EGTC-Workshop 2017/2 (Budapest)

Unlike usual, the latest workshop of the Hungarian EGTCs was held in Budapest, in the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The meeting, held on 7 June, was closed by a reception on the Ministry’s terrace, which also provided the participants with a beautiful panoramic view of Budapest.

The participants of the workshop were welcomed by deputy head of department Kinga Endrész. She announced that in the autumn they would go back to normal and hold the meeting at an EGTC. She pointed out that from this year onwards, performance would have an increased importance in decisions concerning the operating grants of EGTCs.

At the workshop, the Ministry’s personnel presented the results of the Ministry’s internal investigations concerning EGTC funds. As it has been said, inspectors were surprised by the multifaceted work they had experienced at the investigated grouping. However, they drew attention to some rules, by which compliance had posed some problems.

Nikoletta Horváth (Prime Minister’s Office), representative of the Managing Authority of Cross-border Programmes, talked about certain programs, the budgetary changes and facilitations compared to last year, and the applications they had received so far. Based on the experiences gained in the course of programs, she also gave some practical advice to those present.

Gergő Korponai (Prime Minister’s Office) spoke about the Norwegian Fund, the call for proposals ending in 2017, as well as the new program, which is expected to start in two years.

Gyula Ocskay gave a speech about the progress of CESCI’s project called Legal accessibility, and made a proposal for the creation of the EGTC monitor, a new platform presenting the Hungarian EGTCs.

At the end of the workshop, the Ministry’s personnel spoke about the reporting of the grants of 2016, the call for proposals of 2017 and the ongoing professional support project, carried out in the frames of the Public Administration and Development Operational Programme, thanks to which Hungarian EGTCs can use translation and project development services for free.

The forthcoming, autumn workshop will be hosted by the Rába-Duna-Vág EGTC.