinforce the effectiveness of regional policy

ensure sustainable development and combating environmental degradation

THE FUTURE OF CENTURIO THE FUTURE OF CENTURIO 3.3.- - Why does Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county support Why does Jász-Nagykun-Szolnok county support

the new projecthe new project?t?

EU regulation and AER draft priorities are in accordance with the objectives stated in the county/regional development documents with special respect to the development of competitive economy

Common priorities have been identified in the development strategies of foreign partners with special respect to the strenghtening of entrepreneurship & protection of natural heritage

Identification & implementation of new concrete projects & extended networking are needed

THE FUTURE OF CENTURIO THE FUTURE OF CENTURIO 4. 4. - What should we change?- What should we change?””What can we develop?What can we develop?

We should

strenghten the networking activities (provide better use of Bridge Activites with allocated financial resources)

focus on concrete project proposals and concrete products as project outcomes

pay special attention to making use of total partnerhsip besides sub-pertnerships

need a stable project co-ordination team for the participating regions provided by the AER

Contact:Contact: Dr.Ildikó Ürmössy, project manager - Dr.Ildikó Ürmössy, project manager -

urmossy@jnszm.huAnita Galo, project co-ordinator - Anita Galo, project co-ordinator -

galo.anita@jnszm.hu

Web: Web: http://www.jnszm.huhttp://www.jnszm.hu

Thank you for your attention!Thank you for your attention!