The European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) as the most effective legal instrument to promote cross-border, transnational and interregional co-operation, serves as a common meeting point in building dialogues and bridges between neighbours and countries. Furthermore, contributes to the development of social, economic and cultural interrelationships between regions and countries. In the process of establishing an EGTC, approval authorities play a very important role. The differences in the regulation of the Member States may result in lingering of the approval processes that can be avoided by means of a dialogue between the approval authorities.

Ministry of Public Administration and Justice organised the first meeting of the EGTC’s Approval Authorities of the neighbouring countries in February 2012 in Lovasberény, Hungary. In the frame of the meeting, participants accepted a “Final Statement” emphasising the need for the annual organisation of the meeting - “in the interest of joint solution of problems, deepening relations between national approval authorities, strengthening communication between the parties, the Forum should be held on annual basis”.
In the frame of the Hungarian Presidency of CEI 2013, we would like to further strengthen and support the exchange of experiences on EGTC through the organisation of the second Meeting of the Approval Authorities.