Factors of Regional Distribution of EU Support to NGOs Projects in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

The EU provides technical and legislative support for creating good conditions for civil society organizations and funding opportunities for this sector within countries. A significant contribution is visible in the CEE countries, mainly in the states of the Visegrad group, that are the most active. Moreover, Slovakia and the Czech Republic have the highest number of NGOs per inhabitant in the CEE region. The main aim of this research paper was to analyse factors explaining regional distribution differences of the EU support to the NGOs projects in the Czech Republic and Slovakia in the period 2014-2020. Regional distribution of EU funding to the Czech Republic and Slovakia is affected by EU rules and objectives stated in the EU or national strategic documents. Based on this analysis, regional distribution of EU funding to NGOs projects is allocated to regions with lower tertiary-educated population share, lower per-capita GDP and lower unemployment rate. Both countries have allocated EU funding to NGOs projects mainly focused on human capital (Slovakia and the Czech Republic) and building-up of infrastructure as well (Slovakia). Regional distribution of EU funds has been impacted in the Czech Republic by interaction of quality of government and regional autonomy that supports better management of EU funding and local policies related to supported NGOs projects.