EUROPEAN UNION

Committee of the Regions

The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union Picture cover: © BRATISLAVSKÝ REGIÓN QG-04-16-383-EN-N ISBN 978-92-895-0879-7 doi:10.2863/63469 © European Union, 2016 Reproduction is authorised provided the source is acknowledged Printed in Belgium Table of contents © Jozef Klein

1. Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions ...... 2

2. Peter Pellegrini, Slovak deputy prime minister ...... 3

3. What is the European Committee of the Regions? ...... 4

4. Ivan Korčok, Minister with responsibility for Slovak EU Presidency ...... 6

5. Milan Belica, head of the Slovak delegation at the European Committee of the Regions. . 7

6. The Slovak delegation at the CoR...... 8 7. Local and regional authorities - Division of powers SLOVAK REPUBLIC...... 11

8. Interview with Bratislava Mayor Ivo Nesrovnal ...... 12

9. Interview with Pavol Frešo, President of Bratislava region ...... 13

10. Simplifying Cohesion Policy ...... 14 11. EU-funded projects ...... 16 12. Košice is changing into a city of creativity thanks to ECoC...... 25

13. Local and regional authorities have their place in the Energy Union...... 27

14. European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation ...... 30

15. Bratislava chairs the Council of Danube Cities and Regions...... 34

16. Events Schedule ...... 35 17. Contacts ...... 36 1. Markku Markkula, President of the European Committee of the Regions Bureaux d’architecture: Atelier Paul Noël sprl - Art & Build s.a.

It is no secret that the past years have not been the best for the EU. Finding solutions to the migration or euro crises; bringing down high unemployment; and combatting radicalism and the rise of extreme political movements are serious questions that are still unanswered.

The severity and force of these challenges has urged bringing real-life solutions from Markku Markkula, the bottom-up and local authorities are now at the core of EU decision-making. There President of the European is one key answer to all of these questions: sustainable and inclusive growth - providing Committee of the Regions, Brussels jobs, well-being, stability and ultimately, light at the end of the tunnel. How do we achieve this? I believe the answer is three-fold.

First we must look at our fi nances – not only bringing in forward-looking and result- oriented investments but combining them with existing private and public funding and better management. We need to see investments on a broader scope, the whole lifecycle, and look into infrastructure, entrepreneurship and human capital. Through the experience and know-how of the grass roots level we can close the disparities between urban and rural areas. These are on the agenda of the 7th European Summit of Regions and Cities in Bratislava.

Secondly, we must boost the greatest potential source for growth and jobs. At a time of high unemployment, the potential of the digital economy remains untapped when we could create 1.5 million jobs and add EUR 520bn to the European GDP. Slovakia has embarked on this route and I am convinced that it can be an inspiration to others.

My third point is that nothing will happen without the support and engagement of our citizens. Surveys show that Europeans trust most the decision-makers closest to them. It is time for Europe's cities and regions to show their commitment and innovativeness in building our future. We can and we should share the best knowledge and good practices we have through more European partnerships.

2 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union 2. Foreword by Peter Pellegrini, deputy prime minister of Slovak republic © Marek Velcek

Ladies and gentlemen, On 1 July 2016, the Slovak Republic will be taking on its fi rst, historic, presidency of the Council of the European Union. Over the next six months we shall be at the helm of the European ship, which we shall steer ahead prudently, honestly and safely. Being at the head of the Council of Peter Pellegrini, the European Union is a great challenge for us and a great responsibility. We are ready to run Slovak deputy prime minister Europe's aff airs eff ectively and to act in the name of the EU's half a billion citizens. We are also fi rmly resolved to be a good negotiator and mediator who will achieve consensus and bring together the various interests of the twenty-eight Member States.

With a view to maintaining continuity, we shall try to build on the outcomes achieved by the preceding Dutch EU Council Presidency. In this spirit, we shall work to meet the goals that we set out along with the Netherlands and Malta in June 2014 in the fi ve priority areas of the Strategic Agenda for the Union in Times of Change.

In the course of the Slovak presidency we shall be focusing primarily on the economic and fi nancial agenda, the single market – especially the digital single market –, on strengthening energy effi ciency and security and tackling long-term and youth unemployment. We shall seek to foster a comprehensive approach to tackling the migration crisis, including bringing together its internal and external dimensions. On the foreign policy front, we shall encourage the development of a joint foreign and security policy geared to strengthening the EU's position in the world.

The EU's main investment policy, which has a considerable impact on towns and regions, is Cohesion Policy, which is implemented via EU structural and investment funds. The Slovak presidency will concentrate on demonstrating the policy's effi cacy and on a kick-off discussion on what it should look like after 2020, not least in the light of the mid-term review of the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014 − 2020. We shall also press on with simplifying the implementation mechanism to make it even more accessible and less bureaucratic for recipients of EU funds in the next period.

During its presidency of the Council of the EU, Slovakia is also the country presiding over the EU Strategy for the Danube Region. On Danube macro-regional cooperation our priority will building up the knowledge society and supporting innovation, the competitiveness of the Danube region and the rational use of water resources as the basis for its sustainable development.

The role of the country holding the EU Council presidency is to defend the interests of the Member States and to attend to the well-being of all of the population. Since it is towns, cities and regions that best know the people and their problems, local and regional authority representatives will be among those we shall work with during our presidency to get to grips with the issues of the moment that can really improve people's lives.

I am confi dent that we shall manage to make a success of this historic challenge and that we shall master all current and planned events during our presidency so that we shall be able, at the end of the year, to hand over the presidency baton to Malta to the satisfaction – and with the respect – of all the Member States.

3 What is the European Committee of the Regions (CoR)?

We are an institutional body of the European Union. Our Members are elected Presidents of Regions, regional Councillors, Mayors and Local Councillors, democratically accountable to the citizens. 3main principles Multilevel Governance Proximity Subsidiarity

Commissions 6 Commissions (groups of Members) public health prepare draft opinions and resolutions to be submitted to the Plenary Assembly. economic, social transport, and territorial trans-European cohesion networks Territorial Cohesion Environment, Policy and EU Budget Climate Change (COTER) and Energy (ENVE) Areas of responsibility

Citizenship, Governance, Economic Policy employment environment, Institutional and (ECON) and social energy and € External Affairs (CIVEX) affairs climate change

education, youth, culture and sport Social Policy, Education, Natural Resources Employment, Research (NAT) and Culture (SEDEC)

Membership 350 from 28 members member states 5political groups

4 Plenary CoR Members gather in Plenary 5 to 6 times/year for 2-3 days in Brussels to vote and adopt opinions.

The President The First Vice-President Markku MARKKULA Karl-Heinz LAMBERTZ (from Espoo/FI) (from Eupen/BE) Term of office: 2 and 1/2 years Term of office: 2 and 1/2 years ࠮SLHKZ[OL*V9Z^VYR ࠮SLHKZ[OL*V9Z^VYRPU ࠮JOHPYZP[ZWSLUHY`ZLZZPVUZ tandem with the President ࠮HJ[ZHZ*V9Z official representative

Output over 70% of EU legislation has a direct impact at local or regional level 70% Platforms and networks to improve participatory

In 2014, the CoR democracy, such as the passed: consultation process 46 own-initiative In 2014 during the pre-legislative opinions the CoR 96 phase. opinions held events of which of 36

Administrative level The Secretary-General Structure Term of office: 5 years 5 Directorates Role: heads the CoR administration 2 joint services

5 4. Ivan Korčok, Minister with responsibility for Slovak EU Presidency © Jozef Česla

The Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union comes at a moment when the European Union is facing many challenges not only on European, but also on national, regional and local levels. In these demanding times, the Slovak Presidency is committed to search for solutions that would make Europe more resilient today and better equipped for the future. Ivan Korčok, To this end, the Presidency intends to focus on positive agenda and sustainable Ministre délégué for the Slovak solutions that will help regain the trust of the citizens. Slovakia has defined the Presidency of the Council of the EU Presidency priorities on the basis of three mutually reinforcing principles: to bring tangible results in areas where action is most needed, to help Europe overcome fragmentation by focusing on solutions that unite and to put citizens in the forefront of our effort by finding answers to the challenges of everyday life.

In this effort, we will seek to work closely with the European Committee of the Regions whose members represent our towns, cities and regions. More than 70 % of EU legislation has a direct regional and local impact. Therefore, the Presidency believes in the importance of involving regional and local authorities in the European decision-making process. Locally and regionally elected representatives, which are in direct touch with their electorate, play a crucial role in vocalizing the interests and concerns of EU citizens.

During Slovak Presidency, our capital Bratislava will host 7th European Summit of Regions and Cities to discuss the local experience and reflect upon policies that can bring investment, economic growth and job opportunities to European regions. This event will be a unique opportunity to discuss Europe's economic, social and territorial prospects for years to come.

Our ambition is to contribute to better connected Europe by putting emphasis on common European projects such as Energy Union or the Digital Single Market. European budget as the main investment tool of the European Union needs the capacity to respond to the current challenges but its main role is to finance the right conditions for investments. In organising the debate on the EU budget, the Slovak Presidency is committed to search for the right balance between the new priorities and traditional investment policies of the EU. We are convinced that tackling regional disparities will strengthen the internal market. Creating the right conditions for investments on the local and regional level is the pre requisite for development and growth and jobs.

To achieve the ambitious goals, the Slovak Presidency is looking forward to cooperating with the European Committee of the Regions as a leading platform which provides institutional representation for all the European Union's territorial areas, regions, cities and municipalities.

6 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union 5. Milan Belica, head of the Slovak delegation at the European Committee of the Regions

Key principles: subsidiarity and solidarity The Slovak delegation at the European Committee of the Regions seeks to ensure that two crucial pillars of European policy are respected: subsidiarity and solidarity. The subsidiarity principle was incorporated into the EU treaties at the same time as the European Committee Milan Belica of the Regions was established. The more this principle is upheld, the more the authority Head of the Slovak delegation at the of the Union's bodies and public trust in its decision-making abilities increase. The Slovak EU’s Committee of the Regions delegation at the European Committee of the Regions lays great emphasis on working with Vice-President of the European the Association of Towns and Municipalities of Slovakia (ZMOS) and with the regions, so that Committee of the Regions its members can draw on information from local and regional authorities to adopt positions on important regional development documents or to put on the agenda of committee meetings issues that benefi t the growth of towns and municipalities.

EU Cohesion Policy was a very important economic policy instrument in the years 2007 − 2013, enabling the new Member States, Slovakia among them, to fund their socio- economic development. Cohesion Policy and the possibility of using the structural funds and the cohesion fund were an opportunity for Slovakia – whose growth rate is now forging ahead – to gradually catch up with the advanced countries of Europe. Slovakia used – and is still using – fi nancial support for regional development worth EUR 11 billion to secure sustainable economic growth and a rise in living standards and levels of employment.

It has to be said, however, that the nature of Cohesion Policy, which was primarily intended to level out regional diff erences, gradually began to change over the last programming period. In Slovakia, the policy has gone from being a supplementary instrument of economic development to being the dominant fi nancial instrument for public investment. While at the beginning of the 2007-2013 period, the economically weaker regions received more support – in accordance with the principle of Cohesion Policy –, the need for the country to act quickly to draw EU funds later resulted in other economic policy criteria being to some extent sidelined.

The current 2014-2020 programming period is therefore an opportunity to learn from the past. Experience from the 2007-2013 period has led this time to Slovakia's regions, cities and municipalities being enlisted in the preparations. The Slovak delegation will continue to put forward its views, analysis and visions at the European Committee of the Regions, since Cohesion Policy is an extremely important matter for the development of Slovakia and its regions. Its overriding importance for the EU too is underscored by the fact that access to EU funds in regions and towns will be one of the key issues at the European Summit of Regions and Cities in Bratislava. The summit will no doubt also be discussing cross-border cooperation, the Energy Union and the Danube Region Strategy, which we are also looking at in this brochure.

7 6. The Slovak delegation at the CoR

Members:

Making full use of their powers and EU Cohesion Policy has resulted in responsibilities when deciding on the a vital source of investment in use of public funds in local and regional key areas of the Slovak Republic's authorities...” economic life.”

Vladimír Bajan Milan Belica

Mayor of the Borough of Petržalka (Bratislava) Member of the European Committee of the Regions Member of the ECON and CIVEX commissions President of the Nitra Self-Governing Region Political group: ECR Member of the European Committee of the Regions Bureau Portfolio: Head of the Slovak delegation at the EU’s Committee of the Regions fi nancing of local and regional authorities, its links with fi scal Member of the ECON and SEDEC commissions decentralisation and the remits this entails for the authorities; reviewing Political group: EPP how well state funding covers fi nancial needs; carrying out and supporting Portfolio: work to evaluate the current state of aff airs (audit of competencies) and to industry, economic and monetary policy, employment policy, innovation, compare the effi cacy of authorities through common benchmarking research and technology www.petrzalka.sk www.unsk.sk

We must concentrate all our eff orts on I consider European issues to be young people. Only strong and educated important for improving the life of people make strong regions. the population.” Only strong regions make a strong European Union.”

Peter Chudík Jozef Dvonč

President of the Prešov Self-Governing Region Mayor of Nitra Member of the European Committee of the Regions Member of the European Committee of the Regions Member of the NAT commission Member of the ECON and SEDEC commissions Political group: EA Political group: PES Portfolio: Portfolio: energy, infrastructure, education and culture mobility, emissions reduction, urban development and smart cities www.po-kraj.sk www.nitra.sk

It is important that regions are Strengthening the role of the not just the passive recipients of European Committee of the Regions decision-making at EU level, but that within the European Union's we actively shape the discussion on institutional set-up is the prerequisite questions that aff ect us. One of the for eff ectively getting regional key issues that need attention is the interests and views acted on.” future and simplifi cation of Pavol Frešo Cohesion Policy.” Augustín Hambálek

President of the Bratislava Self-Governing Region Deputy President of the Trnava Self-Governing Region Member of the European Committee of the Regions Member of the European Committee of the Regions Member of the COTER and CIVEX commissions Member of the SEDEC commission Political group: EPP Political group: PES Portfolio: Portfolio: future and simplifi cation of Cohesion Policy, multilevel governance and employment policy, social policy, welfare, education, young people and devolution, how the maturity of regions is assessed sport, and public administration www.region-bsk.sk www.trnava-vuc.sk

8 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union Alternates:

Generally speaking, the relationship between I consider the European Committee of local and regional authorities is not one of the Regions to be an important part of servant and master, but this is not to say that the European Union. It is an excellent the two levels can be considered as 'watertight platform for the various regions of the compartments' – far from it. Better lawmaking EU to pool experience. The fact that for all public administrations also brings a unique Bratislava region is becoming a better added value to the shaping of EU policies.” place for people to live in is thanks in Jaroslav Hlinka Martin Berta part to the European Committee of the Regions and its members.”

Mayor of the Borough of Košice-South Member of the Bureau of the CoR Deputy President of the Bratislava Self-Governing Region Member of the CIVEX and ENVE commissions Alternate at the European Committee of the Regions Political group: PES Political group: EPP Portfolio: Portfolio: subsidiarity and proportionality in EU legislation future of Cohesion Policy, multilevel governance and devolution www.jarohlinka.sk www.region-bsk.sk

We have to focus on developing urban hubs. This is the way We are responsible for introducing development is going in advanced countries, which have big a large number of innovations in concentrations of people, industry, brains and energy in large the authority \t this time and the cities, and the Slovak capital – Bratislava – is no exception. Roughly CoR agenda helps us a lot in this.” 70% of the EU population is now living in cities and this is slated to rise to 80% by 2050. Given that more than two thirds of EU policies and legislation aff ect cities, we too back the idea of a Ivo Nesrovnal more targeted approach and an inclusive discussion that brings Ján Blcháč together the various tiers of public administration. This way we could have strategic planning across administrative borders. If we want to achieve the key goals set out in the Europe 2020 strategy, EU policies have to better react to, and take on board, the needs of cities.”

Mayor of Bratislava Member of the European Committee of the Regions Mayor of Liptovský Mikuláš Member of the NAT and COTER commissions Alternate at the European Committee of the Regions Political group: EPP Political group: PES Portfolio: Portfolio: development of metropolitan areas, achieving EU Urban Agenda goals "Connecting people: Digital and smarter cities and regions” www.bratislava.sk www.mikulas.sk

Despite scepticism from various parts The European Union has shown of Europe, I am convinced that the us how close we can be to one European Union is a good project. another despite language All of us Europeans can be proud of diff erences and diff erent the values that our ancestors created nationalities. A Europe of the over the centuries. It is our shared regions is taking us forward.” responsibility to protect and build on István Zachariaš them in a creative, responsible manner. Radoslav Čuha Municipalities and regions, as well as the European institutions, play a vital role in this.”

Deputy President of the Košice Self-Governing Region Member of the European Committee of the Regions Deputy President of the Prešov Self-Governing Region Member of the ENVE and COTER commissions Alternate at the European Committee of the Regions Political group: EPP Political group: PES Portfolio: Portfolio: energy and cross-border cooperation preventive health care and transport www.vucke.sk www.po-kraj.sk

9 My philosophy and aim as mayor of Think globally, act locally.” Kežmarok is to make it a European, modern, dynamic and historical town. We have a rich history and beautiful historical and cultural monuments and we have become a centre that a large number of tourists visit every year. Above all, however, Ján Ferenčák my concern is the satisfaction of people Daniel Lorinc throughout the whole region.”

Mayor of Kladzany Mayor of Kežmarok Alternate at the European Committee of the Regions Alternate at the European Committee of the Regions Alternate in the CIVEX and ENVE commissions Political group: PES Political group: EPP Portfolio: Portfolio: cross-border cooperation renewable energy sources, environmental policy and climate change www.kezmarok.sk www.kladzany.sk

Respect for traditions, responsibility Cutting red tape in applying for the future.” for non-refundable fi nancial contributions from EU funds.”

Tibor Mikuš Jozef Petušík

President of the Trnava Self-Governing Region Alternate at the European Committee of the Regions Mayor of Dolný Lopašov Alternate in the SEDEC commission Alternate at the European Committee of the Regions Political group: EPP Political group: non-affi liated at the CoR Portfolio: Portfolio: energy and regional policy environment protection

The European Union is a joining together not Europe is not just a geographically demarcated area, only of countries, but also of regions, which but the symbol of a legacy of history, development and have an important position in this grouping. collaboration that each and every one of us embodies. It is We need to foster collaboration between collaboration between authorities brought together in regions to further development and to the European Committee of the Regions that is the ensure the security of the European area.” guarantee not just of the preservation of this legacy, but also of progress.” Richard Takáč Andrea Turčanová

Mayor of Prešov Deputy President of Trenčín Self-Governing Region Alternate at the European Committee of the Regions Alternate at the European Committee of the Regions Political group: EPP Political group: PES Portfolio: Portfolio: cooperation between local and regional authorities in boosting European environmental policy employment, social policy at local level and micro-climate change

10 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union Local and regional authorities Distribution of power & competencies SLOVAK REPUBLIC

Population (Eurostat, 2016) 5,5 million Urban population: 53,6%

GDP: 73,6bn GDP growth: +3,5%

REGIONAL AND LOCAL LEVEL (Source: Government Office of the Slovak Republic)

R 2 933 municipalities e g (among which 138 cities) i o : n l a e l l v ev le 8 el: al self-governing regions Loc STATISTICS:

l p territoria lanning ing ) ud operatio DISTRIBUTION OF cl nal co n (in gio nt -re e ns e POWER & COMPETENCIES m ra car p t th condary schoo lo d al se ls) (Source: Slovak Government, 2016) e an e ng , c v l h di ucture ul e a e, lu str tu d n r c fra r l a n in e of m

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expenditures m lo u c o l e Main local s r u h s c in der c o a g , , c l l e e i p o r competencies:d a u a l u l b o f (Source: Slovak Government, 2016) o c w lic h l e c a e tr sc e c a ti lfa ansport w o l m o re ry l n n, , he a a o a in althcare im ci m na clu pr o i ge ding l and , s c d m pre-schoo ) e ent ism ve and ur lop local taxes to me and 11 nt (local planning 8. Interview with Bratislava mayor Ivo Nesrovnal

What impression does the As the host city of both the Slovak presidency of the Council of the EU and the Danube city want to make during the Region Strategy, Bratislava will become in a sense the capital of Europe. We defi nitely want to present ourselves as a modern, young, dynamic, creative and innovative city. But also Slovak presidency? as a clean, safe city full of culture and history – a city where life is good for the inhabitants and for the visitors.

How many events will take For the six months of the presidency, Bratislava will provide the setting and backdrop place in Bratislava during SK to around two hundred events, twenty of which are informal meetings of ministers and PRES and how many delegates ministerial conferences and almost 180 are meetings of experts and working meetings. To do you expect to come? these will be added a large number of culture and promotional events. More than twenty thousand delegates will be coming to Bratislava, including media from all of the EU and from partner countries. What does it mean for It’s a great honour for Bratislava and its people that the city and the region were approached Bratislava to host the 7th to host the event. 2016 is a year when Bratislava can promote itself as never before. After twelve years of the European Union membership, it will for the fi rst time become the European Summit Regions capital of the presiding country in one of the three most important EU institutions, the and Cities? Council of the European Union. What are the most important I would sum up these in the formula 3 x I + C – investment, infrastructure, innovation and issues for Bratislava? connecting. We use EU funds for investing in infrastructure – such as the reconstruction of the Old bridge which connects the banks of Danube and building of new tram railways. Innovation instruments, for their part, enable us to improve life in the city – not least thanks to EU policies. Investment, infrastructure and innovation are interlinked. What else is important for The EU Urban Agenda. Roughly 70% of the EU population is now living in cities and Bratislava at the summit? according to the prognoses this percentage should rise until 2050 up to 80%. Given that more than two thirds of EU policies and legislation aff ect cities, we also support the idea of a more targeted approach and common discussion which would connect diff erent levels of government.

12 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union 9. Interview with Pavol Frešo, President of the Bratislava Region

Interview with Pavol Frešo, President of the Bratislava Self-Governing Region, on the 7th European Summit of Regions and Cities

As President of the Bratislava The summit will be dedicated to matters that have a direct impact on the quality of region, which subjects do life of Bratislava's population, such as simplifi cation of EU Cohesion Policy or transport infrastructure. If Bratislava wants to develop its infrastructure, it has to open up access you consider as important to to other metropolitan areas broach at the summit? How did the summit’s logo Our philosophy is to open the summit up as much as possible to the public. We support the come about? nurturing of young talent, so we gave our secondary school students the chance to design the logo. I think that Jakub Mikula did an excellent job in combining the summit’s motto – Invest and Connect – with one of Bratislava’s most visible landmarks and the Danube as a symbol of connecting across the whole of Europe. You said you want to open the The moment we started with the preparations, we decided the summit should not be a summit up to the public. How closed-door aff air. Quite the opposite: we want to get its message across in clear language. This is why we are working on a two-day event called Danube Up 2016, which will be a do you want to do that? combination of cultural events, activities for the family popularising science and interactive discussions related to water. Water is very important for our region, be it in terms of the potential of the Danube river, fl ood defences and protection of drinking water sources or in terms of tourism.

Can you tell us more about The main attraction without doubt will be the opening concert on 7 July, the eve of the cultural events during the summit, at Devín Castle, where we shall be showcasing the best from Slovakia’s music scene. The concert will be open to the public and you'd be most welcome. summit? What do you expect the When we were drawing up the priorities, we worked with all members of the Slovak delegation summit to achieve? at the European Committee of the Regions and consulted partners from the V4 on what topics are important for central and eastern Europe. The summit will issue a Bratislava Declaration, which will put forward a shared vision of Europe’s regions and cities, particular steps in the future and, at the same time, provide input to fuel discussion on Cohesion Policy after 2020.

13 10. Simplifying Cohesion Policy © Združenie TVC

We need simpler rules of In the Slovak Republic, Cohesion Policy is the EU’s main investment instrument and plays the game and a policy that a part in the co-fi nancing of up to 80% of public investment. This is one reason why we are trying, in collaboration with our partners, to lobby to maintain its prominent position benefi ts regions beyond 2020. Another major challenge we shall have to face, and which is very important from the point of view of the regions, is to adopt changes to streamline Cohesion Policy and make it more eff ective.

The system for drawing EU funds as currently confi gured has a number of fl aws that hamper their eff ective take-up. The good thing is that the European Commission recognises the importance of simplifying the system for managing EU funds and has set up a high level group on this issue.

Th e problem of legal One of the things we need to focus on as part of the discussion on the simplifi cation of uncertainty Cohesion Policy is public procurement and audits. There is still considerable scope for effi ciency measures in these areas, which will facilitate the work of applicants and relieve them of a disproportionate burden. The region’s mayors often tell me of the risks they fear when drawing EU funding. The recipient has no guarantee that he will not be a victim of “force majeure” of some kind – in other words, that funding for his project dries up or is delayed because of, for example, a dispute between the European Commission and the national level about certain conditions not being met. The benefi ciary also faces the risk that, despite meeting the project’s goals, a fi nding of the auditing authority will be imposed retrospectively, which could have crippling fi nancial consequences for him. If we had a body, however, that benefi ciaries could turn to with any kind of query and whose decisions would be legally binding, this would help to allay concerns of possible additional corrections.

Red tape versus scrutiny The challenge we face is to strike a sound balance between measures to combat corruption and to reduce error rates, on the one hand, and reducing red tape and administrative burden on the other hand. We have to look into what measures really further greater transparency and the fi ght against corruption and which just complicate matters and “criminalise” honest benefi ciaries, often even for minor errors. The fact is that many public procurement errors – and even the majority – are due to the complexity of the system itself rather than attempts to misuse funds.

Not all the bureaucratic burden is to be found at the EU level. In many cases it is the Member States themselves that are the sources of the superfl uous red tape. The European Union provides for certain minimum standards in its legislation that Member States have to comply with when implementing it. But no upper limits are fi xed that Member States should not exceed. In short, the Member States establish stricter and more complex rules of the game for applicants than the European Commission itself requires. The question we need to ask is whether we want to have a system that is open and comprehensible to all or one that is complex and opaque in which only a few specialised companies will be able in future to submit good projects.

14 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union One possible way of speeding up the entire project cycle is to introduce “e-cohesion”, by which I mean the electronic communication and exchange of information between benefi ciaries and managing authorities. The introduction of new electronic procedures will save all stakeholders precious time and money and accelerate administrative procedures. One expedient and eff ective approach that the regions would welcome could be to set up an online platform – ideally run by the European Commission – to exchange experience and best practice in relation to frequent errors as a preventive strategy that saves time, money and personnel and helps to cut the overall administrative burden. Stronger bottom-up approach I take the view that the grants awarded in the form of non-repayable fi nancial aid should and the question of GDP remain the main funding instrument after 2020 – for all regions. However, fi nancing should be based more on the principles of the "place-based approach", under which resources will be directed to the priorities that refl ect regions’ real needs. The number of priorities should be limited and should be determined by the regions themselves. On the other hand, however, innovative fi nancial instruments also need to be strengthened, especially those that have the potential to subsequently attract private funding.

We cannot talk about the future of EU Cohesion Policy without mentioning the matter of assessing the maturity of regions, which determines the amount of fi nancial resources committed. Comparing the maturity of regions using one indicator alone – at present GDP per capita in Purchasing Power Standards (PPS) – is inaccurate and gives a skewed picture. Using this approach, Eurostat statistics classify Bratislava region as Europe's sixth most advanced region, which outrages locals and to some extent also undermines their trust in the EU as an institution. I therefore welcome the talks going on at EU level to complement the current system with other indicators, such as the social progress index. We need to improve the image It is very important that the whole debate on simplifying Cohesion Policy is based on the of EU funds principles of multi-level governance, and greater emphasis should be placed on a more immediate three-way dialogue between regional, national and European levels. EU funds as such are viewed as too complicated, are associated with ineffi cacy and corruption and seen by the public generally in a poor light. This is why is it important to remove the barriers that make the system for operating EU funds bureaucratic and opaque. If we manage to do this, it is not just the benefi ciaries who will profi t, but the national and European authorities as well. The EU’s Cohesion Policy has a vital role to play in achieving the goal of economic, social and territorial cohesion and is vitally important for Slovakia. Bratislava Self-governing Region will work closely with the Slovak institutions and I am convinced that Slovakia's presidency of the Council of the EU will contribute specifi c proposals for making EU Cohesion Policy more eff ective and simpler.

Pavol Frešo President of the Bratislava Self-Governing Region and member of the European Committee of the Regions

15 © OneClick,s.r.o© 11. EU-funded projects

VUKONZE Centre of Excellence

Project: Benefi ciary: Košice University of Technology Partner: Slovak Academy of Sciences' Institute of Materials Research, Košice Research centre for the Funding source: ERDF effi cient integration of ERDF: EUR 4 140 000 renewable energy sources Co-fi nancing: EUR 256 000 Total: EUR 4 400 000 Project duration: May 2010 − February 2014 Project location: Košice For further information: http://portal.tuke.sk/vukonze

The aim of the project was to create and ensure the sustainable development of the open, network-based VUKONZE research centre. With its facilities, remit and capacity for approximately seventy scientists in twelve integrated laboratories, this would provide the region’s research and development community with a platform for a) eff ective domestic and foreign R&D collaboration on complex RES-based systems, b) the eff ective transfer of outcomes of basic applied research to practical use via a system of integrated, user- oriented R&D, and c) strategic collaboration with regional, national and international institutions involved in developing the use of renewable energy sources.

The overarching strategic objective of the project and the main idea behind it was to establish an eff ective network-based R&D platform for the development of renewable energy sources as part of Slovak and European innovation strategies. The platform comes under the umbrella of the VUKONZE centre, which has now established itself.

VUKONZE was set up in 2014 following the end of the project and focuses on renewable energies and specifi cally on research in the following areas: technologies for the energy use of biomass, technologies for the use of hydrogen as an alternative fuel of the future, the collection and use of solar energy, optimising the use of shallow and deep geothermal energy sources, selected materials and technologies for renewables, hydrogen cells, research and development in the eff ective integration of renewable sources, the consumer/intelligent low-energy building model, smart management of renewable energy electricity production and consumption, and a multipurpose laboratory to optimise and use renewables.

Contact: Dr František Vranay, director, VUKONZE ([email protected])

16 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union Project: Funding source: CBC SK-AT 2007-2013 Total cost: EUR 4 625 143.70 Freedom Cycle Bridge ERDF source: EUR 3 931 372.11 Public funding: EUR 693 771.56 Co-fi nancing by Bratislava Self-governing Region: EUR 99 117.09 Project duration: January 2009 – December 2012 Project location: Devínska Nová Ves – Schlosshof Further information: http://www.sk-at.eu/ Main partner: Land of Lower Austria

Description: As far back as the reign of Austria's Maria Theresa, the banks of the Morava river were linked by a bridge between Devínska Nová Ves and the Austrian village of Schlosshof. It took sixty years for this historical route to be restored. The Freedom Cycle Bridge was offi cially opened on 22 September 2012. The project was co-fi nanced from EU funds under the Austria-Slovakia Cross-border Cooperation Operational Programme 2007-2013, the project partners being the government of Lower Austria, Bratislava Self-governing Region, Bratislava city and Devínska Nová Ves. The bridge mainly serves cyclists and hikers and is an important link between Austrian and Slovak regional cycle routes. It is used by hundreds of cyclists every day.

The bridge is a regular venue for public events, including European Cooperation Day, staged by the Bratislava region as part of European Mobility Week. It was awarded the public prize for best construction in the CE·ZA·AR 2014 architecture competition and was nominated in the prestigious national Construction of the Year 2013 competition, coming in second.

This restoration of the connection between the two banks illustrates the results of the cross-border cooperation between Austria and Slovakia. The Freedom Cycle Bridge is not just a construction in steel, but above all a symbol connecting nations, regions and people and representing European goals in Cohesion Policy. In the words of Bratislava region governor Pavol Frešo: “This bridge connects us with Austria physically and with the whole of Europe symbolically. I believe that Bratislava county has a European dimension and has something to off er visitors. The Freedom Cycle Bridge is one of the ways they come to our region.”

17 Project name: Name and seat of benefi ciary: The Slovak Agricultural University in Nitra, Trieda Andreja Hlinku 2, 949 76 Nitra Creation of the Operational Programme: Research and Development AgroBioTech research Funding source: European Regional Development Fund centre Cost of the project: Total cost: EUR 26 308 960.30 Financing from EU funds and national budget: EUR 24 993 512.29 Co-fi nancing by the benefi ciary: EUR 1 315 448.01 Project duration: April 2013 – November 2015 Project location: Nitra

Description: The project’s main aim was to create a regional competence centre in Nitra for applied agro-biotechnology R&D that would bring together top-fl ight applied research through a partnership between institutions based in the city: the Slovak Agricultural University, the University of Constantine the Philosopher and the Slovak Academy of Sciences’ Institute of Plant Genetics and Biotechnology.

The centre is equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, enabling research to international standards with real-world application and tailored to key needs in priority areas in agrobiology, biotechnology, gene technologies, the agri-food sector, agricultural product processing technology, agroecology and bioenergetics.

Project website: http://www.agrobiotech.sk/

18 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union Project: EU funding source: ERDF Amount: EUR 4, 964, 179.47 Innovative technologies Co-fi nancing: 50% for introducing competitive Project duration: September 2013 – August 2015 manufacturing of Project location: City of Prešov a new series of cycloidal Project outcomes: boosting competitiveness in the production of a series of small speed reducers cycloidal speed reducers, raising level of technology and productivity, creating new jobs and strengthening the company's footprint in the global market to the benefi t of the Prešov region. The project created fi fty new jobs, with the prospect of a further fi fty by 2020.

Description: The main aim of the project was to bring in innovative technologies to make production of a new series of small bearing reduction gears more competitive. Specifi c goals addressed the introduction of automated technology workshops and versatile manufacturing units for working speed reducer components and the introduction of a set of innovative technologies and manufacturing processes to improve the quality and productivity of speed reducer manufacture. These technologies are at the global cutting edge when it comes to grinding, milling, broaching, making of centric and eccentric surfaces, and induction hardening. The new technological assemblies are expected to be not just effi cient, but also to deliver micrometric accuracy in the manufacture of components.

SPINEA, s.r.o. is a modern manufacturing and development company whose main product are extremely accurate gears. It is one of the four biggest makers of bearing reduction gears in the world market and is the only European company in its category. It is based in Prešov and currently employs over 450 staff .

Project website: http://www.spinea.sk/sk/ucast-na-projektoch/

19 Project name: Benefi ciary and seat: Levice Funding source: European Regional Development Fund Redeveloping and Cost of the project: Total eligible costs of the project EUR 9, 775, 357.90 revitalising brownfi eld site Non-returnable funding of 95% EUR 9, 286, 590.01 infrastructure in Levice Co-fi nancing by Levice of 5% EUR 488, 767.90 into an industrial and Project duration: August 2010 – December 2012 trading estate Project location: Levice – Géňa industrial estate

Description: The project redeveloped a brownfi eld site at Sokolovská 3435/70, creating an industrial estate for business with a total of 18 212.43 m² of new buildings equipped to modern standards. The project created new jobs at the investor companies Roez, s.r.o. (Bernolákova 5, Levice) and Hadvičák, s.r.o. (ČSA 20, 974 01, Banská Bystrica).

The construction of the new industrial estate is helping to develop related services and improve quality of life and prosperity in Levice. Implementation of the project is especially benefi cial to the development of the region's energy and the automotive industries.

Project website: http://www.levice.sk/projekt-vystavba-a-revitalizacia-infrastruktury- hnedeho-priemyselneho-arealu-na-vyrobno-servisny-priemyselny-park-levice. phtml?id_menu=55851&id_kat_for_open=16503

20 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union Project name: Benefi ciary and seat: TESGAL-Holzapfel, s.r.o. Staničná 502, 952 01 Vráble Expanding production Funding source: European Regional Development Fund capacity in the surface Cost of the project: Total eligible costs of the project: EUR 7, 933, 346.61 treatment of metals Non-repayable fi nancing: EUR 3, 173, 338.64 Own resources: EUR 4, 760, 007.97 Project duration: March 2009 – December 2009 Project location:Vráble

Description: The aim of the project was to update and expand the company’s production potential and capacity through the purchase of new equipment for the surface treatment of metals. Specifi c project aims: 1. Hanging line for zinc nickel alloy plating 2. Line for zinc nickel alloy assembly plating 3. Neutralisation unit 4. Furthering collaboration with suppliers 5. Furthering collaboration with existing customers and satisfying their growing demand 6. Diversifying the portfolio of customers, laying the groundwork for acquiring new customers 7. Making products more competitive in the marketplace. With the new technology much better products can be put onto the market 8. Boosting revenue 9. Improving market competitiveness

At the end of the project the benefi ciary was in a position to: • be more competitive in the market (marketing better products) • extend collaboration with existing customers • acquire new customers.

Project website: http://www.tesgal.sk/

21 Project name: Project duration: October 2011 – December 2014 Project budget: EUR 4 466 084 CEC5 ERDF source: EUR 3 609 749.40 Trnava Self-Governing Region: EUR 405 860 (ERDF) + EUR 71 622 (co-fi nancing from the region) The CEC5 project was fi nanced under the Central Europe programme and involved twelve project partners from eight central European countries, Trnava Self-governing Region being the only Slovak partner. The aim of the project was to improve the existing methods and tools for certifying the energy effi ciency of public buildings with a view to establishing a common, supranational certifi cation tool called CESBA. The core of the project was to renovate and add to a public building in order to install equipment to run on renewables, lower energy consumption and, in the case of the new building, build to passive energy standards.

Location of the demonstration building: Stredná odborná škola Senica, Viliama Paulínyho- Tótha 31/5, Senica

Solar heating, a heat pump, pellet boiler and photovoltaic panels were installed. The system was conceived in such a way that individual equipment could work both independently but also in combination depending on the weather and the requirements of the building’s operator. It was designed to provide thermal comfort in the part of the building concerned, enough hot water for the kitchen, canteen and toilets, and enough electricity for the operations room running the model building and monitoring the functioning and effi ciency of the system. The technical set-up also had to provide for the system to be able to switch over entirely from using renewables and return to the original means of heating and hot water provision, namely a gas boiler.

22 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union The historical building of the East Slovakia Museum

Project: Funding source: ERDF, EIB Total cost: EUR 7 294 000 Reconstruction of EIB loan: EUR 1 660 000 the historical building of ERDF: EUR 4 567 900 the East Slovakia Museum National budget: EUR 537 400 in Košice Own resources: EUR 528 700 Project location: Košice Project website: http://www.vsmuzeum.sk/ Main partner: Košice Self-Governing Region

The East Slovakia Museum in Košice is one of the oldest museum buildings in Slovakia. It was built between 1898 and 1901 in a monumental neo-renaissance style and is one of the city’s landmarks.

This architecturally self-assured building is proof of the high standard of local builders and the quality of craftsmen at the turn of the twentieth century. The whole edifi ce is rich in architectural detail, with numerous art and artisanal fi ttings, stone features and wrought- iron railings.

In 2008, the regional government embarked on a unique project to renovate the building, which is more than a hundred years old, transforming it in several stages into an institution that, although dedicated to mapping history, is very much of our time. The total renovation costs, including funds from the Regional Operational Programme under priority axis 7.1 – ECoC Košice 2013 – came to just short of EUR 7 294 000.

The offi cial re-opening of the building took place on 13 September 2013 and included a new interactive exhibition entitled Košice’s Gold Treasure. A new multipurpose room under the roof of the building is used as a permanent venue for talks, workshops, concerts, offi cial functions and various other events. In another part of this space, by the old chimney, we plan to open a Chimney Gallery. Another of East Slovakia Museum’s ambitions is to off er the public a new archaeology exhibition in restored premises on the ground fl oor.

The gardens are used for events accompanying exhibitions taking place and for traditional events such as Earth Day, Museum Night and Gold Rush.

Thanks to events such as these visitors will be able to discover other aspects of the museum’s exhibitions, collections and interactive tours..

23 Project name: Start of project: 1 September 2013 End of project: 31 December 2014 Knowledge exchange in Partner: Faculty of Materials Science and Technology in Trnava (STU Bratislava) the framework of Programme: European Territorial Cooperation (ETC), Slovakia – Austria Cross-border alternative economic cooperation programme 2007-2013 (ERDF) systems for the promotion Total cost: EUR 19 830 of sustainable regional Co-fi nancing rate: 85% development (ALTECS) Project description The target groups of the project were undertakings interested in putting sustainability into action in some way, with a primary focus on SMEs that were working – or attempting to work – with other undertakings in the Slovakia-Austria borderlands.

The main aim was to draft sustainable development projects and implement them in small groups together with students at the university’s summer school. Subjects covered included environmentally sustainable production, environmental protection measures, quality of human resources, migration from the region, population ageing and setting up networks within the region. The SMEs taking part had to create added value by implementing useful initiatives in regional development and development of qualifi cations using external sources and based on pooling of experience between universities.

In order to support sustainable progress on the environmental, economic and social fronts, science- and economics-based regional know-how was made available at a summer school attended by the target groups. Support was given here to companies that wanted to embark on the path towards a social, environmental and economic ideal or that could serve as a model of good practice and so pass on valuable experience and advice. Taking part were economics and management students from Slovakia and Austria who were interested in getting a better understanding of sustainability and wanted to get involved in opening up new horizons for sustainable regional development using group projects in collaboration with SMEs. Creating and carrying out the educational programme jointly helps the neighbours to understand each other (in cultural, economic, environmental and social spheres) and nurtures solidarity in the border region and shared responsibility for the borderlands as an economic area..

24 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union 12. Košice is changing into a city of creativity thanks to ECoC

© Miroslav Vacula ECoC 2013 kicked off Košice’s transformation into a city of creativity

Košice is the fi rst European destination with the title of European Capital of Culture (ECoC) to have surpassed within two years the number of visitors it had when holding the title. Overnight stays in 2015 were almost 10% up on 2013. After processing more than 4 600 questionnaires and tens of thousands of items of data, a survey carried out to international standards found that almost 80% of visitors thought Košice’s image had improved.

Richard Raši, Mayor of Košice: “The ECoC 2013 project, which invested over EUR 100 million in the reconstruction and modernising of the cultural infrastructure and staging of cultural events, kick-started the city’s transformation into the modern and rapidly fl ourishing centre of eastern Slovakia. Košice sprang to life as never before, because the world discovered the city and the people of Košice discovered the best of the world’s culture and art. What pleases me most is that Košice has been literally and metaphorically rejuvenated. Surveys show that young people in particular have been extremely pleased about developments in the city. It was people between the ages of 21 and 30 who were the most upbeat about ECoC. Following the success of ECoC 2013, there has been a general upturn in public interest in culture and art events. The people of Košice are proud that the new and updated cultural infrastructure has made our city more attractive and it is gratifying that it has become part and parcel of their everyday social and cultural life. In addition, ECoC 2013 connected cultural and art events in Košice with European and world agendas and spawned new partnerships that enrich us all.”

Thanks to the ECoC in Košice, young people discovered great prospects for the future and a potential for the city’s growth. Košice has a great opportunity to build on what has already been achieved and can rightly claim to have a great future ahead of it. This opportunity is all the greater because it has been primarily those with a secondary and tertiary education who have responded to the culture that the ECoC project off ered.

25 Jaroslav Hlinka, mayor of Košice–South and European Committee of the Regions member: “With support from the European Union we have built Slovakia's fi rst 'Kunsthalle' exhibition space and the country's largest arts centre – The Barracks/ Kulturpark – and converted eight disused eating substations on the city’s housing developments into new community centres as part of the SPOTs project. In all, twenty investment projects were carried out in Košice as part of the ECoC. Anyone who has not been to Košice for a few years can compare for himself and see the enormous progress that our city has made.”

Thanks to 2013, Košice started to transform itself from a city known mainly for iron and steel production into a city of creativity. Following the success of the ECoC, its ambition is to apply for the title of UNESCO City of Creative Media Arts 2018, so it is focussing primarily on supporting the cultural and creative sectors, in particular connecting up digital technologies and the creative sector. It is drawing on the exceptionally vibrant and swiftly developing ICT segment, thanks to which Košice has been dubbed Europe's Silicon Valley. The development agency Creative Industry Košice and the Creative Economy Institute association are busy at work. A master plan for the development of creative industries by 2020 has been drawn up in the city in collaboration with experts from abroad. The plan foresees obtaining EU funds to develop a Creative Centre in which Košice city will concentrate on developing media arts and the Košice region will focus on design, architecture and crafts. Košice is also preparing to extend attractive and creative use of digital and media technologies to other areas of the city’s life, such as its public transport. © Košice region turizmus archív

26 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union 13. Local and regional authorities have their place in the Energy Union

The history of the Covenant of Mayors – a unique movement of Europe’s local and regional authorities involved in implementing sustainable energy policy – goes back to 2008. The decision to launch the initiative came from the European Commission, with the European Committee of the Regions – which brings together Europe’s local and regional authorities – charged with bringing the idea to fruition. Signatories to the covenant commit themselves to meeting and going beyond the European Union target of a 20% reduction in CO2 emissions by 2020 and use of at least 20% of renewable energies (the familiar 3x20 formula).

As Mayor of Moldava nad Bodvou (a small village with a population of ten thousand in the east of Slovakia) between 1990 and 2014, and as a member of the European Committee of the Regions, I was one of the fi rst signatories and champions of the Covenant of Mayors in Slovakia. Moldava nad Bodvou was the seventh town in Europe to accede to the covenant – on 2 May 2008. It has since been followed by Nitra (2008) and Turčianske Teplice and Bratislava (2012). I was behind the accession of a further six towns from the Piešťany district and four from the Košice area, but although they signed the covenant, they then failed to draft action plans and so their involvement lapsed. Moldava nad Bodvou drew up and successfully implemented an action plan: it built a cogeneration power plant, thermally upgraded offi ce and school buildings run by the town, built biomass power plants, a biogas station generating electricity, and revamped public lighting and is using the electricity produced.

When I became deputy president of the Košice Self-Governing Region in 2013, I started looking for ways to capitalise on this positive experience at regional level. The covenant had in the meantime also taken on climate change commitments and is now called the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy.

Along with partner cities (13 towns and 2 micro-regions covering 22 municipalities), we drafted a project called ENREKO (Energy Region Košice).

The aim of the partnership is to cement disparate local initiatives into a combined project to support municipalities that lack experience in drafting projects in the fi eld of energy effi ciency, renewable energy and adapting to climate change.

Our region wishes to accede to the Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy as a coordinator of this shared venture for the whole region. At the same time, it intends to set up the Košice Energy Cluster (KEK), where it plans – together with partner institutions, technology companies and academic support – to tackle further opportunities for diversifying the region’s energy dependency. It will also get much more actively involved

27 © Košice region turizmus archív

in events such as Energy Day and other information and communication campaigns on EU energy goals.

Košice Self-Governing Region can carry out and promote the kind of investment that seeks to bolster energy security, make more use of renewable energy sources available in the region and, ultimately, reduce emissions and improve the climate and environmental performance in the establishments it runs. At the same time, the region will work with local authorities, businesses and other organisations on its territory.

The regional authority will promote in its establishments the thermal upgrading of buildings and modernisation of energy technology, the updating of boilers in schools, hospitals and other public buildings heated with coal, coke, natural gas and fuel oil, as well as energy-saving measures and low-consumption equipment.

Cooperation with cities in the region will be aimed at providing advice for producers and potential users on options to promote energy efficiency measures and the use of renewable energy sources for energy purposes. It will help them in the preparation of projects, publishing of publicity material and organising of specialist workshops. It will also be important to share experience in drawing EU structural funds for projects in the region.

Košice region lies at the very edge of the EU and is lagging economically. One of the greatest obstacles to taking energy effi ciency measures and using renewable energy sources at local and regional level is insuffi cient initial investment. We need to make use of every instrument conceived at EU level that helps local and regional authorities to overcome their budgetary constraints. This is why a number of support programmes have been launched at EU level in recent years. One of these is Technical Assistance – ELENA (European Local ENergy Assistance), run by the European Commission’s DG Energy in cooperation with the EIB and fi nanced through Horizon 2020. This programme is geared to support and technical assistance in the preparation of quality investment programmes in cities and regions in the fi elds of energy effi ciency and renewable energy resources (renovation of buildings, incorporation of renewable energy sources, district heating and cooling, combined heat and power generation, urban transport, smart grids, and so on).

We have decided to apply for ELENA in preparing investment for the ENREKO project. We plan to use it to draft feasibility studies, energy effi ciency evaluations for buildings, energy audits, pre-project studies and public procurement for future investment in

28 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union several areas of reducing energy consumption and increasing energy effi ciency of government buildings (schools and social and cultural facilities) run by the region and partner towns and municipalities. Our aim is to increase energy effi ciency by placing renewable energy equipment on roofs, establishing a photovoltaic power supply and introducing effi cient public lighting in towns and municipalities.

In the ENREKO (Energy Region Košice) plan we intend to invest EUR 61.9 million, which is included in the preliminary application. When this has been agreed and the actual application for ELENA approved, we anticipate receiving such support to the tune of between EUR 2 and 2.5 million. Co-fi nancing of 10% will be provided by the partners (Košice Self-governing Region and the towns and municipalities) in proportion to their share in the planned investment.

These investments will then be fi nanced mainly from EU Structural and Investment Funds in the new 2014-2020 programming period, from banks (commercial banks, the European Investment Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development) and from energy performance contract (EPC) projects, as well as additional own resources.

ENREKO is part of broader European endeavour to boost energy effi ciency. In February 2015, the European Commission presented a plan to create an Energy Union, which would incrementally remove barriers to cross-border energy fl ows and reduce Europe’s dependency on fossil fuels. One of the fi ve pillars on which this ambitious project rests is increasing energy effi ciency. Given the energy footprint of public buildings, in particular, and the instruments local and regional authorities now have available, I am convinced that they can do a great deal to help bring about the Energy Union.

István Zachariaš

Deputy President of the Košice Self-Governing Region Member of the European Committee of the Regions © Peter Olekšák

29 14. European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation

Ján Ferenčák, Mayor of Kežmarok and CoR Alternate Member

Name of EGTC: Ján Ferenčák: One of Slovakia’s most beautiful areas are the High Tatra mountains, EGTC Tatry s.r.o. the smallest mountain range in Europe, which span the border between two countries, Slovakia and Poland. Cooperation between the two partners – the Euroregion “Tatry” Association on the Polish side and Region "Tatry" Association on the Slovak side – has a long tradition, so I regard the creation of EGTC Tatry, a joint Polish-Slovak legal entity, to be a natural, innovative development in cross-border cooperation. The EGTC was founded in August 2013 under the terms of European Parliament and Council Regulation (EC) No 1082/2006 of 5 July 2006.

As mayor of the both royal and modern town of Kežmarok, which lies just below the Tatras, I welcomed its creation. The design and implementation of a cross-border cooperation projects co-funded by the European Union and other sources will very much strengthen the economic and social cohesion of authorities on both sides of the Tatra mountains.

Results of the cooperation/initial outcomes: Collaboration between EGTC TATRY, the Tatra Euroregion and local and regional authorities is bringing into being a prestigious cross-border tourism product in the form of a historical, cultural and nature trail around the Tatras.

The fi rst phase, in 2014-2015, when the grouping was acting as project manager, saw 13 municipalities sign up and 93 kilometres of cycle routes laid out. We invested up front EUR 5.7 million from the European Regional Development Fund as part of the cross-border cooperation programme. In its capacity as lead partner, EGTC Tatry now has the second stage of the trail around the Tatras ready. Ten municipalities are on board and a further 60 kilometres of cycle route will put down on both the Polish and Slovak sides.

This is one of the activities that will again take life in town and region up a level.

About the EGTC: Creation: August 2013 Members: Tatry s.r.o.: Małopolska Voivodeship, most of Prešov Self-governing Region, part of Žilina region and the district of Spišská Nová Ves in the Košice region Area: 13 700 km2 Population: 1.5 million Seat: Nowy Targ, Poland Contact: www.euwt-tatry.eu www.ezus-tatry.eu www.egtc-tatry.eu

30 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union István Zachariaš, Deputy President of the Košice Self-Governing Region and © Združenie TVC Member of the CoR

EGTC name: István Zachariaš: The decisive factor in the creation of the EGTC was the idea of Via Carpatia s.r.o. stepping up the cooperation that already existed between the two regions. The EGTC was established with a view to intensifying and promoting cross-border, transnational and regional cooperation. Its aim is to cement economic and social cohesion by implementing common development strategies and projects. Previous cooperation was based on joint initiatives in the fi eld of conservation of cultural and historical heritage and the development of tourism. The EGTC continues to be active in these areas. One of the main objectives is the creation of a north-south road and rail link, also known as Via Carpatia, which brings together seven eastern European Union countries from the Baltic to the Aegean. In this connection, the EGTC is currently working towards the signing of a cooperation agreement between seven regions from three countries. The creation of the corridor and its incorporation into the TEN-T network is a key objective in terms of the development of the eastern regions. Connecting up these parts of the European Union brings with it signifi cant opportunities in the movement of goods, in employment, logistics, development of industrial estates, and so on.

Results of the cooperation/initial outcomes: The most signifi cant step was the signing of a cooperation agreement to build Via Carpatia – the shortest route from Lithuania to Greece – on 17 April 2015 in Rzeszów in Poland by representatives of regional authorities in Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. The signing of the agreement came as the culmination of the international conference on the Via Carpatia as the strategic corridor of the EU's eastern regions. The grouping also secured a grant for a cycling project from Slovakia’s Ministry of Transport, Construction and Regional Development and was also successful in a project for support from Hungary’s foreign aff airs ministry. It continues to be committed to projects it is keen to implement from a range of programmes, such as the Visegrad Fund, Europe for Citizens, Interreg VA, and so on. It has been working over the long term on umbrella projects in the Interreg VA Slovakia – Hungary programme, in which it is applying to manage the small projects fund.

About the EGTC Created: 31 May 2013 Members: Košice Self-Governing Region, Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén County Area: 14 002 km² Population: 1 503 899 Seat: Košice, Slovakia Contact: www.viacarpatia.eu; [email protected] [email protected], +421 918 804 427

31 Jozef Dvonč, Mayor of Nitra and Member of the CoR

Name: EGTC Pontibus – Nitra Jozef Dvonč: Nitra Self-Governing Region and the city of Nitra consider implementation Self-governing Region of the European territorial cooperation programme to be an important opportunity and instrument for collaboration-based regional development. The founding members of the Pontibus EGTC are convinced that when implemented the agreement will help to further the overall aim for which it was set up, namely strengthening economic and social cohesion – and not just between the regions and countries along the Danube. The EGTC members have also marked out priority areas for cooperation that fi t hand in glove with the directions set out in strategy documents at all levels and in all areas. The most important issues for the partners in the grouping are developing transport infrastructure, the economy, research and innovation, tourism and energy. Acting as representatives for the partner authorities are the cities of Nitra and Levice in Slovakia and Budapest and Vác in Hungary. Since Nitra region governor Milan Belica and I are both members of the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels, there is an opportunity here too to pool experience and insights from various areas of local and regional government involvement with municipalities and towns in other countries. Swapping ideas in this way is a great help in developing and improving services to the public and getting authorities to raise their game. Cooperation is also possible on developing tourism, on social and cultural activity and on various exchange schemes – and, last but not least, it provides a forum for designing joint projects fi nanced from EU funds.

Results of the cooperation/initial outcomes: The shared ambition is to apply to manage the small projects fund under cross-border operational programme HU-SK 2014 – 2020 for the western stretch of the Slovak-Hungarian border, which would entail overseeing implementation of roughly three hundred projects to the tune of more than EUR 6 million over seven years. The city of Nitra expects to see an improvement in both supranational and interregional cooperation. Another of the main goals is to intensify cooperation particularly between Slovakia and Hungary’s border areas. A separate endeavour it to broaden in particular economic collaboration, as well as cooperation on transport, culture and other areas. It is also very important that conditions are put in place that really facilitate Cohesion Fund take-up beyond the two countries concerned, Hungary and Slovakia.

The following are priority areas for cooperation that constitute specifi c objectives: • transport, • the economy, • research and innovation, • energy and renewables, • human resources, • agriculture and the food industry, • the environment, • tourism, • culture, • sport, • health, • social sector.

Establishment of EGTC Pontibus Establishment: 2015 Members: Pest County, Nitra Self-governing Region, Municipality of Budapest and the cities of Nitra, Levice and Vác Area: 12 737 km² Seat: Pest County, Városház utca 7, H-1052 Budapest Contact: [email protected]

32 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union Augustín Hambálek, Deputy President of the Trnava Self-Governing Region and Member of the CoR

EGTC name: Rába-Duna- Augustín Hambálek: Thanks to European integration, the Slovak and Hungarian nations, Vág European Grouping of which for a long time lived with and then alongside each other, again have the chance to work together. The EGTC provides the legal framework for this collaboration. The Rába- Territorial Cooperation Duna-Vág EGTC is an opportunity for both countries, but also a great responsibility. EGTC RDV was established on 20 September 2011 in Tatabányi, where it has its seat.

As deputy president of Trnava Self-Governing Region, I welcome this opportunity to create shared development projects that improve the quality of life of populations on both banks of the Danube. The EGTC either supports the development of a specifi c region or is a form of fi nancing that enables the best use of funds.

Initial outcomes: To lay the foundation for its cross-border cooperation projects co-financed by the European Union, EGTC RDV drafted an integrated development strategy for the Rába- Duna-Vág EGTC. Its strategic objective is to create a border area that benefits all three sides, to harmonise the members' development plans for particular sectors, draft joint development plans, erect a cross-border institutional structure and common institutions, extend cross-border economic, social and institutional cooperation and prepare and carry out specific cooperation projects as part of the Danube Region Strategy. By using a modern, integrated and strategic approach, EGTC RDV wants to be part of big projects that are complex in nature, boost employment, raise living standards and protect the environment.

About the EGTC: Establishment: September 2011 Members: Trnava Self-Governing Region, Bratislava Self-Governing Region, Komárom- Esztergom County, Györ-Moson-Sopron County and Pest County Area: 13 196 km² Population: 3.6 million Seat: Tatabánya, Kmárom-Esztergom County Contact: www.rdvegtc.eu

33 15. Bratislava chairs the Council of Danube Cities and Regions © Marek Velcek

In November 2015, Slovakia took over the presidency of the Danube Region Strategy. At the same time, the country's capital, Bratislava, became the host of the Council of Danube Cities and Regions. In February 2016, the city was the venue for a meeting of the council's executive committee, which was attended by more than forty representatives of cities and regions from ten countries involved in the Danube Region Strategy. In line with Slovakia’s national strategy within the Danube Region Strategy, current executive committee chairman and Bratislava mayor Ivo Nesrovnal made the topic of “water and the knowledge society” his priority. The council itself was set up to promote the interests of its members with the European institutions and create an integrated Danube region area.

It is an area with great potential. The cornerstone and defi ning feature of the strategy for the area is the Danube, which is the transport and cultural artery linking the countries, regions and cities from its source in the Black Forest to its mouth in the Black Sea. For Bratislava, the Danube is above all an asset for the landscape and protection of natural resources and a space for innovation that improves quality of life. For this reason, the city of Bratislava is trying in its daily life to use the potential of the river and immediate surroundings, where there is a large reservoir of drinking water and a natural heritage such as the fl ood plains and dead arms of the river, as well as a multimodal port and space for sport and recreation. This is one reason why we can call Bratislava not just the city by the Danube, but the city on the Danube.

One of the trends in the knowledge society over the last two decades has been to make the best possible use of the concentration of scientifi c, technical and educational capacity by putting innovation to practical use. And it is not just in the private sector that innovative approaches can be used. One of the ways modern cities are making themselves more prosperous is by using smart methods in carrying out their remits. Eff ective management of sources, informed decision-making and anticipation of problems and threats: these are the attributes of the city hubs of the 21st century, whose aim is to ensure quality of life for its population. And this is also the challenge for Bratislava, which is chairing the Council of Danube Cities and Regions.

Its chairmanship is a further opportunity to really take forward the collaboration between countries in the Danube region. In the words of Bratislava mayor Ivo Nesrovnal, chair of the council's executive committee: "At the same time, events in connection with the presidency are injecting new energy and opportunities for broader cross-border collaboration. It is also an opportunity for Bratislava to put itself forward as a modern, open, dynamic, creative and hospitable city that is building on its traditions." He added that not least it helps to boost the city's tourism sector through increased demand for good hotels, restaurants and cultural and other services, as well as tourist services as such.

34 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union 16. Events Schedule

1 JULY - 31 Relay race: Slovakia’s Presidency of the Council of the European AUGUST 2016 Union 2016 – sports event, Active Life n.o., Košice and Prešov regions

Latest insights into the mission of Saints Cyril and Methodius, 4 JULY 2016 patron saints of Europe, to Great Moravia, conference, Nitra

7 JULY 2016 Opening concert to the 7th European Summit of Regions and Cities, Devín, Bratislava

8 - 9 JULY 2016 7th European Summit of Regions and Cities, Bratislava

8 - 9 JULY 2016 Danube Up, side event, 7th European Summit of Regions and Cities, Námestie M.R. Štefánika, Bratislava

15 - 17 Blue-dyeing workshop with the Josef Vydra School of Applied Arts as part SEPTEMBER 2016 of the Brussels Design September, Bratislava Region Brussels Office

25 - 27 “Nitra Europe” for representatives of the partners of Nitra city SEPTEMBER 2016 and region to mark World Tourism Day, workshop, Nitra

4 - 6 Young People’s European Conference, international conference, Košice OCTOBER 2016

8 OCTOBER 2016 Folk Dancing Course – workshop in Slovak folk dances, Les Halles, Bratislava Region Brussels Office

From Start-ups to Scale-ups: how to support innovative business growth and the economy 11 OCTOBER 2016 of tomorrow?, conference as part of the Week of Regions and Cities, Bratislava Region Brussels Office

OCTOBER 2016 ENTER-Startup – Tech and Creative Industry Conference, www.ipcpo.sk, Prešov

7 - 10 Slovak Cuisine Week, pupils from secondary catering schools NOVEMBER 2016 prepare a complete menu in the European Commission’s canteens, Bratislava Region Brussels Office

Why is the Energy Union and energy security one of the Slovak 9 NOVEMBER 2016 presidency’s key priorities?, conference, Mochovce nuclear power plant

10 NOVEMBER 2016 Strengthening human rights on employment in the V4, international conference, Košice

Dual education in secondary vocational schools as an opportunity for 10 NOVEMBER 2016 new skills and a real chance for getting a job, conference, Zlaté Moravce

NOVEMBER 2016 EAST-ROOM – Innovation Forum 2016, www.ipcpo.sk, Prešov

7 DECEMBER 2016 Vernissage: Photography exhibition on Slovakia, European Committee of the Regions, Brussels

8.-10. Christmas market – Christmas market for the Slovak community, with a workshop on felting, DECEMBER 2016 woodcarving and recycling paper to make Xmas decorations, Bratislava Region Brussels Office

35 17. Contacts

THE EUROPEAN COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 99-101 B – 1040 Bruxelles/Brussel Belgium www.cor.europa.eu PERMANENT REPRESENTATION OF THE SLOVAK REPUBLIC TO THE EUROPEAN UNION Avenue de Cortenbergh/Kortenberglaan 107 1000 Bruxelles/Brussel Belgium https://www.mzv.sk/web/szbrusel-en http://www.eu2016.sk/sk REPRESENTATION OF THE EUROPEAN COMMISSION IN SLOVAKIA Palisády 29 811 06 Bratislava http://ec.europa.eu/slovakia/index_sk.htm EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT INFORMATION OFFICE IN SLOVAKIA Palisády 29 811 06 Bratislava http://www.europskyparlament.sk/ BRATISLAVA REGION BRUSSELS OFFICEI Rue d’Arlon/Aarlenstraat 63-67 B – 1040 Bruxelles/Brussel Belgium http://www.bratislavaregion.eu/sk/ KOSICE REGION BRUSSELS OFFICE Rue d’Arlon/Aarlenstraat 63-67 B – 1040 Bruxelles/Brussel Belgium http://web.vucke.sk/sk/samosprava/urad/zastupenie-bruseli/ PREŠOV REGION BRUSSELS OFFICE Rue d’Arlon/Aarlenstraat 63-67 B – 1040 Bruxelles/Brussel Belgium https://www.po-kraj.sk/sk/samosprava/medzinarodna-spolupraca/zastupenie-psk-v-bruseli/ ASSOCIATION OF TOWNS AND COMMUNITIES OF SLOVAKIA Bezručova 9 811 09 Bratislava http://www.zmos.sk/?program=351

36 The European Committee of the Regions and the Slovak Presidency of the Council of the European Union

cdr_2921_06/2016_EN

EUROPEAN UNION

Committee of the Regions

June 2016 Edited by the Directorate for Communication of the European Committee of the Regions Rue Belliard/Belliardstraat 101 _ 1040 Bruxelles/Brussels _ Belgique/België Tel. +32 22822448_ Fax +32 22822085 www.cor.europa.eu Follow us: @EU_CoR https://www.facebook.com/committee.of.the.regions