Thessaloniki gets ready for its metro launch in November
The underground rapid transit lines have been under construction for almost two decades due to various project delays
Its resolution on the Future of Cross-Border Cooperation will be discussed at a virtual conference on 5 July
The past year and a half saw countries all over the world close their borders to prevent the spread of COVID and protect their citizens. Subsequently, these closures led to numerous problems within regions’ economies, mobility, and emergency services. In addition to this, an already difficult time was made even more challenging for individuals who were forced to remain separated from their families due to these closures.
Taking all of this into account, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has now taken action to improve cross-border cooperation and ensure that future crises do not cause the same damage. More specifically, CoR adopted a resolution on the Future of Cross-Border Cooperation on 1 July.
As part of its resolution, the COR calls on the European Commission to take action by following up on existing legislation and proposing ways in which land and maritime cross-border cooperation can be maintained in the event of future EU-wide crises.
In addition to this, the European Commission will be tasked with finding ways to allow vehicles working in emergency services to always move about freely regardless of potential regional crises. Finally, structures such as the European Groupings of Territorial Cohesion (EGTC) must be strengthened to ensure that they play a prominent role in the development of cross-border cooperation and services.
In a press release, the Chair of the CoR’s interregional group on cross-border cooperation Pavel Branda commented on the recently adopted resolution: “We must put cross-border cooperation where it belongs – at the very heart of European integration project. Cross-border cooperation is one of the biggest successes of the European Union and must play an even greater role in its future.
It is at the borders where the real benefits of European integration are being experienced by citizens. Today's resolution suggests concrete steps to further improve their everyday lives at the borders."
On Monday 5 July, regional and local leaders as well as citizens will be invited to discuss the consequences of the pandemic, the importance of cross-border cooperation, and the future of Europe. These discussions will take place during the Conference on the Future of Cross-Border Cooperation, an event organised by CoR and other European partners.
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