Memo: Slovenia-Hungary Cross-Border Operational Programme 2007-2013

On 20 December 2007, the European Commission approved a Cross-border Cooperation Operational Programme between Slovenia and Hungary for the period 2007-13. The Programme involves providing Community support as part of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for specific Slovenian and Hungarian regions that lie along their common border. This includes the Hungarian counties of Zala and Vas and the Slovenian regions of Pomurje and Podravje – all of which are classed as NUTS III territorial units.

The cooperation area forms part of a larger geographical unit known as the Pannonian basin. The Podravje region in Slovenia may take part in projects as an adjacent area, i.e. receiving a maximum 20% of the ERDF funding allocated to the Programme.

The Operational Programme falls within the framework laid out for the European Territorial Cooperation Objective and has a total budget of around €36 million. Community funding through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) amounts to some €29 million, which represents approximately 0.3% of the total EU investment earmarked for the European Territorial Cooperation Objective under the Cohesion Policy 2007-13.