In Brussels Wielkopolska
President Marek Wozniak participated in a plenary session of the Committee of
the Regions and the European Week of Cities and Regions OPEN DAYS which
accompanied it. The Committee’s session was held from 10th to 12th
October. At a meeting of the European People’s Party (EPP)
group in the CoR, which preceded the session, its Vice-President Marek Wozniak
informed in detail members of this group about results of the Polish
parliamentary elections about its importance to continuity of the activities of
the Polish Presidency and continuation of the European dimension in the Polish
policy. Members of the EPP very positively responded in their statements to
this information.
At the opening session, the EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Johannes Hahn called the ninth edition of the OPEN DAYS held on 10-13 October “the largest in the world forum for discussing the regional policy, attended by about 25 thousand people”. This year, in view of the Presidency of our country in the Council of the EU, there were noticeable strong Polish accents and within them involvement of Wielkopolska became distinct.
In the ‘Polish Village’
organised in the Parc Cinquentenaire in Brussels Wielkopolska boasted its
design and innovative character by presenting projects implemented within the
Wielkopolska Regional Operational Programme. Guests
who visited the ‘village’, including the Minister of Regional Development Elżbieta
Bieńkowska who together with President Marek Wozniak saw the stands
presenting the use of structural funds by Polish regions, could familiarise
themselves with our regional achievements.
Discussions which were held during numerous seminars, workshops, conferences within the OPEN DAYS were dominated by two issues: how to help Europe emerge from the crisis and what actions should be taken by the EU to continue the cohesion policy in the widest scope in the years 2014-2020.
These issues were also discussed at the seminar “Regions and cities
develop an industrial policy in the era of globalization” which was organised
by the EPP group in the Committee of the Regions and during which Marek Wozniak
was one of the speakers- Europe can fight back the current economic crisis solely thanks to the
activity of entrepreneurs. Therefore, it is necessary to create the best possible
economic regulations within the EU, simplify support programmes for SMEs,
increase efficiency of business environment institutions, as well as improve
access to finance for entrepreneurs – said the President who gave a number of
examples of actions taken by Wielkopolska for development of the economy in the
region.
Also high-level EU politicians paid much attention to the economic crisis and future of the EU support for regions. – Through our actions we need to be as close as possible to the citizen, especially now, in very difficult times. This works best on the level of local and regional governments – said Jerzy Buzek who pledged the support from the European Parliament for continuation of the cohesion policy after 2013. – We need your support so that you will defend the future of Europe by explaining our operations to citizens and to authorities of your countries that limitation of the cohesion policy is against their interest – appealed to regional and local authorities President of the European Commission Jose Manuel Barroso. – Poland is an excellent example showing that the cohesion policy functions well and positively affects not only a particular country, but also a number of its neighbours – noted Minister Elżbieta Bieńkowska on behalf of the Polish Presidency.
Last day of the OPEN
DAYS saw a meeting of jury members of the Committee of the Regions’ competition
for the best doctoral thesis on the ‘Local and regional authorities in the EU’.
The jury composed of several professors from different higher education
institutions in Europe was chaired by President Wozniak. Among twenty dissertations nominated to the final stage there were also Polish
proposals. A winner of the contest (who will receive a prize of EUR 6000) and
four distinctions will be announced during the plenary session of the Committee
of the Regions in December.
Author: A.B/BIWW
Photos: A.Boiński
