Maribor, 21 September 2012 – European Cooperation Day, which is organised under the auspices of the European Commission and the programme INTERACT, is celebrated today throughout Europe. In the framework of the events, joined with the slogan “Sharing borders, growing closer”, the programmes of cross-border cooperation are presented. In Slovenia, the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, in the role of the Managing Authority for the programmes of cross-border cooperation with Austria, Hungary and Croatia for the programming period 2007–2013, organised a project market, which took place at the square Trg Leona Štuklja in Maribor. All the programmes of cross-border cooperation and the individual projects, which are implemented in the framework of these three programmes, were presented. In 2004 with the help of the EU funds Slovenia, Croatia and Hungary prepared a trilateral programme of cross-border cooperation to better prepare for the consequences of expansion and to strengthen the relationships between the countries. The programme gave the basis for the development and implementation of joint development programmes in the field of economic and social cohesion, development of human resources and sustainable development. This paved the way for the new programmes of cross-border cooperation of Slovenia with Croatia and Hungary in the current programming period 2007–2013. Today, Slovenia successfully continues with the implementation of cross-border cooperation with Austria in the programming period 2000–2006. On the basis of good relationships of both countries included in the programme, numerous bilateral projects were designed and the results of these projects are visible on both sides of the border. The projects, which are designed in the framework of the Operational Programme Slovenia–Austria 2007–2013, strengthen the knowledge of border regions and contribute to cross-border cooperation in the field of competitiveness, knowledge and economic cooperation as well sustainable development. As was underlined by the keynote speaker at the project market Marko Drofenik, Acting Director-General of the Regional Development and European Territorial Cooperation Directorate at the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, numerous good and successful projects were implemented in the framework of the cross-border cooperation between Slovenia and the neighbouring countries (projects in the field of the promotion and economy and the promotion and strengthening of small and medium-sized enterprises, their cooperation and joint activity in the markets, projects that promote cultural exchanges and events, regional development, natural resource management, social and cultural development, projects dealing with the environment and energy and the cooperation between institutions such as public health services and fire brigades, projects in the field of tourism, aimed at the establishment of joint cross-border tourist destinations). The Acting Director-General said that in the framework of the Operational Programme Slovenia–Austria two joint public calls for proposals were published in the current programming period. In the framework of these two calls 69 projects in the overall value of 62,587,641.73 Euros (99.2 percent of the available funds) were approved. Two public calls for proposals were also published in the framework of the Operational Programme Slovenia–Hungary. In the framework of these two calls 40 projects in the overall value of 29,131,640.66 Euros (99.50 percent of the available funds) were approved. 45 projects in the overall value of 26,044,074.90 Euros (67.8 percent of the available funds) were approved in the framework of the Operational Programme Slovenia–Croatia, in the framework of which three public calls for proposals were published thus far. For the last, i.e. third call for proposals, worth 10,817,946 Euros of the IPA funds, the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology received 227 project proposals which are currently being evaluated for administrative adequacy and eligibility. As was underlined by the Marko Drofenik, Acting Director-General, Slovenia is aware of the importance of economic and political cooperation of the neighbouring countries and the importance of a harmonious development of regions. “On the basis of the promotion of a harmonious and sustainable regional development, competitiveness and knowledge and economic cooperation in the programme area, the Ministry of Economic Development and Technology, together with the cross-border partners, tries to ensure the conditions and the opportunities for the potential applicants to realise their projects, with a certain amount of financial aid, and, thus, contribute to the development of regions and the realisation of the objectives of the individual programmes”. You can find more about the individual cross-border programme at: http://www.mgrt.gov.si/en/ http://www.si-at.eu/start_en/ http://www.si-hu.eu/si2/start_en/ http://www.si-hr.eu/start_en/

Lenti, 25 January 2012 – The 6th meeting of the Joint Monitoring Committee of the Operational programme for the cross border cooperation programme Slovenia-Hungary 2007-2013, managed by the Government Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Local Self-Government and Regional Policy (GOSP), was held in Lenti. The Joint Monitoring Committee, composed of members from both countries – Slovenia and Hungary, as well a representative from the European Commission, approved conditionally 3 projects which will be co-financed from the European Regional Development Fund. On the 3rd March 2011 Joint Monitoring Committee of the Operational programme for the cross border cooperation programme Slovenia-Hungary conditionally approved twenty two projects. On the basis of decision of Joint Monitoring Committee part of funds was not allocated and were not chosen projects ranked to the reserve list. Joint Monitoring Committee on the same meeting also decided that rest of the funds can be allocated to the projects which will go to the direct approval but must be prepared by member states and must be submitted in line with Rules of procedure of the Joint Monitoring Committee (so called “strategic” projects). Date for submission was set to 31st October 2011. Till this date Joint Technical Secretariat OP SI-HU received three applications. In the frame of 6th meeting of the Joint monitoring Committee it has been discussed on one hand on received “strategic” projects and on the other on projects from reserve list. On the basis of points received in qualitative assessment, the height of left ERDF funds and contribution of projects to completition of objectives of Operative Programme Slovenia-Hungary 2007-2013, Joint Monitoring Committee conditionally approved three projects. Projects will be co financed in case they will fullfill all conditions set by members of Joint Monitoring Committee and proposed by assessors. With approval of three projects Joint monitoring Committee allocated all available funds for Operative Programme Slovenia-Hungary 2007-2013 for mentioned period.

The Government Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Local Self-Government and Regional Policy (GOSP), headed by Minister Zlata Ploštajner, today organised a signing ceremony of the subsidy contracts approved within the 1. Call for proposals in the frame of the Operational Programme Slovenia-Hungary 2007–2013. The signing ceremony was attended by representatives of the Managing Authority, programme partners and representatives of lead or project partners. GOSP has been entrusted with the role of Managing Authority for the cross-border co-operation with Hungary for the period 2007–2013. This is an acknowledgement of its previous work, as well as a huge responsibility for effective implementation of the programme. In June 2008, GOSP issued the 1.Call for proposals for co-funding of projects from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) in the amount of EUR 14,000,000. Applications could be presented under two priorities. The first priority is Increase the attractiveness of the cooperation area (Development of joint tourist destination; Preservation and development of culture; Improvement of cross border traffic connections), while the second priority is Sustainable development (Regional development cooperation; Preventative health care; Environment protection and management; Efficient energy use). The co-financing applies to eligible expenditures only. The Community co-funding from the ERDF can amount to the maximum of 85% of the public funding. The eligible programme area includes Pomurje and Podravje regions in Slovenia, Vas and Zala counties in Hungary. Following the administrative compliance and eligibility check and quality assessment, the decision to approve the projects was adopted by the Joint Monitoring Committee of the Operational Programme Slovenia-Hungary 2007–2013 at its regular meeting held on 06 and 07 May 2009. The Joint Monitoring Committee is composed of representatives of the two participating countries. It conditionally approved a co-financing of 20 projects, 10 within the first priority and 10 within the second priority. All information concerning the programme is available on the programme’s website: www.si-hu.eu/si2.