INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

and developing high-speed rail or making rail more accessible to people with reduced mobility. Additionally, this opinion highlights the differences in rail infrastructure between Central and Eastern Europe and Western Europe. To overcome these differences, the opinion calls on the European Commission to develop an integrated rail strategy covering the whole of the European Union.

When drafting this opinion, on 8 June, Mr Stawiarski met with the European Parliament’s rapporteur on this matter, Anna Deparnay-Grunenberg, MEP. Both rapporteurs agreed that substantial investments are needed in freight transport, high speed trains and night trains, as well as in digitalising and electrifying European rail infrastructure, while new transport corridors, such as the Amber Corridor, need to be developed. Rail also needs to be promoted as a cost- and energy-effective substitute for road and air transport.

Cross-Border public services in Europe

The European Commission proposed 2021 to be the “European Year of Rail”

Pavel Branda, who serves as the deputy Mayor of Rádlo in the Czech Republic, as well as the Vice President of the Association of European Border Regions, was appointed rapporteur by the European Committee of the Regions for the opinion on Cross-Border Public Services. This appointment was made by the Commission for Territorial Cohesion Policy and the EU Budget (COTER).

Pavel Branda delivering a speech in the European Parliament Cross-Border Cooperation plays a key role in strengthening territorial cohesion, in line with Article 174 of the Lisbon Treaty. With as many as 40% of European citizens living and working within border regions, making crossborder public services more efficient is vital for millions of citizens. In the context of the recent coronavirus pandemic, the need to combine resources and deepen cooperation has never been more crucial. On 24 September, Mr Branda debated with members of the COTER Commission on a wide range of topics, from the financing and legality of the policy proposals outlined in his opinion, to their practicality. In this debate, Mr Branda also discussed the effects of the coronavirus on cross-border public services, as well as other challenges he hopes will be overcome when a more efficient system of cross-border public services is established. Illustrating the need for increased coordination, Mr Branda said: “We need concrete steps at the EU level to help us better manage public services and cooperation in border regions.” In the opinion, Mr Branda calls on the EU institutions, Member States and local and regional authorities to foster a culture of cooperation among border regions and to remove obstacles that might prevent local and regional authorities from cooperating with one another. These obstacles could be related to external factors such as environmental or geographical fea-tures, but can also be

unnecessary regulations that undermine cohesion. Labour, healthcare and transport are of critical importance to the economies and daily lives of citizens living in border regions and are, therefore, negatively affected by a lack of cross-border cooperation. Mr Branda’s opinion explores how policy mechanisms such as the European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTC) could prove to be useful in promoting cross-border public services and could overcome obstacles.

Mr Branda’s opinion on cross-border public services will be adopted by the COTER commission in November.

INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS

Marshal Władysław Ortyl appeals to the CoR to act on the situation in Belarus

On 11 September, the President of the ECR Group in the European Committee of the Regions and President of the Podkarpackie region in Poland, Władysław Ortyl addressed a letter to the President of the CoR, Apostolos Tzitzikostas and the Chair of the CIVEX commission, Mark Speich, regarding events in Belarus. Mr Ortyl calls for action and solidarity for Belarus, particularly with respect to human rights and local democracy. The situation in Belarus came to a head when, earlier in 2020, the incumbent President, Alexander Lukashenko, won an election that international observers deemed fraudulent. Lukashenko has been the autocratic leader of Belarus since 1994.

Protestors call for fair elections and the release of political prisoners In his letter, Mr Ortyl speaks positively of the CoR Bureau declaration on the situation in Belarus, but he also makes several proposals to better address the situation in a more targeted manner. Firstly, Mr Ortyl calls on the CoR to create a programme where local and regional authorities in both the EU and Belarus can exchange experiences. This platform should be modelled on the existing programme the CoR operates with Ukraine. Mr Ortyl points out that in the case of Ukraine, this exchange was viewed very positively on the Ukrainian side and programmes such as U-LEAD (in which the CoR has played an active role) are excellent opportunities to build a dialogue with local and regional actors. Doing the same for Belarus, Mr Ortyl argues, would be help achieve the goals set out in the CoR declaration. The Hagia Sofia The following statement was issued by the ECR CoR Group in August this year: We, representatives of local and regional authorities from ten Member States of the European Union and members of the European Conservatives and Reformists Mr Ortyl also calls on the CoR to begin traineeship programmes for local government staff, as well as for graduates and students from Belarusian universities. This could be done by creating a database of Committee members willing to take on Belarusian trainees. Mr Ortyl expands on this point in his letter, by arguing that the European Commission should set up a special traineeship fund for this purpose. The letter goes on to argue for a spirit of overall enhanced cooperation between European institutions, for example with the European External Action Service and the EU Delegation in Minsk.

Lastly, Mr Ortyl argues that the CoR should improve funding for cross-border programmes. Group (ECR) at the European Committee of the Regions, express our regret at the decision by the Turkish authorities to convert the renowned Hagia Sofia museum into a mosque. We underline that the decision was a unilateral one and was not approved beforehand by the UNESCO World Heritage Committee. In connection with the above, we call on the European Committee of the Regions, both the President of the institution and all political groups, the European Parliament, the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, to issue a joint appeal to the Turkish authorities to reconsider its decision to adapt the ancient In specific terms, Mr Ortyl suggests pushing for the development of the existing cross-border cooperation programmes covering LatviaLithuania-Belarus and Poland-Belarus-Ukraine. He notes that the latter of the two programmes has been especially successful in supporting cross-border development over the last sixteen years, providing lasting economic growth on both sides of the EU’s border.

Mr Ortyl hopes that his letter and the outlined proposals will “put the (CoR) Bureau’s declaration into practice.” The ECR Group in the CoR is monitoring the situation in Belarus as it develops and supports proposals that would advance the democratic process and liberty.

Position of the ECR CoR Group on the unilateral decision by the Turkish authorities to convert the Hagia Sophia museum into a mosque

ECR President Władysław Ortyl Christian basilica for the purposes of Islamic worship and to maintain the status of the Hagia Sofia as a museum that is open to all.

We believe that only a strong, internally consistent and solidarity-based position by all EU institutions can help find a compromise on the issue of this historic place of worship in Istanbul.

President Władysław Ortyl said: “The Hagia Sofia was a Orthodox Cathedral for around one thousand years, later it was turned into a mosque and then, just before the start of the Second World War, a museum. The recent decision by the Turkish authorities to convert the museum back to a mosque is very disappointing, not only to Christians,

but also for all Europeans, for whom the Cathedral was a place of dialogue among peoples and religions. Our political group therefore calls on the European institutions to adopt a clear stance on the issue of respect for common heritage.”

First Vice-President Rob Jonkman echoed this sentiment, saying: “Since 1934, the Hagia Sofia has been a symbol of shared heritage of different religions; it is very regrettable that the decision has been taken to allocate this beautiful building to exclusively one religion.”

Vice President Marco Marsilio also weighed in: “Our regret at seeing the Hagia Sofia museum turned into a mosque is even greater, since many Islamic countries are condemning this unilateral action by the Turkish government. In one move, President Erdoğan has drawn upon himself the hostility of several Arab countries, the whole world’s cultural institutions and the whole of the European Union. We are therefore calling on Turkey to not continue along his path but to restore to Hagia Sofia the role it has played thus far.”

Vice President Juraj Droba said: “It is with great concern that we in Slovakia observe Turkey’s gradual withdrawal from the secular approach. I am a strong believer in the rule of law and civil society, both of which are currently being repressed in Turkey.”

President of the Abruzzo region, Marco Marsilio

ECR Vice-President Oldřich Vlasák attends first meeting of CoR-UK Contact Group

On 22 September, the first meeting of the CoR-UK contact group took place. Following the withdrawal of the United Kingdom from the European Union, the European Committee of the Regions has deemed it imperative to play an active role in the negotiation process accompanying the UK’s withdrawal, as well as in building a prosperous future relationship with the UK.

ECR Vice-President Oldřich Vlasák

Continuing to develop a constructive dialogue and political partnership with the United Kingdom is a European priority, particularly as it relates to cross-border issues, but also in other policy domains. Oldřich Vlasák who serves as a city councillor in the Czech city of Hradec Králové represented the ECR Group at this meeting.

The Contact Group will act as a forum for to meet twice a year. The priorities for the period of 2020-2022 include future EU-UK trade relations and cross-border and territorial cooperation, as well as discussions on the future of the free movement of goods, services and individuals.

Negotiations on a withdrawal agreement have currently stalled, largely over two key points: the role of state aid to companies and the future of fisheries, in light of the fact that the EU will have an external coastal border with the UK. The Withdrawal (Brexit) agreement entered into force on 1 February 2020. If no free trade agreement is reached by 15 October, “both sides will have to accept the situation and move

constructive and civil dialogue and is scheduled on,” said British Prime Minister, Boris Johnson.

The ECR Group believes in establishing a strong, mutually beneficial relationship with the United Kingdom, as neither the EU nor the UK would benefit from isolationist or protectionist policies. Given the established, historic, cultural and economic ties between the two sides, the ECR Group is hopeful a fair and reasoned agreement can be reached. During the contact group’s meeting Mr Vlasák echoed this sentiment, saying: “Connections, community, industry and trade are all critical, both for us and for our friends in the UK”.

ECR Members attend historic Visegrád Regional Governors Forum

On 3 and 4 September, the first “Governor’s Forum” took place in the Central Bohemian region of the Czech Republic. This forum was a unique opportunity to emphasise the regional and local dimensions of innovative sciences, SMART technologies, environmental conservation, tourism and economic growth.

This forum was organised in cooperation with the European Committee of the Regions. In addition to representatives from the Visegrád Group (Poland, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Hungary), representatives from Germany, Ukraine and Austria also attended. ECR members Cezary Przybylski, President of Poland’s Lower Silesia region and Jozef Viskupič, President of the Trnava Self-Governing Region in Slovakia, were among the diverse group of regional policy-makers attending the event. The forum was opened with a speech in which the hosting governor emphasised the need for bottom-up initiatives as well as regional cooperation. These two elements

are more critical now than ever before, as European regions continue to struggle with the ramifications of the COVID-19 pandemic. Mr Przybylski expanded on the point of cooperation, saying “I am convinced that the regions will continue working on initiatives that will better harness their own potential, as well as working more closely with one another”. As the President of Lower Silesia, Mr Przybylski had overseen close cooperation with the German region of Saxony in combating the coronavirus earlier this spring.

Mr Viskupič referred to the funding that many regions would receive from various

ECR Member Jozef Viskupič

Mr Viskupič (far left) and Mr Przybylski (second from left) at the Visegrád Regional Governors forum

European programs in the 2021-2027 period and encouraged regions to use this to bolster cohesion. Addressing the forum, Mr Viskupič said: “Our goal should be to increase the quality of life for the inhabitants of all regions. To achieve this goal, we must look beyond the specific interests of individual cities, regions and countries; instead, we should emphasise a holistic approach”.

Digitalisation and cyber security were two salient issues that were also discussed extensively at the forum.

The forum was the first of its type, but will surely not be the last, as the participants agreed on the need for coordination and cooperation in order to improve the quality of life and governance in not only the Visegrád countries, but in the entire EU.

ECR Member Cezary Przybylski

Władysław Ortyl chairs meeting of the Carpathians Interregional Group

The Carpathians Interregional Group held its first meeting since the COVID-19 outbreak via videoconference. The chair of the Carpathians Interregional Group is Marshal Władysław Ortyl. The Carpathians Interregional Group includes members of the CoR from the Czech Republic, Poland, Romania, Slovakia and Hungary. Mr Ortyl served as rapporteur for a CoR opinion on “A macro-regional strategy for the Carpathian region,” which was adopted at the CoR’s 137th plenary session, and was cited by

ECR Group President Władysław Ortyl speaking at the meeting in Brașov MEP Tomasz Poręba when he recently directed a question to the European Commission regarding the establishment of the macroregional strategy and economic growth in the Carpathian region. This action highlights the continued importance of investing in this macro-region.

The meeting discussed the future objectives for the group in the coming term. These goals include involving regional authorities and communities in the implementation of the macro-regional strategy. Members also discussed how it is crucial to build integrated ties between communities in the Carpathian such as facilitating economic development. The Group also concluded that it would like to cooperate with national governments and take the initiative in framing the macro-regional strategy by submitting a formal proposal to the European Council.

The mayor of Cugir, Romania, Adrian Teban, was a prominent speaker during the meeting. He discussed how in March, a delegation from Podkarpackie led by Mr Ortyl came to Brașov and met representatives of Romania’s Centru region and the CoR by underlining mutual goals

region. During that meeting, a joint appeal was signed regarding proposals for the economic development of the Carpathian macro-region. Local authorities from the Centru region sent the signed document to various European institutions, as well as to the Romanian prime minister.

Responding to Mr Teban, Mr Ortyl said: “The appeal we signed in Brașov is having a huge impact in the Carpathian regions. We received incredibly positive responses from our partners