The cooperation strategy of European border regions was discussed in Uzhgorod

One of the final conference of the international project "Sustainable development of border regions through the activity of the Carpathian Euroregion" took place in the Transcarpathian Regional State Administration. Under this Project, experts of 6 countries – Ukraine, Hungary, Slovakia, Romania, Ukraine and Poland 0 have developed the "Strategy for Development of the Carpathian Euroregion until 2020". Before submitting it for review and approval of regional authorities in the border regions, which are the members of the Carpathian Euroregion, experts from neighboring regions met to discuss and finalize the Strategy.

         The conference was preceded by the meeting of the Acting Head of the RSA Oleksandr Petik and the newly elected Chairman of the Transcarpathian Regional Council Mykhailo Rivis with the Secretary General of the Association of European Border Regions Martin Guillermo Ramirez.

The regional officials discussed with the EU representative the role of Transcarpathian region in international programs and the possibility of attracting European grants to the development of the region. Martin Guillermo Ramirez, in particular, told about the financial instruments of the implementation of the "Carpathian Euroregion Strategy".

O. Petik stressed on the importance of the cooperation between European border regions, because, according to him, such cooperation allows to overcome stereotypes and changes mentality.   

The Regional Council Chairman Mykhailo Rivis also stressed on the importance of the maximum involvement of cross-border cooperation for the development of the region.   

According to the Chairman of the Regional Council, the Carpathian Euroregion institution can help Transcarpathians play a significant role in the European aspirations of Ukraine. "Our development programs are based both on the state and the regional budget. At the same time, we rely on the funds of the European Union", – Mykhaiol Rivis said.  And he expressed hope that the developed "Strategy for the Carpathian Euroregion 2020" will help Transcarpathia to show Ukrainians the benefits of cooperation with the EU.