ZAGREB, April 12, 2018 - The seventh forum of Croatian and Polish regions opened in the northern Adriatic town of Poreč on Wednesday, bringing together about a hundred participants for a two-day meeting.
"We want to influence the European Union's cohesion policy in the financial perspective beyond 2020. In meetings with our Polish colleagues, we will learn on examples of good practice and seek inspiration for new, Croatian models," said Goran Pauk, chairman of the Croatian Association of Counties and representative of the Croatian president and parliament.
Pauk said that the two countries' regions had begun cooperating and exchanging positive experiences seven years ago as there were many similarities between Croatia and Poland. "What started out as an exchange of experience in absorbing EU funds has turned into something much bigger, as shown by individual partnership agreements between Croatian counties and Polish voivodeships," he said.
The focus of this year's forum will be on balanced development, the potential of rural areas, investment, training and culture. These topics are important because both Croatian and Polish regional government units are drivers of economic development, Pauk said.
Olgierd Geblewicz, chairman of the Union of Voivodeships, said they all were already thinking of new strategies to develop their respective regions, adding that European funds would play a great role in their implementation. He said that intensive discussions on the next EU budget were under way in Brussels and that the budget would probably be smaller.
"Both Polish and Croatian regions must be watchful and protect the cohesion policy because it ensures the possibility of further development," Geblewicz said.
Prefect of Istria County Valter Flego said: "I am certain that this forum too will result in many lasting relationships and new projects that will improve living both in Croatia and Poland." He said that Istria was the spearhead of international cooperation in Croatia.
