It is the fourth time that Hungary will host the annual conference of the approval authorities of the European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation. This year’s event will focus on the exchange of experiences of the approval authorities in the field of opportunities for economic development. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade is preparing the event that is jointly financed by the Central European Initiative (CEI).

The institution of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) was set up by the European Union in order to implement efficient cross-border, interregional and transnational cooperation. In the European Union, EGTC is the first legal instrument that provides a legal entity and an institutional framework for cooperation among local authorities and regions in member states. Hungary is at the forefront of establishing and operating EGTCs: 20 out of the 50 EGTCs registered in the EU are operating with Hungarian participation, and 15 of these have headquarters in Hungary.

On the occasion of the meeting that can already be considered a tradition, the approval authorities will explore opportunities for economic development from the point of view of the EU and CEI at this year’s meeting, will discover any shortcomings and identify potential breakout points, thus strengthening the role that EGTCs may play in economic development. The event will also provide an opportunity for approval authorities to share their best practices obtained in the course of implementing the renewed EU regulation.

The host of the event will be Minister of State for Economic Diplomacy of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Levente Magyar. Addresses will be held by the Secretary General of the Central European Initiative Ambassador Giovanni Caracciolo di Vietri, by Draganco Apostolovski representing the Presidency of the Central European Initiative, and by the newly elected President of the Committee of the Regions Markku Markkula.

Senior officials and experts from the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions, as well as prominent representatives of the public and private sectors involved in economic development will attend the conference. In addition to this, we expect the attendance of the representatives of several EGTCs founded by Hungarians with headquarters in other European countries, experts working in the field of regional policy, as well as the staff of partner ministries and the embassies involved.

(Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade)