EUROFUNDS: HOW TO PROGRESS? 2009
Fourth Professional Conference on Possibilities of EU Funding and Other Resources of Subsidization

An all-day professional conference Eurofunds: How to Progress? 2009 was held on Tuesday 23 June 2009 at Hotel Bonbon in Bratislava, and was organized by the Institute NAPS in order to provide activities on current issues to be its priority.

The event was not only designed for the representatives of self-governing regions, towns and municipalities, but also for the representatives of private and non-profit sector. Despite of the globally raging financial-economic crises the organizer managed to prepare, thanks to the financial support of its professional guarantor, an admission free event in order to meet NAPS’ principle that all events and activities shall be for free for its participants.

The event was traditionally held under the auspices of Mr. Dušan Čaplovič, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Slovak Republic for Knowledge-Based Society, European Affairs, Human Rights and Minorities. The company Centire was the professional guarantor of the conference .

Eurofunds: How to Progress? 2009, moderated by Mrs. Andrea Vadkerti, was opened by the founder of the Institute NAPS, Mr. Peter Solej, in hope the participants would get all needed theoretical information, and by comparing their experience could get also other skills in order to succeed in their projects funded by Eurofunds or other resources of subsidization. Subsequently, the participants were greeted by Mr. Ladislav Šimko, Head of the Department for Priority Coordination of Knowledge-Based Society, on behalf of Mr. Dušan Čaplovič, Deputy Prime Minister of the Government of the Slovak Republic .

More than 160 participants could get comprehensive information on the current situation in the field provided by experts of the Government Office, Ministry of Finance and Ministry of Construction and Regional Development of the Slovak Republic, as well as representatives from the Office of Public Procurement, the Slovak Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia.

And thanks to successful applicants, from self-governing regions and private sector, an extensive and inspiring discussion on theoretical possibilities and practical experience could arise. The lecturer from the Czech Local Development Ministry provided an interesting comparison of the current situation of EU funding both at home and abroad.

A number of coffee brakes and lunch giving opportunities provided opportunities for casual talks among the participants.