Answers to the question "How to support economic development" will be sought by the participants of the 31st conference Europe of the Carpathians, which will begin on Saturday (27.11) in Węgierska Górka. It will be opened by Marek Kuchciński, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Polish Sejm, Head of the Carpathian Parliamentary Group and originator of the cycle.

Transmission: https://youtu.be/u8frXGielPU

Europe of the Carpathians has already become something much more important than a conference, which for years has been connecting politicians, economists, entrepreneurs, cultural figures, scientists with various civic initiatives in the Carpathians.

This time the debates will take place within three main topics gathered in panels. The first one concerns the so-called Mountain Law.

Discussions about it have been going on for years, but in July 2021 the Parliamentary Team for the statutory regulation of mountain policy was formed. The main objective of the team is the tasks to support mountain and foothill areas, in order to stop the decline of agricultural production in these areas with environmental protection, reduce poverty, increase economic development through the construction of road, water and sewage infrastructure, water supply, increase the quality of life.

Invited guests will have the opportunity to talk about the behind-the-scenes development of the legislation and the problems that are associated with it. Specific regulations are just being created and should apply to areas lying above 500 m above sea level, i.e. mountainous areas and foothills (350-500). Among the invited guests was the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Henryk Kowalczyk. 

- We plan to support, for example, by increasing the fuel surcharge in upland areas. Currently, under the Strategic Plan for the Common Agricultural Policy. Experts are also preparing solutions to support cattle and cow breeding from the first unit and to support with redistribution payment from 1 ha (it was from 3 ha) - the minister explained.

The second panel will be devoted to European funds that can support the development of the Carpathians.

- The Carpathians have enormous potential, which can be better exploited through cooperation across national borders. That is why it is so important to create an EU macro-regional strategy for the Carpathians. The Carpathian Strategy will strengthen the competitiveness and attractiveness of the region and will limit the outflow of inhabitants by improving their quality of life. It will be a flywheel for dynamic and sustainable development while respecting the unique natural and cultural heritage of the area - announces Grzegorz Puda, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy, who will participate in the Carpathian Europe.

It is also worth noting the opinion of Dawid Lasek, Vice President of the Carpathian Euroregion.

- Today, the discussion about European funds for the Carpathians is actually a reflection on the lack of a financial instrument at the level of territorial cooperation for the entire area (the Carpathian programme) and a discussion about the actual possibilities of coordinating the existing cross-border and transnational programmes. It is a huge challenge, especially in the context of low organizational culture of territorial cooperation covering the whole Carpathian macroregion. An opportunity is provided by professional and grassroots networks and structures of cooperation such as the Carpathian Euroregion and the Cross-border Functional Areas proposed by the Euroregion as a new development model for cross-border areas. It is also necessary to look for fields and objectives of cooperation outside the scope of EU financial resources. Using and combining the potential of the Carpathians within international concepts such as the Carpathian brand CARPATHIA is a real prospect for a common socio-economic space in the Carpathians - he explains.

There would be no economy and culture of the Carpathians if it were not for the activity of women. During the Forum they will have a special voice.

- I would like the panel "Carpathian Women's Movement of Europe" to take up topics related to the role of women in the modern world and the possibility of their influence on the environments in which they live, work. Emphasize traditional values of family, culture, and customs. Promoting in their own environments the importance of women as mothers, wives, and workers, supporting activities to help raise children, complete education, legal regulations regarding the labor code, salaries - declares Teresa Pamuła, MP and moderator of the 3rd panel.

Europe of the Carpathians

November 27, 2021. (Saturday)

XXXI conference on the development of the Carpathian region

10:50 - 11:00

Opening of the conference

Marek Kuchciński, Chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Polish Sejm

11.00 – 12.00       

I. Development of the Carpathian Area - the Mountain Act

Moderator: Kazimierz Matuszny, MP, Carpathian Parliamentary Group

Speakers:

• Henryk Kowalczyk, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development
• Teresa Pamuła, MP
• Michal Milerski, Research Associate, Praha-Uhrineves, Czech Republic
• Jozef Kondela, Agritourism Manager, agromanager of the year 2019 award. Slovakia
• Maria Wisińska-Kurz, Director of the Żywiec Water Catchment Authority, Polish Waters
• Andrzej Kalata, Starost of Żywiec 

12.10 - 13.10       

II. European Funds in the Development of the Carpathians

Moderator: Marek Kuchciński, Chairman of the Chair of the AIA Committee, Carpathian Parliamentary Group  

Speakers:

• Grzegorz Puda, Minister of Funds and Regional Policy
• Dawid Lasek, Vice President of the Carpathian Euroregion Association,
• Peter Madigár, coordinator of the Wallachian Culture Route project
• Marcin Filip Director of the Euroregion Beskidy Office
• Sylwia Cieślak-Wilk, Director of the Centre for EU Transport Projects
• Marek Regel, Director of the Municipal Cultural Centre in Żywiec

13:20 - 14:20 

III. Carpathian Women's Movement

Moderator: Teresa Pamuła, MP

Speakers:

• Ewa Szymańska, MP
• Jadwiga Wisniewska, Member of the European Parliament
• Agnieszka Biegun Juszczyna, Councillor of the Silesian Voivodeship Assembly
• Anna Wasilewska, Head of Jeleśnia Commune
• Agnieszka Wyszyńska, Head of the Municipality of Kuryłówka
• Teresa Brzeżawska-Juszczak, Head of the Tyrawa Wołoska community
• Nelli Rokita, former member of Polish Parliament
• Irena Golec, social activist

14:20 - 15:00

A presentation on sheep farming

• Piotr Kochut, Transhuman Shepherding Foundation
• Józef Michałek, Polish Highlanders Association, Silesian Highlanders Division

15.00 - 16:00

Lunch for conference participants 

Conference organized in cooperation with the Ministry of Funds and Regional Policy.