Hungarian overview

The European Union is placing increasing emphasis on the horizontal initiatives of local and regional authorities based on shared European values, on strengthening their cross-border relations, and on the further development of their institutionalization.

The study examines whether, within the system of cross-border cooperation operating as networks across Europe, the principle of subsidiarity can be effectively ensured through the instrument of multi-level governance, and how local and regional authorities can become effective actors in this process. It highlights the lack of legal frameworks and administrative competences that support municipal cooperation, as well as the responsibility of European institutions and Member States in providing these conditions.