The Monitoring Committee of the Small Project Fund of the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation Rába-Duna-Vág Limited held its first constitutive meeting on 27 September 2023 at the Office of the Pest County Government.
The members of the Monitoring Committee continue to include representatives of the Managing Authority (Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary), the National Authority (Ministry of Investments, Regional Development and Informatization of the Slovak Republic – MIRRI SR), the presidents of the Hungarian member counties, and the vice-presidents of the Slovak member regions of the Grouping. Representatives of the Joint Secretariat (SzPI) and the EGTC Via Carpatia participate in the meetings as observers.
The significance of the event is demonstrated by the participation of Nikoletta Horváth, Director of the Department for Cross-Border Cooperation Programmes of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade of Hungary, Lea Malá, Director General of the Cross-Border Cooperation Programmes Section of MIRRI SR, Csilla Veres, Head of the Joint Secretariat of the Interreg VI-A Hungary–Slovakia Programme, and Deputy Head of the Secretariat Szilveszter Holop, who actively supported and provided guidance in the planning of the current form of the call and the implementation of the Small Project Fund.
The Small Project Fund is implemented within Priority Axis 3 “PA3 – Institutional Cooperation” of the Interreg VI-A Hungary–Slovakia Programme. Under the intervention “3.2 – Building mutual trust”, the implementation of cross-border projects by municipalities, non-governmental organisations, educational and research institutions, churches, EGTCs, governmental bodies, and representative organisations from seven eligible regions is supported (in Hungary: the capital city Budapest, Pest, Komárom-Esztergom, and Győr-Moson-Sopron counties; in Slovakia: the Bratislava, Trnava, and Nitra self-governing regions).
Ema Vasi, Director of the RDV EGTC and Chair of the Small Project Fund Monitoring Committee, welcomed both returning and newly appointed members of the Monitoring Committee and emphasised that the event may be considered of historical significance, as the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation Rába-Duna-Vág has, for the second time, been given the opportunity to coordinate the implementation of the Small Project Fund in the western part of the programme area. The implementation of the Small Project Fund in the eastern part of the programme area will be managed by Via Carpatia.
The renewed trust is based on the experience gained in the previous period, the successful implementation of small projects, and the commitment of the Groupings. Their tasks primarily include activities related to the overall coordination and implementation of the Small Project Fund, providing information to potential applicants, offering advisory services during the preparation of applications, supporting applicants’ activities until project completion, carrying out on-site controls, and contributing to the work of the Small Project Fund Monitoring Committee.
During the meeting, the members adopted the Rules of Procedure governing the functioning of the Monitoring Committee and the documents of the first Call for Proposals under the Small Project Fund. They also declared that the call for proposals under the SPF would be launched on 16 October 2023, in line with the eastern programme area.
The current call is based on experience gained during the previous period and identified needs. Among other improvements, simplified cost reporting will be introduced (in the form of a lump-sum), and EU funding will be complemented by national co-financing, thereby reducing the required level of own contribution. Applicants from the western programme area may implement their activities only within the western programme area; however, the registered seat of their partner organisations may be located anywhere in Slovakia or Hungary. The aim of these measures is to address the needs identified in the previous programming period, as well as the objectives of the Interreg programme. Zoltán Németh, President of Győr-Moson-Sopron County, on behalf of the members, emphasised that the application scheme, resulting from active cooperation, will represent a favourable opportunity for applicants compared to previous calls and will serve the satisfaction of all stakeholders in the coming years.
The total amount of ERDF funds available for the Small Project Fund is EUR 5.16 million, of which EUR 1.45 million will be allocated under the first call. Applicants may apply for support ranging from EUR 13,215 to EUR 39,645.
The aim of the Small Project Fund is to strengthen cross-border social cohesion and partnerships, and to encourage citizens and organisations to actively participate in the democratic and civic life of the European Union. It supports the organisation of cultural festivals, sports events, professional events, as well as children’s and youth camps, which bring together and strengthen relations between representatives and members of organisations on both sides of the border.
The call for proposals will be published on the website and social media channels of the Interreg HUSK Small Project Fund for the western programme area, and the public will be specifically informed about its launch. Detailed information will be available at the information days, the dates of which will be specified at a later stage.
