Breaking Barriers for Local Farmers’ Markets at the SI-HU border

Status: Lead partner
Partner: MURABA EGTC
Duration: 7 July 2025 – 6 October 2025
Awarded support: Expert advice
Funding source: b-solutions

The Hungarian–Slovenian border region is rich in high-quality local products such as honey, cheese, jam, wine, and other traditional handmade delicacies. However, small-scale producers face significant challenges when trying to reach markets across the border—not due to distance, but because of legal and administrative barriers.
Pannon EGTC aims to break down these barriers and open new opportunities for local farmers in the neighboring country. Key obstacles include differences in food safety, taxation, and labeling regulations; the lack of bilingual and easily accessible information; and complex and costly permit procedures.

Project goal:
To identify and remove the legal, administrative, and informational barriers preventing the operation of cross-border farmers' markets between Hungary and Slovenia. The aim is to facilitate access to markets for small-scale producers across the border.

Main challenges:

- Differences in food safety, taxation, permit and labeling regulations

- Lack of bilingual (HU–SI) information

- Complex procedures for market participation

Planned solutions:

- Creation of bilingual visual guides and a digital information platform

- Development of standardized administrative procedures for farmers' markets

- Strengthening cooperation between municipalities, market operators, and authorities

Expected results:

- Producers from both countries appear at borderland markets

- Increase in income and market access for local farmers

- Strengthened economic, social, and cultural cooperation in the region

- A replicable model for other EU border areas