​​The CIVEX commission is organising the study visit to Szeged (Hungary) on 13 September 2024 on the topic "Addressing benefits and challenges of enlargement for EU and candidate countries' cities and regions", at the invitation and in cooperation with Anna Magyar (HU/ECR), Member of the County Council of Csongrád-Csanád. ​

Following the Commission's Communication on pre-enlargement reforms and policy reviews, which provides the roadmap for the way forward on the enlargement of the EU, the study visit is a key milestones for the CoR to continue highlighting the key role that local and regional authorities in this process. The enlargement process will only be successful if local and regional authorities are fully part of the process and prepared to implement the EU acquis. This requires the increased involvement of local and regional policymakers from both the EU and candidate countries. This study visit will give members of the CIVEX commission a platform to exchange their perspective from previous enlargements and learn from the experience of Hungarian local authorities.

The study visit will also feature peer-to-peer exchanges with local representatives of candidates countries, a key tool for the CoR enlargement work, notably through its Joint Consultative Committees and Working Groups with candidates and potential candidates. Cross-border cooperation and projects between EU and enlargement countries' local and regional authorities will be a key focus area of the visit, given Szeged extensive experience and ongoing work, particularly with Serbian local and regional authorities.

The study visit will hear first about "Lessons Learned from Previous Enlargements: The Experience of Hungarian Local Authorities," and then hold a panel discussion and exchange of views on "Cross-Border Cooperation as a Key Tool in the Enlargement Process." The members will then visit the Extreme Light Infrastructure—ELI ALPS, a best practice from the enlargement process as a world-leading research facility for world-class high-power and ultra-fast lasers for science, which the European Commission granted the status of European Research Infrastructure Consortium (ERIC).