Romania and Hungary's cross-border cooperation marks 30 years of progress

The enduring partnership between Romania and Hungary has flourished for three decades, beginning in 1996. This collaboration has been instrumental in enhancing the quality of life for citizens across the border.

Gabriel Traian Ghilea, the State Secretary at the Ministry of Development, Public Works and Administration, plays a pivotal role in coordinating cross-border programs not only between Romania and Hungary but also with Serbia. His leadership has guided initiatives that span crucial areas such as health, mobility, environmental protection, employment, culture, heritage, tourism, and institutional cooperation.

Ghilea emphasizes that the impact of these programs transcends mere individual projects or investment values. The cumulative effect has led to better services for citizens and a culture of collaboration among institutions.

As the current Interreg VI-A Romania-Hungary program for 2021-2027 reaches full launch capacity, with all available allocations already released through project calls, the focus is now shifting towards the implementation and monitoring of selected projects. There are no new project calls planned for this programming period.

Looking ahead, the development of the next Interreg Romania-Hungary program, which will span from 2028 to 2034, is already underway. The first meeting of the Programming Committee took place on September 1, 2026, in Oradea, where the methodological framework for the new program was approved.

While it's too early to announce specific funding areas for the upcoming program, Ghilea notes that green energy, health, culture, and tourism are important aspects of the current initiative. The experience gained from existing projects will be invaluable in shaping the future program, which will continue to support the counties of Bihor, Arad, Timiș, and Satu Mare in Romania, as well as four border counties in Hungary.