MOD agrees closer cooperation with Trenčín Self-Governing Region

The Ministry of Defence is to deepen its cooperation with the Trenčín Self-Governing Region based on a Memorandum of Cooperation (MOC), while a similar cooperation agreement with the Prešov Self-Governing Region is also in sight. The aim of the initiative is to streamline and coordinate the EU structural and investment funds. The Memorandum of Cooperation setting the framework for future cooperation with the Trenčín Self-Governing Region was signed today by Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď and Chair of the Trenčín Self-Governing Region Jaroslav Baška.

Defence Minister Jaroslav Naď said: “In planning investments in line with the SVK30 Agenda, coordination efforts represent a significant challenge at both national and local levels. As a matter of fact, a lack of coordination among individual State sectors in allocating EU funding packages was cited by local authorities across the EU as one of the main challenges. Therefore, closer cooperation between the MOD and the self-governing regions may help drive further development.”

The aim of the MOCs is to streamline EU funding for regional projects, to initiate and coordinate public and private collaboration, and to secure financial support mechanisms. The Trenčín and Prešov Self-Governing Regions have identified the options for distributing EU structural and investment funds and pointed to the MOD's potential as a partner in prospective projects.

The main priority of the MOD's cooperation with the Trenčín Self-Governing Region is to create a joint innovation platform. In this respect, Letecké opravovne Trenčín and Konštrukta-Defence, the MOD-run joint stock companies based in the region, have expressed their interest in joint R&D projects.

The Prešov Self-Governing Region is currently working to specify joint projects with the MOD. The negotiations have been joined by other MOD-owned elements – Military Forests and Estates SOE and the Institute of Military History. The latter has a military museum in the region and is ready to help promote tourism.