Further development of cross-border cooperation was discussed at Tisza EGTC international conference in Uzhhorod

Almost three years ago, in October 2015, the Transcarpathian Regional Council together with the general assembly of the neighboring Sabolch-Szatmár-Bereg county of Hungary and the local government of the Hungarian town of Kisvarda, established the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation Tisza. At present, Tisza EGTC is a unique project both for Ukraine and for the European Union; its aim is to develop regional cooperation for the implementation of specific economic, investment, environmental, infrastructure related, cultural and educational projects.

Topical issues of cross-border cooperation development were discussed at the international conference "Supporting the Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Using the Example of Transcarpathia”, which took place in Uzhhorod on May 25, 2018. It was attended by the head of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration Hennadiy Moskal, the acting head of the Transcarpathian Regional Council Yosyp Barta, the mayor of Kisvarda Tibor Leleszi, the director of the Institute of Economic and Legal Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine Volodymyr Ustymenko, Consul General of Hungary in Uzhhorod Joszhef Buhajla, the leading administrator of the Secretariat of the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and EU Budget of the Committee of the Regions of the EU Slaven Klobucar and the director of the Secretariat of the Cross-Border Cooperation Programs “Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine 2014-2020» Aron Sokach.

 "Since the foundation of Tisza EGTC, the grouping has confirmed its efficiency and became the first European association of the new format; it deserves a special place among the organizations developing international cooperation of the European regions." Says the deputy director of Tisza EGTC Yudita Yevchak. Over the past three years, more than 80 projects have been implemented in social and economic spheres of the Transcarpathian region, most of them in cooperation with Hungary. The long-term and effective partnership of the border regions opens up the opportunity to participate in the development and implementation of infrastructure related projects of strategic importance to the region, including flood prevention measures, environmental protection, cultural heritage conservation, border infrastructure development, and others. Tisza EGTC, together with several departments of the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration developed and submitted a number of projects aimed at solving urgent regional development issues, which, most likely, will be supported by the European Commission. It is very important that the positive experience of Tisza EGTC in many fields can be used by other regions in the process of implementation of Ukraine's European integration aspirations.

 The leading scholars of Uzhhorod National University presented the results of their research during the conference. The Vice-Rector of UzhNU, Doctor of Political Science Myroslava Lendel dwelt on internationalization of education and research as a tool of European integration for the border regions of Ukraine with UzhNU as a case study. The head of the Department of History of Hungary and European Integration of the Ukrainian-Hungarian Educational Institute of UzhNU, Doctor of History Yeva Kish presented a contemporary model of European integration processes in Ukraine with Transcarpathia as an example. The head of the Department of International Economic Relations, Doctor of Economics Volodymyr Prykhodko spoke about the economic environment of the border region.

The dean of the Faculty of Law, Doctor of Law Yaroslav Lazur familiarized the participants with the legal aspects of the European standards of cross-border cooperation and made suggestions as to the necessity of amending some legislative acts of Ukraine.

 At the end of the conference, all the reports were discussed and it was decided to develop recommendations which would form the basis of the programs for promoting the Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukraine.

• International Activities