Ministers of the Visegrad Four (V4) countries (the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia) agreed at a meeting in the High Tatras on Tuesday that strong regions and the EU's eastern border are key to a competitive Europe.
"If we want a competitive Europe, we need competitive regions. And if we want people to stay in their regions, we need to create the conditions for them to do so - jobs, affordable housing, quality services, good transport and prospects for their families," said Investment Minister Samuel Migal (Independent).
According to European Committee of the Regions President Kata Tutto, cohesion policy and its decentralised investments must be a key part of Europe's competitiveness strategy. "It's a mistake to assume that because some challenges require solutions at the European level, greater centralisation is automatically the answer to all of them," she stressed.
A strong regional dimension and the ability to respond to the specific needs of individual areas are paramount, according to the V4 countries.
"Our common goal is to find solutions that take into account the specific aspects of our regions, strengthen their competitiveness and ensure that European aid goes where it's most needed without unnecessary administrative burdens," said Czech Regional Development Minister Zuzana Mrazova. According to her Hungarian counterpart Viktoria Lorincz, the Hungarian government believes that in order to ensure high-quality and effective implementation, including a meaningful reduction in regional disparities, the EU's cohesion policy needs a flexible regulatory framework that takes local needs into account.
The European 'Right to Stay' initiative was also among the main topics discussed during the talks, with particular attention paid to regions along the EU's eastern border, which have long faced poorer transport connections, lower investment activity and fewer job opportunities. However, according to the V4 countries, their strategic importance is growing amidst the current geopolitical situation.
Poland's Minister for Development Funds and Regional Policy Katarzyna Pelczynska-Nalecz pointed out that eastern border regions need targeted and predictable support. "Their role in ensuring the security and resilience of the entire EU should be taken into account in the next multiannual financial framework. Regional development issues and security requirements need to be addressed simultaneously. This includes strengthening critical infrastructure and crisis response capacities, as well as improving mobility," she said.
The ministers agreed on the need to maintain both continuity and flexibility in cohesion policy. For Slovakia, key areas for investment include climate, water, transport, competitiveness, health care and social affairs. Slovakia also promotes sufficient funding particularly for regions along the eastern border, more time to spend funds and a faster response to crises such as floods and fires.
Source: TASR
