Infrastructure initiatives such as Via Carpathia, railroad connections, great tourist potential of the Carpathians, construction of the Oder-Danube Canal, making the region more attractive, setting the tone for changes in the European Union and the place of Poland in the EU were discussed during another forum in the series of the Carpathian Europe.

- Carpathian Europe is our common work. We can clearly see that for several years in Eastern Europe, between Berlin and Moscow, a political void has been created, which the countries in our part of Europe had to fill through cooperation. Hence the active and ambitious development of the Visegrad Group - said the host of the forum Marek Kuchciński, Speaker of the Sejm. - Cooperation between states, societies and nations in all areas of public and private activity - from local governments and NGOs to large interparliamentary institutions - is necessary.

- In political terms we think of the Carpathian Europe, we think of Central and Eastern European cooperation. We want to show that our part of Europe is a force to be reckoned with by all. We want to be equal with equals and free with free. We should remind our western neighbors of this, because the European Union is not the whole of Europe. Based on Christian personalism, we must think about our friends, brothers, nations living in the Balkans, about our neighbors from the East: Belarusians, Ukrainians, inhabitants of Moldova, the Caucasus and the European part of Kazakhstan," argued the Speaker of the Sejm.

During the interview given to TVP3 Marek Kuchciński also talked about tourism as an area that connects the Carpathians. As an example of tourist infrastructure he gave Chopok, Tatra Lomnica and currently being rebuilt Szczyrk. - We are thinking about including the Eastern Carpathians, i.e. the Bieszczady, the Przemyśl region, and Czarnohora, in such investments, and look for joint initiatives. Today, the International Carpathian Cup in Alpine Skiing was held, to make the region more attractive and show how beautiful the Carpathians are.

Prime Minister Beata Szydło, who was present at the conference, said that the Carpathians are a symbol of the need to unite cultures, unite societies, nations and states. According to the Prime Minister, one of the areas of cooperation within the countries of the region is the infrastructural and economic projects. She also reminded that in 2006. Lech Kaczyński led to the conference in Łańcut, which initiated closer cooperation within the Visegrad Group, the countries of Central and Eastern Europe.

The debate "On the Path of Responsible Development: In Search of New Forms of European Unity, Interesting Carpathian Initiatives; New Ways of Development" was moderated by Stanisław Karczewski, Speaker of the Senate. The panellists included: Jerzy Kwieciński, Secretary of State at the Ministry of Development, Richard Hörcsik, Chairman of the EU Affairs Committee of the Hungarian National Assembly, Izabela Kloc, MP, Chairman of the EU Affairs Committee of the Polish Parliament, Robert Choma, President of Przemyśl, Ján Hudacký, President of the Management Board of RAIC Presov, former deputy of the National Council of the Slovak Republic, former MEP, Zygmunt Berdychowski, Chairman of the Programme Council of the Economic Forum.

The panellists talked about the need to create a Carpathian Strategy, but with a macro-regional and EU scope, cooperation with ABC countries, the need to create the Carpathian Institute, youth exchange, international programme for students, the need for wise green energy management, cooperation between Carpathian parliamentary clubs or a great Carpathian forum. They opposed the vision of the Union as a superpower, emphasizing the great value of the Christian heritage of Europe. The need for spiritual and intellectual renewal of the continent was also emphasized. According to panelists, it is necessary to create a strong Europe, friendly business environment and strengthen energy security. Our countries should jointly fight terrorism and be economically competitive with such countries as USA, Russia or China.

The Przemyśl Declaration: Przemyśl Declaration 29 I 2017

The Carpathian Europe Conference was preceded by the Carpathian Cup competition in Alpine Skiing and the opening of an exhibition on the history and traditions of skiing in Poland: https://marekkuchcinski.pl/wydarzenia/marszalek-sejmu-otworzyl-wystawe-poswiecona-historii-tradycji-narciarstwa-polsce/.

On the slope in Przemyśl the competitors were accompanied by, among others, Prime Minister Beata Szydło, Speaker of the Sejm Stanisław Karczewski, President of Przemyśl Robert Choma, parliamentarians and ministers. The results of the competition: 20170129_pucharkarpat_wyniki

text: Marta Olejnik

photo: Pawel Kula