The European Cooperation Day is celebrated in the Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine border region26 November 2012
On 21st of September 2012 across the European Union - and thus also in our neighbouring countries - the European Cooperation Day will be held for the first time. The event aims to celebrate the results of cooperation among European regions and countries. The Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine and Hungary-Romania Cross-border Cooperation Programme contributes to the campaign with a series of events.
Since the early 1990s more than twenty thousand cross-border projects co-financed by the EU has improved the European people's lives: by supporting job creation, environmental protection, health services, transport and improving energy supply.
Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy also supports the European Cooperation Day, he also takes part in the events. "This is an excellent opportunity for us to recognize how regional cooperation can help Europeans get closer together, share cross-border ideas, solve common problems" - said the Commissioner.
In the framework of the European Cooperation Day series of events more than 200 project events will take place across Europe between 17 and 28 of September: there will be cross-border tournaments, children's theatre, photo contests, excursions, project presentations and countless other events. The events are designed to celebrate the achievements of the projects implemented in European regional cooperation, they bring closer together the inhabitants of the different regions in order to solve the common or similar problems in the areas e.g. transportation, innovation, environment protection and education.
The Hungary-Slovakia-Romania-Ukraine ENPI Cross-border Cooperation Programme has joined the series of events and welcomes those interested in the programs ongoing in the border area of the 4 countries, in 8 counties. On 19th of September the children can try out an ECO playhouse in Nyíregyháza, on 20th September visitors are expected to Uzhgorod to the presentation of water projects and to the signature ceremony, and in the Munkachevo Castle they are welcomed to participate on the open day. On 21st composting will be promoted in the spirit of environmental protection and on 26th the prize winning ceremony will be held for the contest of business ideas in Csenger, and on 28th concerts will be held to entertain the visitors in Satu Mare.
On 20th of September the AB-Expo will present an open day as part of the Hungary-Romania Cross-border Cooperation Programme in Arad. On 21th September the Romanian-Hungarian scientific and entrepreneurial picnic in Szeged will be held. The celebration will continue with a large-scale program on 23rd September on the route from Satu Mare to Vetés to popularize cycling and canoeing which is an environmentally friendly transport alternative in the Somes Valley. The series of events end in Békéscsaba with the opening ceremony of the new multifunctional exhibition centre built in the framework of the AB Expo project on 28th September.
The above project events, the list of the open days with the exact times and locations are all listed in the www.huskroua-cbc.net and www.huro-cbc.eu webpage in details.
The European Cooperation Day is coordinated by the Commission in cooperation with the INTERACT Programme – which provides practical support, training and advice for the European territorial cooperation programs - and is supported by the Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament. The www.ecday.eu provides more detailed information and also presents a few examples for cross-border cooperation.