INTERREG V-A HUNGARY-CROATIA CO-OPERATION PROGRAMME

The Interreg V-A Hungary-Croatia Co-operation Programme 2014-2020 belongs to the network of European Territorial Cooperation (ETC) programmes which are also known as Interreg programmes and which constitute an important part of the European Union Cohesion Policy. These programmes contribute to the overall economic, social and territorial cohesion of the European Union by tackling issues which cross the borders between countries and regions. The aims of Interreg programmes are – among others – the creation of common identity, integrated physical space, balanced development and improved policies and governance. To achieve these aims, cross-border cooperation (CBC) programmes identify shared challenges in the border regions and measures to address them.

The currently still ongoing co-operation programme between Hungary and Croatia is the successor of the 2007-2013 Hungary-Croatia CBC Programme, with its co-financing covered by the European Regional Development Fund which ensures that the principles and the best practices regulating the programming and the implementation of the instruments of the European Cohesion Policy are fully applicable. The majority of experiences of the 2007-2013 Programme are relevant to the 2014-2020 period as well, therefore, with respect to its objectives and content, it shows strong continuity with its predecessor.

Due to its limited scope and specific cross-border nature, the Programme’s guiding principle is to support selected co-operative strategic actions and pilot projects in priority fields, rather than large-scale interventions. The focus is set on enhancing economic cooperation, addressing the problems of poor accessibility or business environment; enhancing and preserving the environmental and natural assets or preventing the risk of loss related to them; fostering the lack of networks among local and regional administrations and improvement of communication between educational and training institutions and key actors of local economy.

The focus of the 2014-2020 Programme is slightly shifted towards supporting the reinforcement and expansion of the existing Hungarian-Croatian co-operative networks and contributing to the establishment of a sound basis for a dynamic and lasting co-operation across the border. Besides that, the Programme increases the concentration on encouraging sustainable economic co-operation in the region, while maintaining continuity of the outlined activities. 

The Interreg V-A Hungary-Croatia Co-operation Programme 2014-2020 is financing a total of 107 ‘regular projects’ which contain a total of 340 partner organisations, 150 on the Hungarian and 190 on the Croatian side. The first projects were implemented from the year 2017 on, while most of the projects of the 2nd open call are under implementation even in 2022.

Next to these co-operations the Programme also supports 4 strategic/pilot projects which are the following:
-    ‘De-mine HU-HR II’, the continuation of the 2007-2013 period’s joint project for the removal of landmines from the joint cross-border region;
-    ‘MuKoBridge’, a joint planning effort to prepare the construction documentation for a new road crossing (namely a new bridge) on the Mura river;
-    ‘Beneficiary Light Scheme’, a strategic project for supporting the joint development activities of small- and medium sized enterprises in the border region; and
-    ‘CBJointStrategy’ which is a pilot project managing the impact evaluation of the 2014-2020 programme and at the same time the professional planning of the upcoming 2021-2027 programme.

Please find the supported projects of the Interreg V-A Hungary-Croatia Co-operation Programme 2014-2020 listed here on the official website:

http://www.huhr-cbc.com/en/list-of-supported-projects---first-cfp
http://www.huhr-cbc.com/en/list-of-supported-projects---second-cfp
http://www.huhr-cbc.com/en/project-database

For further up-to-date information please check the Programme’s Facebook profile where also the novelties of the 2021-2027 programme planning are regularly shared: https://www.facebook.com/huhr.cbc/