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Program specific goal of the project is to increase cooperation capability with the purpose to achieve higher levels of maturity in cross-border relations. Direct goal that emerges with it is the creation of the complex package, which, taking into account local needs, will offer help to self-organised social enterprises in border area from the analysis of the situation to the realisation. Indirectly, the regional cooperation in the project area will be accelerated with help of self-organised economic communities, and in this context, economic indicators will also be increased. Result of achieving goals will be generating of work places and the increase of employment indicators.

Operation model of social enterprises in the program area is not present enough and it is still unknown, even though it serves as a good response to challenges of economy and consequently also to social challenges of the area. In western European countries, social enterprises represent 6% of the entire European employment, while there are 249 social enterprises registered in Slovenia, representing 1% of all employed. In the project are, there are 86 social enterprises registered all together. The comparison of international data and data of the program area shows under-employment; connected to this are low gross salaries and stage of economic development, which is dropping or stagnating, the result of which is youth depopulation among other things. To mitigate this state, there are state initiatives; however, there is still no proposal in the project area that would comply with the local needs. Use of social enterprise model is often in the background due to being uninformed and uneducated. Networking of already existing social enterprises is on both sides of the border insignificant. By using synergies and with exchange of information and resources, these kinds of economic models could work much more efficiently.

From the beginning of the planning, the project encourages institutional cooperation in the project area. Results of the analysis of common needs and project planning are joint success and continual action. Networking of already existing social enterprises is on both sides of the border insignificant, even though this should not be an issue due to similar resources. Co-dependence is more characteristic for the whole program area due to the significant remoteness from central regions, delayed development, lack of transit traffic and isolated settlements. Options that can be used: – agrarian cooperation – shopping tourism in border settlements as a consumption and a factor that increases the production – traditional, good relations between Zala county and Pomurje region – business, social and cultural contacts of border settlements – market and commercial potentials through cooperation of sister settlements – functioning of these kinds of economic models is more successful by using synergies and with information and data exchange, the development is enhanced and thus options of obtaining income in rural areas and youth staying there are increased, as well as situation of marginalised groups is improved, and the depopulation and desolation of settlements is prevented.