This side of the region and across the border

Developments implemented within the framework of INTERREG IIIA / Neighbourhood Programmes, 2004-2006

INTERREG III was one of the four Community initiatives of the European Union in the 2000-2006 funding period. Its chief task was to harmonise the development objectives of the Union and to assist their direct and speedy implementation.

As the name suggests, pillar A of the INTERREG Community Initiative stimulated cross-border economic cooperation within the European regions, but reaching across the administrative borders of individual countries. The funds contributed to the reformation of the regions, to the improvement of the conditions of life of the people living there and putting an end to the earlier isolation of the region by the development of the cross-border infrastructure, environmental protection and human resources (R+D, culture, health care, education).

The European Commission made recommendations to the member states concerning the areas that should receive funding. Beyond providing the funds it was primarily objectives and an order of importance that the European Union determined. On the basis of this the EU member states concerned – with the collaboration of their neighbouring non-EU member states – submitted a joint and detailed proposal, a so-called Neighbourhood Programme to the European Commission for the implementation of the developments. It was by means of these that the aspirations supporting the closer cooperation between member and non-member states and between European regions, their joint objectives and common responsibilities were realised.

Our virtual newspaper presents the achievements of the past co-funding period, offers an inside view of the large-scale development process that was realised through Neighbourhood Programmes, through close and mutual cooperation with our Slovakian, Ukrainian, Romanian, Serbian, Croatian and Slovenian neighbours. As is apparent from the description of the projects that have received funding, the funding has helped to solve earlier problems that posed serious obstacles to modernisation, different developments and professional cooperation. However, after the 2004-2006 co-funding period it can be said that the cross-border harmony and cooperation inside the region and reaching across the borders has been further enhanced through INTERREG IIIA.