The original aim of the subproject was the review of the work experience and legal obstacles related to the operation of EGTCs with Hungarian interest, in order to review the EGTC Regulation planned in connection with the EU budgetary planning process starting in 2018; and with the help of the review of the work experience and legal obstacles related to the operation of EGTCs with Hungarian interest ,to propose an amendment to the Regulation that can exclude misuse and promote exemplary models across the EU. However, the Commission Report of 17 August 2018 concluded that other types of activities were needed instead of a further amendment of the EGTC Regulation. However, we did not exclude the clarification of the situation in Hungary, and to gather information about the legal difficulties, and taking into account the current good practices.

Since the appearance of the EGTC instrument in 2006,1 much experience has been gained among those applying it that has highlighted some of its shortcomings and – in some cases – some of its potentials, which were not foreseen at the time of its creation. The EGTC instrument is now used by 692 collaborations across Europe. However these collaborations differ in terms of the purpose for which they have been established, among those of significance are those aiming for more efficient spatial development of cross-border functional regions. Many of these initiatives had to first gain some experience in the field of spatial planning – traditionally contained within the well-defined frameworks of national policy – in order to develop a more systematic and conscious functioning. Thus over the last decade and a half, a considerable number of EGTCs have challenged not only the traditional territorial boundaries, but traditional governance competencies as well. These attempts, which were literally expanding horizons, highlighted some of the interesting technical aspects of spatial planning. This paper tries to draw some conclusions, considering and evaluating the knowledge accumulated in the field of cross-border spatial planning, during the activities of EGTCs (mainly focusing on regional development) located along the Hungarian borders.

The ”founding fathers” envisaged the European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) as a tool to manage cross-border, transnational or interregional programmes and projects. The aim of this study is to examine the changes in the interpretation of the EGTC tool since then. The first section is dedicated to the introduction of the political and jurisdictional context in which the instrument was created, giving an overview of the discourse defining this original interpretation. The second section presents the various ways in which local and regional stakeholders, the users of the Regulation interpret the tool. It is clear that these views are not always consistent with the original intentions. Rather, EGTCs are perceived as multi-purpose organisations implementing a new approach to territoriality through integrated cross-border interventions. The decisive characteristics of the groupings are highlighted: namely their role in crossborder integration, their flexibility, adaptability and their potential in terms of representation of the border area.