Planning4U is targeted at the Hungarian – Romanian – Ukrainian border region, and in particular its Transcarpathian sub-regions. As a result of the war, the role of Transcarpathia (Zakarpattia oblast) within Ukraine was significantly enhanced, as it became the safest region in the country, being the westernmost province. Since the outbreak of the conflict, Transcarpathia has undergone a major socio-economic transformation which, among other things, was characterized by strong migration trends.
The project will focus on examining the socio-economic impacts of the Russian-Ukrainian war on the region, the consequences of the Ukrainian public administration reform, the identification of development guidelines for the border region, and the encouragement of cross-border cooperation.
It can be said that the border areas covered by the project are located on the periphery of the three countries concerned. Their interdependencies are reinforced as their environmental and social conditions – regardless of physical boundaries – are very similar.
The recent administrative reform in Ukraine stipulates that the newly formed local municipalities (hromadas) – adapted to state and county planning documents – must prepare development plans, but the necessary knowledge, expertise and tools are not available in all cases. Additionally, the entire program region has to face new challenges due to the war. Therefore, it has become also necessary to update the development plans for the 2021-2027 programming period, as well as to evaluate the socio-economic situation of the HU-RO-UA border region and cross-border cooperation.
The development plans being prepared in Zakarpattia oblast and Satu Mare County – within the framework of the project – as well as the cross-border impact assessments in Hungary and Romania, and the trainings to be implemented (spatial development, project management, tender writing), will respond to these challenges, strengthen cross-border institutional and business relations and facilitate Ukraine’s preparation for future EU accession. The training participants will be able to prepare and implement development plans and thus contribute to the sustainable development of the region.
As a result of the project, 14 Transcarpathian local municipality development plans will be created, which will provide the participating local authorities with a suitable basis for preparing the legally required planning documents. In Satu Mare County, the development plans of 3 municipalities located in the border area of the region with Hungary will also be prepared. The synthesis of the development plans and impact assessments produced by the project will help future joint planning activities in the program area and the EU in general.
