The International Association of Regional Development Institutions"IARDI"

The association is created in September, 2003 within the framework of the project: "Carpathian mountains 2003-2011" under the initiative of institutions of regional development and authorities of frontier regions of Slovakia (Коsice and Presov territories), Hungary (Sabolch-Satmar-Bereg megye) and Ukraine (Zakarpatye area), and in 2004 is recommended by the Slovak-Ukrainian international commission for cooperation within the framework of preparation and realization of the international projects.

"IARDI" was organized by the conducting international organizations of Ukraine, Slovakia and Hungary: Fund of Development Transborder Cooperation and Special Economic Zones (Ukraine), the Center of Innovations and Business " CASSOVIA BIC Kosice " (Slovak Republic), Association of Regional Development "КІUТ" Felso Sabolcs-Retkez (Hungarian Republic).

Activity of "IARDI" is directed on assistance to realization of euro-integration processes, formation of a uniform economic complex in the frontier countries, to an establishment and a deepening of direct contacts to the organizations, associations, authorities, between separate regions of Ukraine and countries - members and candidates for members of the EU, supervising structures of EU, other International donor organizations, assistance of synchronization of programs and procedures of realization of programs of the technical help of EU Tacis, PHARE, Interreg, and also other programs of the technical and humanitarian help.

Primal objectives are: realization of regional and national programs, initiation, introduction and realization of the international projects, granting of highly skilled expert support at the decision of social and economic problems in target regions.

GENERAL

1.1. International Association of Regional Development Institutions (IARDI), hereinafter referred to as the Association, functions in accordance with the Law of Ukraine concerning the local self-governing in Ukraine, the Law of Ukraine concerning the enterprises in Ukraine, the Decree of the President of Ukraine concerning the Program of integration of Ukraine into European Union, other legal acts of Ukraine.

1.2. Association is established with the aim to expand the possibilities and to coordinate the activities of the regional development institutions and power authorities of Ukraine, bordering countries (Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Romania), as well as other countries concerning effective implementation of joint programs and projects of regional and nationwide importance, in order to assist in the progress of internal interregional relations, external interregional and cross-border cooperation, as well as to represent the interests of the IARDI members in the EU bodies, International donor organizations, central and regional power authorities and managing bodies.

1.3. Association is a non-profit independent, voluntary, non-commercial organization that incorporates local and regional power authorities, regional development institutions, regional and national associations, research institutes, organizations and enterprises in Ukraine, bordering countries (Hungary, Slovakia, Poland and Romania), as well as other countries interested in cooperation.

1.4. Membership in the Association does not impose any restriction(s) onto its members concerning commercial, social, public and any other activity not prohibited by the law.

1.5. Association is a legal entity with its own balance, seal, stamp, symbols and opens bank accounts. Association possesses detached property at the ownership rights and can on behalf of its own name accrue rights and bear duties, act as the complainant and/or defendant in court.

1.6. Association has a right to:

• join the international associations of European and worldwide countries;
• open enterprises, organizations, affiliations and foreign representations;
• cooperate with associations and organizations in Ukraine and in other countries.

Building of our office in Uzhgorod	Joint technical secretary, Budapest

BASIC PRINCIPLES OF ACTIVITY AND THE TASKS OF ASSOCIATION

Association functions in accordance with the following principles:

• legality;
• compromise solution of issues with all Association members' interests being taken into account;
• credibility and mutual assistance in relations between Association members;
• voluntary participation of Association members in the projects and programs fulfilled in accordance with the decision of the Presidium of Association;
• mandatory fulfilment of decisions adopted by the Presidium of Association.

The main tasks of Association are as follows:

• protection of rights and interests of organizations and power authorities - Association members;
• assistance in synchronizing programs and procedures of implementation of EU technical aid program - Tacis, PHARE, Interreg, as well as other programs of technical and humanitarian aid (American, Canadian and other funds and International donor organizations) with the aim to expand the possibilities of the regional development institutions and power authorities - members of Association - in the fulfilment of joint cross-border projects;
• assistance in realizing regional and national programs;
• assistance in the increasing of the positive image of border regions;
• initiation and participation in the creation and preparation of procedures of the use of structural funds in the border regions;
• assistance in the increasing of qualification of specialists in the field of regional development and project managers of organizations - members of Association;
• assistance in the fulfilment of integration processes via establishment and deepening the direct contacts with organizations, associations, power authorities, certain regions of Ukraine and member states and candidates to EU members, EU authorities, managing structures of other International donor organizations;
• assistance in the development, initiation, implementation and realization of joint cross-border projects between organizations - members of Association;
• assistance in the formation of single business complex in the border states;
• formation of the uniform information space, information networks and databases on the basis of cooperation between organization - members of Association;
• formation of consortia for the provision of strategic project realization;
• establishment of mutual trust, reliance, decency and business partnership in the relationship between the regional development institutions and power bodies in border countries, in particular, between other members of Association;
• informing of Association members via the Association informational bulletin and web-portal about the regional and cross-border programs and projects, legal and normative acts of state authorities related to the regional development and EU integration;
• nondisclosure by the Association Presidium (hereinafter - Presidium) members and by the employees of the executive body of the Association-related information that constitutes the commercial secret(s) even after termination of their activity in the Association.

Association, in order to achieve the above tasks:

• supports and develops business contacts with EU authorities, International donor organizations, structural funds, Verkhovna Rada, President Administration, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, managing bodies of the countries represented by the Association incorporators;
• supports and develops cooperation with European and other International donor organizations (including American, Canadian and other funds) as well as with Structural Funds in border countries;
• cooperates with regional institutions and regional power bodies concerning development and implementation of cross-border development programs;
• together with relevant structures creates personnel training and retraining courses and centers;
• cooperates with mass media, holds press-conferences, issues information bulletins and other information materials;
• provides organizations - Association members - with information and advisory assistance;
• organizes symposia, seminars, experience exchange, assists in business contact establishment;
• ensures search for potential partners in order to realize joint projects;
• examines and expands the experience of the best regional programs and cross-border projects, provides assistance in the implementation of project planning and organization in strategic program realization;
• draws representatives of organizations and government bodies - Association members - to take part in arrangements held by the state power bodies with the aim to develop regional economy in border regions.

Ministry of regional development, Warsaw	House of Europe, Kosice