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Tibor Navracsics, Hungarian Minister of Public Administration and Regional Development, and Aleksander Jevsek, Slovenian Minister of Cohesion and Regional Development, met on Friday to discuss cooperation in the field of regional development and support for national minority communities.
“Hungary and Slovenia are cooperating in the field of regional development and support for national minority communities, with the aim of preserving identity, enriching cultural life, and strengthening businesses,” said Tibor Navracsics, at a press conference in Sümeg (western Hungary) following their meeting. He said that they had discussed support programs for the Hungarian communities in Pomurje (in Slovenia) and Slovenian communities in Porabje (in Hungary), in connection with two interlinked programs – the Muraba European Grouping for Territorial Cooperation (Muraba EGTC) and Interreg.
In both cases, the two governments are supporting local investments and the national communities living in the territory of the other country,
he explained.
The Minister noted that they intend to continue these programs, which are partly funded by the EU and partly by the two governments.
They also discussed the possibilities for cooperation between the two countries in the field of regional development. The two countries will hold professional consultations on the development policy framework and on the coordination of future plans, he added.
The ministers also exchanged views on issues related to the system of self-government for national minority communities. Navracsics stressed that
Hungary appreciates Slovenia’s supportive policy towards national minorities and will endeavor to facilitate all development opportunities for the Slovenian community.
Aleksander Jevsek said that the most important objective was to retain the population and young people living in the border region, and that job creation and tourism development were essential for this purpose. Slovenia and Hungary will each invest one million euros in the implementation of these projects, he said. He also emphasized the significance of cooperation between the two countries in the fields of tourism, economy, and culture. He stressed the importance of regional development and cohesion and the Interreg program, which he said would be continued in the future.
Via MTI, Featured image: Facebook/Navracsics Tibor