1. Experiences of Planning and Implementation in the South-Transdanubian Region
László Balázs
Head of Unit of Intermediary Body
South-Transdanubian Regional Development Agency
Kaposvár, Hungary

2. Hungary is member of the EU since 1th of May 2004
In the period of there wasn’t separate Operational Programme for South-Transdanubian Regional Development
There was only a Regional Action Plan, which was different in the Regions

3. The planning started in late 2004
followed the directives of the Strategic objectives approved by the Regional Development Council in April 2005
The South Transdanubian ROP (STD-ROP) was discussed in two readings by the Regional Development Council in March 2006 and was approved both times as the basis of the further planning work.

4. Strategic Development Programmes (SDP-s)
Maximum planning
Working together: region and micro
Involve a project collection activity
will be finished by the end of the summer of 2006
September 2006 we will have the project lists in order of importance and with costs

5. The whole planning process has been carried out with special regards to EU objectives.
Lisbon strategy (strengthening of competitiveness, social and economic cohesion)
expectations of the Gothenburg strategy (sustainability of development)
compatible with the strategic goals of the National Development Policy Concept
compatible with the priority axes of the National Strategic Reference Framework

6. Main strengths of South-Transdanubian region are:
clean and attractive environment
rich cultural heritage
presence of universities
availability of skilled and educated labour
the overall objective is: lifting of South Transdanubia to the level of the more advanced Hungarian regions.

7. Objectives have been identified on the basis of these strengths:
creation of a competitive economy built on the development of urban areas
strengthening the tourism potential in the region
human public services and settlement development with community target
regional development of the infrastructure

8. Problems
We do not have a lot of information on the National Reform Programme
There is a lack of cooperation between the Ministry of Agriculture responsible for the planning of National Agricultural and Rural Development Plan
It can be stated that the main problem of current OPRD is the centralised programming and implementation with much less respect to individual regional needs and priorities

9. to avoid this:
ST-OPRD aims at focusing on regional territorial differences
specific thematic characteristics of South-Transdanubia
we intend to avoid open call for proposal procedure
and use direct and action plan driven project selection criteria in all measures where it is possible

10. The current ROP has proved that the whole sector of tourism can be successfully developed on regional level
The ST-OPRD has been designed with regards to the growth pole strategy of Pécs
Innovative sectors were defined by Regional Innovation Strategy of South Transdanubia (RIS-ST) in 2004
European Capital of Culture 2010 – Pécs
Roma problems are concentrated in the lagging behind areas of the region
ST-OPRD emphasises the importance of public transport development

11. Thank you for your attention!
László Balázs
Head of Unit of Intermediary Body
South-Transdanubian Regional Development Agency
H-7400 Kaposvár, Szántó u. 5.
Tel: 36-82/
Fax: 36-82/
Web-site: