Pannonia Office for Local Development

Introduction

Pannonia Office for Local Development aims to understand and improve the processes that determine the life of Hungarians in rural areas and across borders. The activities of Pannonia Office include territorial research, economic and environmental analysis, preparation of development materials, and consultancy activities. The Office’s main focus is on rural cities in Hungary and the Central and Eastern European region.

Main Activities

In addition to the diverse professional background of our staff – consisting of economists, regional development experts, geographers, environmental engineers, sociologists – we have significant local knowledge in certain areas of the Carpathian Basin. These experiences help us to identify and demonstrate the processes and driving forces of local development for our partners. HETFA has been monitoring and supporting the safeguarding and growth of Hungarian communities across borders for decades. In recent years, our research activity has been focusing on Hungarians living beyond borders.

In the course of our rural development activities, we have already worked with the local governments of Zala and Fejér counties, as well as with the Balaton Integration and Development Agency and several smaller and larger local governments. Our cross-border projects were commissioned by the Prime Minister’s Office, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Muravidék Hungarian Local Government National Community and the Harghita County Council.

Projects and partners

Our main projects include:

  • ESPON LAKES territorial analysis of spatial progress and integrated development opportunities of large lakes in Europe (2020-2022)
  • ESPON COVID Territorial impacts of Covid-19 and policy answers in European regions and cities (2021-2022)
  • Strategy for tourism development in the bilingual area of Muravidék (2018)
  • Contribution to the preparation of the economic development strategy of Muravidék
  • Preparation of a comprehensive analysis of the demographic, social and economic situation of the Hungarians living in Croatia and Muravidék (Prekmurje). The analysis was prepared on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2019)
  • Preparatory study for the foundation of the Hungarian grammar school in Vienna on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2019)
  • Analysis on the economic development of the Carpathian Basin area inhabited by Hungarians in the decade of the renewal of national policy 2010-2020 (2020)

The main partners of Pannonia Office for Local Development include:

  • Domestic partners:
    • Prime Ministers’ Office
    • Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade
    • Ministry of Interior
    • Local Government of Győr City
    • Balaton Integration and Development Agency
    • Municipality of Fejér County
    • Municipality of Zala County
  • Cross-border and foreign:
    • Muravidék Hungarian Local Government National Community
    • Harghita County Council
    • Spatial Foresight
    • Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, DE
    • EM Normandie International Business School

Contact

The Head of Division of the Pannonia Office for Local Development is Mr. Gergely Fazekas. Questions, inquiries and comments are welcome at our email address: fazekasgergely@hetfa.hu