Strengthening cross-border cooperation: insights from the Štúrovo workshop

04 March 2025

Strengthening cross-border cooperation: insights from the Štúrovo workshop

04 March 2025

The latest reference group meeting of the #ACCESS project took place in Štúrovo on 27 February 2025, continuing the discussions initiated in Esztergom last year. Organised by the Central European Service for Cross-Border Initiatives (CESCI) in cooperation with CESCI Carpathia, the event brought together the two cities to assess cross-border functional potentials and explore new opportunities for collaboration between Hungary and Slovakia.

The Štúrovo meeting built upon the findings of the first reference group workshop held in Esztergom in February 2024. That session identified challenges in cross-border integration, including legal and administrative barriers, infrastructure deficits, and differing local perspectives on regional identity. It also highlighted opportunities in tourism, healthcare, emergency services, and transportation.

The workshop in Štúrovo revisited these themes with a comparative approach, examining successful cross-border cooperation models across Europe. Examples included Valga-Valka, where healthcare services operate seamlessly across the Estonia-Latvia border, and Gmünd-České Velenice, which pioneered joint emergency response services. These and the other presented case studies provided valuable insights into how Esztergom-Štúrovo could enhance its own integration.

Several pressing cross-border challenges were identified and discussed during the discussions:

Traffic congestion and mobility
Heavy commuting between Esztergom and Štúrovo remains a major issue. The planned M100 motorway and the proposed freight bridge aim to improve connectivity, but further efforts are needed.
Healthcare accessibility
Štúrovo faces healthcare service limitations, while Esztergom has stronger facilities. Participants stressed the need for balanced distribution of medical services.
Education and workforce development
The idea of introducing bilingual schooling was discussed.
Tourism cooperation
Štúrovo benefits from longer-stay visitors, while Esztergom attracts short-term tourists. Joint tourism strategies, shared packages and improved language preparedness in the hospitality sector were proposed.
Infrastructure development
Participants agreed on the importance of infrastructure development to support cross-border cooperation. Key projects include:
- The M100 motorway and its expected impact on regional mobility
- Cycling infrastructure expansion, with both towns recognising cycling as a strategic tourism asset
- Strengthening water tourism and enhancing bus transportation between the two cities

Participants of the meeting were informed about the upcoming call in Interreg Slovakia – Hungary, planned to be launched in May 2025, and received a couple of inspirational project ideas for using this European financial incentive.

The Štúrovo meeting reinforced the need for institutionalised cross-border collaboration. Stakeholders highlighted the role of Ister-Granum EGTC as a framework for coordinated actions. While many issues discussed were already well known, the meeting provided a renewed commitment to maintaining dialogue and implementing practical solutions.