Via Carpatia EGTC

The action plan is implemented under the Interreg Slovakia – Hungary cooperation program. The total budget of the action plan is EUR 4,438,314.37. The target area of the action plan, the Cserehát micro-region is characterized by a high unemployment rate. The main reasons of this phenomenon are mainly the insufficient infrastructure, low level of education and high rate of ageing population. The overall objective of the TAPE is to reduce the unemployment rate in the micro-region, to re-establish the “Beautiful Cserehát” micro-region, to exploit its endogenous potential and to find solutions to the most serious problems. The action plan focuses on local production, which can greatly contribute to the development of the region. The main objective is going to be achieved by the specific objectives of the TAPE, which are the following: improving the quality of human capital, improving the production infrastructure, improving the selling conditions of local products and developing a regional brand.

The most important results of the cross-border action plan is expected to be the creation of new job opportunities on the territory of the micro-region. In order to meet this goal and the other aims of the TAPE, the following activities and interventions will be implemented:

– establishment of new multi-purpose centres,
– establishment of new plants for processing agricultural products,
– creation of market places,
– establishment a regional brand,
– establishment of a local producers network and
– organization of local markets and agricultural events.

The action plan consists of 7 projects:

Coordination and Communication Project
The most important goal of the CCP project is to coordinate the 7 projects of the TAPE in order to reach its goals. Another basic pillar of the CCP is to communicate the action plan, which consists in ensuring the mandatory visibility elements within each project and in ensuring the propagation of the whole TAPE by using different tools of communication, e.g.: videos, brochures, information boards, etc.

Development of local + products 1
The main objective of the project is to increase the quality, competitiveness and popularity of local products. Cross-border cooperation will help to establish a cross-border network with focus on cooperation in local production. It will provide opportunities for cooperative production of products, joint marketing and will increase the sales of products. These new products, e.g. roasted seeds, fruit juices, pumpkin oil, etc. will be produced in the newly established or expanded plants that will be located in the cross-border micro-region.

Development of local + products 2
This project aims to serve the general goals of TAPE by increasing the added value of the agricultural products and by increasing the capacities for higher level of processing. This will be done through the cooperation of two project partners: while one will establish a cabbage pickling plant where a higher quantity and quality of local products will be produced, the other will create a space where the process of the production of local products and the potential buyers can meet.

Through renovation to the education
To mitigate the disadvantage in the area of human resources there is the need for infrastructural development of professional educational institutions on both sides of the border. By the establishment of an education centre, improved conditions for adult education will be ensured in Encs, Hungary. In Slovakia, in Moldava nad Bodvou, the professional development of local vocational school is implemented through the purchase of modern laboratory devices. During the development, the receiving classrooms and related facilities of laboratory equipment will be renovated and converted.

Meet the local needs
This project aims to fulfil the need for high quality urban functions through two initiatives. Firstly, by establishing a multi-purpose centre – training centre and coordinating centre, where educational programmes, trainings and other events will be held that will facilitate the reintegration to the labour market of those disadvantaged people who might lack competitive skills and knowledge, are long-term unemployed or face negative discrimination due to their ethnicity or gender. Secondly, through creating a cross-border network of local markets, the economy of the micro-region is expected to revitalise, generating further new job opportunities, as well as improving the general quality of life of people living in the region.

Find your way to the labour market
The main objective of the project is to improve the level of education and increase the chances of applying to the labour market for long-term unemployed citizens through the implementation of joint education and training programmes – social communication skills trainings, courses to improve financial literacy, course “How to succeed on job interview “, training “How to deal with execution, alcoholism and drugs, and training on “Social enterprises and farming”. Furthermore, two workshops will be organised in order to inform citizens about the actual job offers, and, in cooperation with employment agencies, trying to find a suitable job for them.

Build and promote local image
The main objective of the project is to improve sustainability, employability and stability of agricultural economics and to strengthen local agricultural production and competitiveness of local producers. The main objective will be achieved thanks to the implementation of specific objectives. These are the development of new regional brand together with the brand strategy; the development of local agricultural study; the creation of a data register of local producers; the organization of cross-border markets/agricultural events and regional EXPO; as well as the creation of a web application for better connection between producers and purchasers.