INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

Mr Poręba went on to say that the macroregional strategy expanded the discussions regarding the importance of the Carpathian region in EU institutions, which is particularly valuable in the context of the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) of 2021-2027.

Mr Poręba shared his personal thoughts with the Commission: “In light of the growing importance of territorial cooperation, the inclusion of the Carpathian regions and states in this joint strategy provides an opportunity to work in concert with the region and carry out activities tailored to the specific needs and priorities of citizens in this vital territory”.

It is for these reasons that Tomasz Poręba MEP requested information as to what actions the European Commission and specifically, the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy is taking and intends to take with respect to the initiative. Mr Poręba also reminded the Commission that the Carpathian macro-region encompasses a large number of regions with the lowest level of economic development in the EU, which, in the context of the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, may contribute to hindering the region’s development and exasperate the economic differences between Europe’s regions. Thus the need for the EU to have a responsible and engaging initiative approach with local and regional authorities in the Carpathian macro-region is paramount.

JCC Montenegro, an exciting new vision

On 9 May, Roberto Ciambetti, ECR member and President of the Regional Council of Veneto met with Aleksandar Kašćelan, the Mayor of the former Royal Capital City of Cetinje in Montenegro via teleconference. The two men are the Co-Chairs for the Joint Consultative Committee of the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and Montenegro.

Mayor of Cetinje, Aleksander Kašćelan

These talks demonstrated how CoR members are constantly engaged in cooperation with local and regional authorities in EU candidate countries, including Montenegro. The two Co-Chairs exchanged information on the state of the coronavirus pandemic. Mr Ciambetti’s Veneto region was among the first and hardest hit in Europe. In Montenegro, on the other hand, the total number of cases were low and as of 13 May in Cetinje, there have been no confirmed cases. However, both Veneto, like the whole of Italy, and Cetinje, like the whole of Montenegro, have suffered heavy economic losses due to the halt of virtually all economic activities through the lockdown period. National, regional, and local authorities are helping the local businesses, especially small and me

ECR member and President of the Veneto Regional Council, Roberto Ciambetti

dium sized ones. Both politicians agreed that more help needs to come from the EU. The two Co-Chairs expanded the discussion by exchanging ideas on common solutions to mitigate the economic impact of the crisis. The tourism sector has been severely affected by the economic crisis and both EU regions and regions within Montenegro will act together to be able to revive both sides of the Adriatic Sea as soon as possible. The topic of discussion then moved toward the draft five-year JCC Montenegro Work Programme and the future of cooperation in general. The Co-Chairs decided to intensify their contacts before the next JCC Montenegro meeting, which will lead to a concentration of joint actions. Mr Ciambetti also invited his Montenegrin counterpart to visit him in the Veneto Regional Council when circumstances allow, an offer Mr Kašćelan heartily accepted.

This was the first informal meeting between JCC Montenegro Co-Chairs in the new CoR mandate. Normally one meeting of JCC Montenegro is held in the first half of the year in Brussels, which is organised by the European Committee of the Regions as part of its Enlargement Day. Enlargement Day is the main annual EU enlargement event in Brussels. The second annual meeting of the JCC Montenegro takes place in Montenegro in autumn. In light of the COVID-19 pandemic there will be no large in-person conferences in Brussels during the first half of 2020. This makes the meeting between Mr Ciambetti and Mr Kašćelan even more important.

Deepened cooperation between Saxony and Lowered Silesia regions

Lower Silesia (Poland) and the Free-State of Saxony (Germany) have helped one another in a rare yet inspiring example of crossborder cooperation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the coronavirus first landed in Europe, cross-border interactions and cooperation between border regions has been more limited. Nevertheless, despite current limitations the regions of Lower Silesia and Saxony have enjoyed a close relationship of mutual medical assistance during this difficult time. On 22 April, 100,000 facemasks for protecting against the coronavirus arrived in Lower Silesia. These masks had been donated to Lower Silesia from its partner region, the Free-State of Saxony in Germany. Of these masks, 50 000 are protective FFP2 masks while 50 000 are surgical masks. As of late April, the Polish national government has made wearing protective facial equipment compulsory outside one’s residence, this assistance from Saxony was greatly appreciated by the President of the Lower Silesia region, Cezary Przybylski. A few days prior, 1 000 protective suits and 2 000 masks also arrived from Saxony. This cooperation between Saxony and Lower Silesia also extends to testing for COVID-19 with labs in Dresden testing sometimes as many as 200 samples from Lower Silesia every day. Over 3 000 medical samples from Polish citizens have been tested for COVID-19 in Germany as of 24 April. This additional analysis from German labs is especially valuable as authorities in Poland can quickly discern when a local health

President of the Lower Silesia region, Cezary Przybylski inspects a shipment of personal protective equipment

care professional is well enough to resume work, or if he or she must be withdrawn from the work. Furthermore, deepened cooperation between Polish and German labs as well as medical professionals allows for greater coordination and accuracy as it relates to testing for COVID-19 in both countries. Prior to the COVID-19 outbreak, Lower Silesia, and Saxony both enjoyed shared economic interests and grew in their mutual financial interdependence. To see these regions assist one another is not only an example of crossborder cooperation, but European solidarity moreover.

ECR President leads by example

Władysław Ortyl, President of the Podkarpackie region in Poland and President of the European Conservatives and Reformists Group in the European Committee of the Regions organised a donation of medical equipment to help the people of Italy tackle:“the most dramatic public health crisis in generations.”

This donated medical equipment from Podkarpackie region consists of personal protective equipment (PPE) including facemasks, gloves and sanitising as well as hygienic materials that were delivered to the medical staff in the Varese region that serves the needs of the people of the Morazzone municipality and other surrounding communities.

The municipality of Morazzone (Varese province, Lombardy region) is where fellow ECR member, Matteo Bianchi serves as a local councillor and former Mayor. In his motivation for donating this equipment, Mr Ortyl cited “fraternal relations

ECR President Władysław Ortyl with personal protective equipment