Mayor Dubravko Bilić signed a grant agreement on the project “Development of strategic cross-border cooperation between Letenye, Ludbreg and Prelog – DESCO”. Total amount of the project is 263.657,80 €. The project was submitted to the Hungary-Croatia Cross-border Cooperation Programme and was selected for co-financing in the category of 204 projects that ware submitted.
The project DESCO is based on a mutual need to strengthen cooperation between small towns and different stakeholders and three partners from two countries, Town Ludbreg, Town Prelog from Croatia and Letenye Municipality from Hungary are taking part in it. The project aims to establish a cross-border cooperation, to strengthen the capacities of local Municipalities and to create a strategic basis for encouraging and increasing the number of cross-border initiatives in the field of small and medium-sized enterprises (SME), civil society and public authorities.
The primary purpose of the project DESCO is to provide tools that will enable all interested in real-time to find partners or associates in one place, which will ultimately result in new business co-operation, projects and programs in the cross-border area. Tools that will enable the creation of strategic partnerships include the development of an e-platform which will have the base of various stakeholders. Also, through the project a different methodology for the development of entrepreneurship, smart cities, ICT, sustainable development, project ideas and application form development will be developed.
The overall objective of the project is to provide the opportunity for joint participation in the development of strategic development for each partner individually and for the entire cross-border area that suits the needs of all involved stakeholders. The specific objectives that the project wants to solve are: exchange of experience and knowledge among participants from the Croatian and Hungarian side; strengthening the links and partnerships between local governments, civil society, small and medium enterprises, citizens on both side of the border, strengthening the common identity and promotion of local strategic development that will spill over on the cross-border area.
– Due to the general economic crisis that pervades most of Europe, the link between institutions, civil-society representatives, businessmen and a wide circle of stakeholders has become a necessity. Cross-border stakeholders are suspicious, do not dare to launch initiatives and joint programs because there is no established common and unique methodology of action. And this is exactly what the DESCO project will try to solve – said Mayor Dubravko Bilić.
He also emphasized that the motivation to apply such a project came from the need for better co-operation, networking and linking of similar local government units from both sides of the cross-border area with stakeholders from different areas. Particular emphasis will be placed on stakeholders from the entrepreneurial and civil sector and on businessmen and citizens. As small Municipalities like Ludbreg, Letenye and Prelog did not have much opportunity to participate in large initiatives or programs, we decided to launch them ourselves to work together, connect and solve the problems we encounter on a daily basis.