EGTC – the frame for successful CBC management VISSI, András – KOMORNOKI, Mihály West-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 VISSI Mihály KOMORNOKI