About 500 citizens and representatives of local and regional administrations, civil society and businesses attended the first citizens dialogue organised in Poland. The event was hosted by Władysław Ortyl, ECR Group Member and Marshal of the Podkarpackie region. It was attended by the Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland and the President of the European Committee of the Regions.

“Reflecting on Europe” is an initiative launched by the CoR to offer space for citizens to present their ideas, thoughts and opinions on the European Union and how it affects their regions and cities. The aim is to go local, collect feedback and report back to Brussels to impact the decision-making processes ahead of the 60th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome – a development which laid the foundations for the European Union.

In this context the Committee co-organised on 4 February a citizen’s dialogue in Podkarpackie in Poland, together with CoR member Władysław Ortyl, and in presence of Beata Szydło, Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, Markku Markkula, President of the CoR, Adam Kwiatkowski, Head of Cabinet of the President of the Republic of Poland, and Jerzy Kwieciński, Secretary of State for the Ministry of Regional Development.

Beata Szydło, Prime Minister of the Republic of Poland, said: “thanks to the presence of the President of the CoR, we are here today talking about Europe and its future. For Poland there is no doubt that the European Union needs to reform. Europeans must have the feeling that the European Union is for them and deals with issues that are close to their hearts. We need to debate our different views, because this is the essence of democracy.At the same time we need to look for the best solutions, taking into account the development potential of individual regions and individual countries. Finally, we have to focus on issues that matter most to the people.

”Hosting the event in his home region, Marshal Ortyl said: “The voice of local government cannot be left out in the ongoing debate about the future of the EU’s cohesion policy. We want the cohesion policy and the use of the Funds to continue. However, we need to improve and better plan this policy area so as to give sub-national government at all levels a better chance at achieving economic development. The Exhibition and Congress G2A Arena Center, where we met today as well as the Science and Technology Park, the Special Economic Zone and the airport in Jasionka show that we are able to use EU funds effectively and skilfully and the result serves not only Podkarpackie but the whole country”.

Discussing the importance of the dialogue, CoR President Markku Markkula said: “We need to exchange ideas to be able to serve all our communities, including the smallest ones. The European Union needs strong regions to help achieve progress and build the kind of Europe citizens want.”

In total there will be more than 70 events all over Europe feeding into the Committee’s contribution to the Reflection on the EU series. Statements and conclusions of this debate as well as an online survey carried out during the event will feed into the CoR contribution to the Reflection on the EU.