Euroregion Carpathians – what is it?
The Carpathian Euroregion is an organization that brings together municipalities from Poland, Slovakia, Ukraine, cooperating with Hungary and Romania. The main goal of the association is to represent the interests of the region’s inhabitants and support its sustainable development. As emphasized by Prof. Andrzej Szarata, the Carpathian Euroregion has been operating since the 1990s, drawing inspiration from similar initiatives in Western Europe, such as the German-Danish Euroregions or the Valais canton in the Alps.
Tourism as an element and not the only component of success Although tourism is one of the elements of promoting the region, Prof.
Szarata emphasizes that it is crucial to create appropriate living conditions for residents. The economic growth of the region must include the development of infrastructure, services and industry. In this context, the establishment of the Scientific Council of the Euroregion, composed of professors from Poland and Slovakia, is aimed at providing scientific and substantive support for strategic planning processes.
Scientific support for the development of the region
The Scientific Council supports local decision-makers in solving socio-economic problems. An example is cooperation with the authorities of small municipalities on the border with Slovakia. As Professor Szarata recalls, one example of support was consulting in the field of monitoring for one of the municipalities. Such activities are aimed at improving the living conditions of residents, which also directly affects the development of tourism.
Security and infrastructure issues
Security and infrastructure are key aspects of the development of the region. As emphasized by Prof. Szarata, in today’s world, issues such as monitoring, transport, and communication blind spots are important for both residents and tourists. Well-planned roads, railways, and transport services affect the quality of life of residents, as well as the tourist attractiveness of the region.
Cooperation beyond borders
Despite the difficulties related to the pandemic and contemporary challenges such as illegal migration, cross-border cooperation in the Euroregion Carpathians is developing. The relations between Poland and Slovakia are particularly strong, which, despite formal obstacles, are flourishing at the local level.
Joint actions of local governments, exchange of experiences and mutual assistance enable the strengthening of ties and the economic development of the region.
Future prospects
Prof. Szarata is convinced that the Carpathian Euroregion has the potential to become a recognizable brand on the tourist map of Europe. The model for this initiative is other Euroregions that have been successfully developing for years, attracting tourists and at the same time taking care of the well-being of local communities. The balance between the needs of residents and tourists is the key to success, which the Scientific Council is trying to achieve.
