Our organization, the Pannon European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation, was created to promote and implement the joint economic development of the border area it covers. The main tool for this is extensive international partnership building and joint project generation with key players in the region. The EGTC is therefore a particularly useful tool for promoting and strengthening cooperation between members. We are constantly preparing and implementing international projects, several of which are under development and implementation. Our main topics are economic development, tourism and environmental protection.

It is also our declared goal that we should provide a cooperation interface and framework for the actors of the southern Transdanubian region, as well as the so-called South Pannonian region, that both can use as a platform for the transfer of experience and as a joint development opportunity using EU funds. In accordance with these goals, our mission is the professional, political and social support of the European integration of these regions.

We consider universities to be the strongest players and partners in achieving these goals. That is why Pannon EGTC is building a university network within its organization. The goal of the network is to develop the entire region into a unified economic and development area that prioritizes sustainability by making the internal and external borders of the EU permeable, as cooperation will undoubtedly broaden the cooperation opportunities of municipalities and universities, as well as create opportunities beyond the borders of the university and the municipality. to obtain additional development EU funds.

An active relationship has been established with the Northern University of Varasd since the summer of 2023, meetings in Varasd and Pécs followed one another, during which the professional relationship between the two organizations deepened. The J.J. Strossmayer University of Osijek visited Pécs in early 2024, where, in addition to university relations in Pécs, we also discussed joining the Pannon EGTC. The University of Pécs and János Magdó, Hungarian Consul General in Osijek, helped us in contacting the two Croatian universities.

We cooperated with the University of Mostar in the framework of projects, and the University of Tuzla is an associated strategic partner of our REHEATEAST project. Both universities have extensive cooperation with the University of Pécs at the faculty, student and project level. The meeting with the universities, as well as the University of Sarajevo, took place in Sarajevo in April 2024 at the Hungarian Embassy in Sarajevo, in which Ambassador Krisztián Pósa helped us. The universities expressed their interest in joining, and we also agreed on the framework of several joint projects.

Péter Kiss-Parciu, deputy state secretary responsible for border economic development, welcomed the Pannon EGTC's festive general assembly meeting via video, who wished success to the joint work on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade. The new members were welcomed by János Magdó, Hungarian Consul General in Osijej, Drago Horvát, Croatian Consul General in Pécs, Róbert Jankovics, President of the Democratic Community of Hungarians in Croatia, Member of Parliament of the Hungarian Nationality in Croatia, and Dr. Éva Mikes, Curator of the Universitas Quinqueecclesiensis Foundation, Chief Advisor to the Minister of Public Administration and Regional Development .

The participating universities werw introduced by prof dr sc Sonja Vila, vice-rector of J.J. Strossmayer University, Dr. Martin Milković, the rector of the Northern University of Varasd, Nermin Sarajlić, vice-rector of the University of Tuzla, and Inja Stojkić, head of the international office of the University of Mostar. Prof. Mirza Dautbasic, the vice rector of the University of Sarajevo, also spoke, who also expressed his serious interest in the Pannon ETT and indicated that they will submit a request for membership after the university's decision.

The general assembly of Pannon EGTC unanimously supported the joining of the four universities. As part of the accession process, the senate of the participating universities makes a decision on accession and obtains the approval of the competent national authority. After that, the Hungarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade registers the universities.