Uredba o ratifikaciji Sporazuma med Službo Vlade Republike Slovenije za lokalno samoupravo in regionalno politiko in Ministrstvom za lokalno upravo in regionalni razvoj Republike Madžarske o spodbujanju čezmejnega sodelovanja lokalnih in regionalnih oblasti

The Government Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Local Self-Government and Regional Policy and the Ministry of Local Government and Regional Development of the Republic of Hungary (hereinafter Contracting Parties)

– having regard to the friendly relations between the states;

– having regard to the national legislation and the obligations of international law of both states;

– being aware of the importance and advantages of transfrontier co-operation laid down in the European Outline Convention on Transfrontier Co-operation between Territorial Communities or Authorities done and adopted in Madrid, 21 May 1980;

have agreed as follows:

The Contracting Parties undertake to facilitate and foster opportunities for transfronties co-operation on local and regional level. The purpose is among others to improve opportunities for a better acquaintance and understanding, a faster development of frontier regions, protection of natural resources, mutual assistance in disasters and catastrophes and the improvement of public services.

For the Contracting parties transfrontier co-operation shall mean any agreed administrative, technical, economic, social or cultural actions designed to reinforce and develop good neighbourly relations between the regions on both sides of the frontier and to solve any issues which may arise in this region.

The Contracting Parties shall strive to resolve any contested issues of local importance the preliminary solution of which is requisite for a successful implementation of transfrontier co-operation.

Pursuant to this Agreement the local and regional actors are:

– in the Republic of Slovenia: municipalities, municipality associations and regions.

– In the Republic of Hungary: municipalities, cities, counties and regions.

The Contracting Parties shall notify each other on the changes in the organisation of the local and regional authorities through diplomatic channels.

The Contracting Parties shall in the framework of their national legislation pursue to ensure local and regional authorities the possibilities of establishing co-operation through mutual agreements.

The Contracting Parties undertake to exchange information which shall enable fulfilling the obligations arising from this Agreement. These are mainly legislative information relating to local and regional self-government.

Each Contracting Party shall establish a Commission which shall investigate the national legislation and provisions in force drawing attention to the legislative provisions which might hinder transfrontier co-operation.

The Commissions shall meet at least once a year at a joint meeting to consult each other and exchange relevant information on transfrontier co-operation.

The Commissions meetings between the representatives of the Parties shall take place alternately in Hungary and in Slovenia.

The delegation Party shall bear the following costs in the course of the Commissions meetings by its own public officials and experts:

– travel expenses,

– accommodation,

– daily allowance,

– own expert fees.

The hosting Party shall bear the following costs encountered in the course of the Commissions meetings:

– catering and travel expenses in the host country,

– materials and venues for the meeting,

– expert fees,

– costs of interpreting.

The subjects addressed in the framework of transfrontier co-operation agreements are above all:

– development of local and regional authorities;

– mutual assistance in disasters;

– culture and sports;

– tourism;

– other projects under the responsibility of local and regional authorities.

In case of mutual accordance, the Contracting Parties shall involve third parties in the framework of transfrontier co-operation.

This Agreement shall not in any way after the scope and type of authority of local authorities determined by the national legislation of the Contracting Parties.

According to this Agreement the transfrontier regions are:

– in the Republic of Slovenia the municipalities of development regions of Pomurje and Podravje.

– in the Republic of Hungary the municipalities and cities in the West Transdanubia transfrontier region.

The Contracting Parties shall notify each other on the changes of the above listed transfrontier regions through diplomatic channels.

This Agreement shall not influence the Contracting Parties’ existing rights and responsibilities arising from other binding international agreements.

The Government of the Republic of Slovenia shall notify the Secretary-General of the Council of Europe of the signing of this Agreement.

This Agreement shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of the receipt of the last notification with which the Contracting Parties inform each other of the completion of the internal legal conditions foreseen for this Agreement to enter into force.

This Agreement shall be indefinite duration. Each Contracting Party can denounce the Agreement with a written notice through diplomatic channels. The denunciation shall take effect three months after the receipt of the notification by the other Contracting Party.

Done in/at Lendava on 17(na th) October 2007 in duplicate in the Slovenian Hungarian and English language, all text being equally authentic. In case of divergence in the interpretation of this Agreement the English text shall prevail.