The increase of development potential in Eastern Slovenia via the ECC 2012 programme is seen as one of the key opportunities to implement the principles of a balanced regional development also from the national point of view

Although the division into two »cohesion« regions in Slovenia does not predict administrative and regional authorities, the preparation of the ECC programme has shown that Eastern Slovenia shares many common features and a mutual interest in development.

Eastern Slovenia as a region of accelerated development is more and more realistically included also in the national strategic documents which define the future development of Slovenia. From these various government development documents it is evident that in future this region will receive 3,5 times more development funds from various European funds than the more developed part of Slovenia (the Western Cohesion Region).

Thus Maribor has an opportunity to develop its potential and begin to establish a platform which will be of benefit to the whole region. The European Capital of Culture is a unique opportunity for the whole region to prosper via common programmes; it enables the region to use and develop its potential by means of culture, education, systematic encouragement of innovativity, sustainable energy resources, information communication technologies (ICT), creative industries, cultural tourism etc.

On the other hand, with the ECC 2012 concept prepared by Eastern Cohesion Region, Slovenia has an opportunity to establish a model of faster progress of the less developed half of the country by means of culture and related activities. Thus the proposed project could become a European (and perhaps also a global) example of good practice.