“The cohesion of a nation is determined by common objectives, and the collective programmes to realise them; it is a top priority to support the latter”, State Secretary for Rural Development of the Ministry of Agriculture Miklós Kis emphasised at the Rural Development Conference organised in Csíkszereda (Miercurea Ciuc) recently.

In addition to experience exchange, the meeting realised through cooperation between Hargita, Kovászna and Maros (Harghita, Covasna and Mures) counties also expressed proposals that could promote the joint work of the Hungarian and Transylvanian Leader groups, and the successful implementation of their projects.

At the Leader meeting in Székely Land, the Secretary of State drew attention to the importance of cross-border – and in particular Carpathian Basin – cooperation projects that are expected to open the way to more than 30 international projects during the EU programming period for 2014 to 2020 within the framework of Leader cooperation. He indicated that Hargita county is concerned by four, Maros by three, and Kovászna by two projects related primarily to tourism and the preservation and nurturing of common traditions and values and to tthe implementation of events based on contact building, where the consortium partners are Hungarian local action teams.

Mr. Kis emphasised that in addition to common language and culture, other advantages for Hungarian and Székely Land action groups executing collective project include professional consultations based on intensive experience exchange similar to the Leader meeting in Csíkszereda, where the Leader areas of both countries had an opportunity to showcase themselves and their best practices.

In addition to Leader cooperation, local calls for applications were also mentioned. As indicated, a total of 103 local action groups are active in Hungary, and have a HUF 42 billion support budget earmarked under the Rural Development Programme for the execution of economic and service development objectives responding to local needs. More than 9000 applications requesting HUF 40 billion in support have been received in answer to a total of 622 calls to tender.

(Ministry of Agriculture Press Office)