The Rába-Duna-Vág EGTC and the Via Carpatia EGTC recently celebrated the successful implementation of their respective Small Project Funds, showcasing the positive impacts of cross-border inter-institutional and people-to-people cooperation and preservation of cultural and natural heritage.
The Rába-Duna-Vág EGTC held its final conference for the Small Project Fund in Šamorín on June 19, 2023. Over the past three years, this fund has played a crucial role in fostering cross-border social cohesion by supporting local-level cooperation. Despite challenges posed by the pandemic, the fund facilitated joint renovations of various monuments, playgrounds, fitness parks, pilgrimage routes, educational trails, workshops, and camps. Emma Vasi, the Director of RDV EGTC, highlighted the success of this initiative, which saw the implementation of 126 out of 352 proposed projects, involving more than 270 partners. Under Priority 4, 383 community and social events were organised, engaging 40,718 participants, while Priority 1 led to an annual increase in visitors to cultural, natural, and heritage sites, reaching 82,880 individuals.
Meanwhile, in Tiszaújváros, the Via Carpatia EGTC closed its 2014-2020 Small Project Fund, having supported 152 ideas over the past five years in the eastern part of the programme region. This branch of the SPF scheme successfully distributed over €6 million to local organisations, fostering cultural activities and education for both children and adults while preserving ancestral traditions. Dr. Julianna Máté, Director of Via Carpatia EGTC, expressed their commitment to continuing the mission during the new programming period.
Both EGTCs are working on the continuation of their Small Project Fund aimed to enable projects with strong cross-border character, such as festivals, cultural events, sport events, professional conferences, and children and youth camps, with approximately €13 million. The first calls for proposals are expected to be published in the autumn 2023.
For more information on both initiatives, please visit their respective official websites.
Source of the photos: RDV EGTC, Via Carpatia EGTC