The cross-border Interreg programmes implemented within the framework of the European Union’s Cohesion Policy are important tools for the balanced and integrated territorial development. Despite of their small budget, the programmes play a decisive role in strengthening regional and urban cooperation and in the development of border areas.
The Interreg VI-A NEXT Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Programme (the Programme) is implemented under the Cohesion Policy within the 2021-2027 European Union financial framework under the Neighbourhood, Development and International Cooperation Instrument (NDICI), the main financial instrument for the EU’s external action, established by the Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 2021/947 (NDICI Implementing Regulation) and implemented by the Common Provision Regulation (CPR) No 2021/1060 of the European Parliament, as well as (Interreg) Regulation (EC) No 2021/1059 of the European Parliament.
In the current Programme, the four countries co-operate in a joint structure through shared management and joint decision making, with common financial resources available. The Programme summarizing the priorities and objectives, as well as the main implementation modalities has been developed mutually, and it was approved by the EC by its decision C(2022) 8029 on the 3 November 2022. 83 million EUR will be allocated for project ideas to be implemented in cooperation with partners from Member states and from Ukraine.
Similarly, to the 2014-2020 programming period, Hungary is hosting the Managing Authority of the Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine Interreg VI-A NEXT Programme. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, performing the Managing Authority function, is responsible for the planning and implementation of the Programme and is in close cooperation with the national and regional institutions of the participating countries and the Joint Secretariat hosted by the Széchenyi Programme Office.