Planning, institutionalization, implementation: CESCI at the V4-Ukraine CBC closing conference
Institutional development | 2026. February 18.
Planning, institutionalization, implementation: CESCI at the V4-Ukraine CBC closing conference
Institutional development | 2026. February 18.
On February 5-6, 2026, the University of Uzhhorod hosted the closing event of a project examining the best practices and institutional conditions for cross-border cooperation (CBC) between the Visegrad Four and Ukraine. The two-day event was both a professional forum and a “policy lab”: on the first day, the project’s research results and practical examples were presented, and on the second day, participants discussed policy recommendations targeting national, regional, and local actors. CESCI, represented on site by Gyula Ocskay and Roland Hesz, participated in the event as experts and as the Hungarian partner in the international project supported by the Visegrad Fund: the aim of the joint work was to draw institutional and implementation lessons from the V4 experiences that could be adapted for Ukraine.
The conference participants were welcomed by Volodymyr Smolanka, Rector of Uzhhorod National University, Roman Sarai, Chairman of the Transcarpathian Regional Council, and Bence Gombor, Consul of the Hungarian Consulate General in Uzhhorod. In the first part of the event, the project team leader, Myroslava Lendel, Vice-Rector for International Relations at Uzhhorod National University, and her colleagues, Yuliia Feťko, Nadiia Kichera, and Oksana Sviezhentseva, presented the results of their research, touching on issues of governance, law, financing, and the experiences of the cooperating actors.
This was followed by four presentations on experiences of cooperation in Hungary and Slovakia. The central thesis of Gyula Ocskay’s presentation was that “good practice” requires going beyond the level of individual applications and adopting a systematic approach that includes territorial data collection and observation, integrated cross-border planning based on this, and the creation of governance solutions (such as EGTC) to help implement the plans. He also emphasised that different standards and procedures on either side of the border can easily block implementation, so there is a need for trained managers, continuous institutional learning, and the removal of legal barriers with the help of national authorities. The Slovak speakers drew attention to the importance of a functional approach, reported on an EGTC being formed with the participation of the counties of Prešov, Košice, and Transcarpathia, and stressed the need to improve infrastructure conditions.
During the afternoon session, which was interrupted by a power outage, Ukrainian experts presented successful cross-border initiatives in the areas of intercultural dialogue, circular economy, environmental awareness, and cultural heritage protection.
The main messages of local and international speakers pointed in one direction: Transcarpathia has considerable experience in cross-border cooperation, but in a war environment, the “bottlenecks” in implementation are even more apparent. Although the region’s project activity is noteworthy, the financial risks must also be discussed openly: co-financing and pre-financing are difficult for many local actors to manage, while infrastructure needs are growing. In their welcoming speeches, diplomats also confirmed that the development of cross-border connections (crossings, mobility, services) remains a strategic issue.
Several presentations dealt with institutional and legal “operability.” It was noted that in cross-border cooperation, actors (local governments, development agencies, civil society organizations, universities) can achieve lasting results if the legal status, financing rules, and control mechanisms are predictable. According to the findings of the stakeholder survey, the most common obstacles are co-financing, audit/accounting burdens, and lack of project management capacity.
The focus of the second day was on a package of policy recommendations currently being developed, which was refined jointly by the participants. The individual recommendations are aimed at the Ukrainian government, regional authorities, local governments, civil society and institutional actors, as well as EU and Visegrad authorities, and address the issue of cross-border cooperation in a comprehensive manner.
The project partners not only welcomed the results of their joint work, but also expressed their commitment to continuing it in order to promote Ukraine’s European integration.
