Changes in Hungarian public administration and infrastructure development in the border region were discussed at the Hungarian-Austrian Regional Coordination Forum’s latest meeting on Wednesday in the town of Körmend, Hungary.
Dr. Ernő Csonka (Deputy Minister of State for Regional Administration and Elections at the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, and Hungarian co-chairman of the Forum) reported on the changes that have taken place in the Hungarian public administration system, while the Mayor of Körmend Dr. István Bebes described the results of cross-border cooperation. Participants at the meeting discussed development questions related to local cycle paths, roads, and the state of infrastructure in the border region. It was agreed that the level of infrastructure and close collaboration between local stakeholders greatly influence the border region’s economic development potential, and the success of development areas such as health and wellness tourism. Economic development may represent a solution to the region’s emergent labour migration problem, determining a new direction in human resource policy.
Participants at the meeting agreed that the success of the many years of joint work in such fields as culture, environmental protection and R&D can only be achieved with the involvement of local and regional stakeholders.
The Hungarian-Austrian Regional Coordination Forum (established in 2004) aims to promote sustainable development in the region of western Hungary and eastern Austria, coordination of Hungarian and Austrian concepts extending beyond regional level, support for local initiatives, and the implementation of plans. The Office of the Minister of State for Regional Administration and Elections at the Ministry for Public Administration and Justice is in charge of its secretarial duties, while the Austrian Federal Chancellery is the contact body for the Austrian side. The Austrian co-chairman is Stefan Imhof, coordinating director-general.
(Ministry of Public Administration and Justice)
