Methodological guidelines for territorial communities on creating an EGTC as a tool for attracting financial resources
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About publication
This book is a comprehensive scientific and methodological guide aimed at the practical integration of Ukrainian territorial communities into the European space through the mechanism of European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC). The authors analyze in detail the legal nature of EGTCs as an institutional tool for cross-border and interregional interaction, which allows communities to act as independent legal entities at the EU level and directly attract European financial resources. The publication systematically combines the theoretical foundations of municipal partnership, a detailed analysis of the legislative frameworks of Ukraine and the EU, an overview of key donor programs (including Interreg, LIFE, Horizon Europe, CERV), and practical tools illustrated by a detailed analysis of the constituent documents and the operational experience of the active Ukrainian-Hungarian grouping "TISA"
Who will benefit?
- Local authorities
- Activists
- Journalists
Key findings:
The effective development of border and inland territories in the context of European integration requires a shift from situational grant projects to long-term institutional partnership, where the creation of an EGTC emerges as a logical step in the development of decentralization. The main lesson for Ukrainian municipalities is that attracting European funding is not an automatic process and requires meticulous three-level legal preparation (alignment of EU, registration country, and Ukrainian norms), as well as investments in human capital and professional management. Furthermore, the viability of such groupings directly depends on transparent financial planning, the selection of a balanced membership fee model (where the hybrid model appears to be the most adaptive), and systematic state support during the institution's formation stage.