Hungary's 8 regions represent the country's highest administrative level in its four-tier territorial structure. These regions primarily serve statistical and development planning purposes aligned with the European Union's NUTS 2 classification system, rather than functioning as autonomous governing units with extensive political powers. The regional level coordinates economic development initiatives, manages EU structural funds, and facilitates regional planning across multiple counties. While Hungary's governance traditionally centers on the county and municipal levels for most administrative services, the regions provide a framework for broader territorial coordination and serve as the principal units for compiling socioeconomic data and implementing regional development policies. This administrative division helps Hungary participate in EU regional policy mechanisms and enables cross-county collaboration on infrastructure projects and economic development strategies.