ECR Parliamentarian Mr Tomasz Poręba directed a question to the European Commission, regarding the initiative to establish a macro-regional strategy for the Carpathian region. This initiative is derived from the CoR's opinion prepared under the leadership of Marshal Władysław Ortyl, ECR President in the European Committee of the Regions.

Mr Poręba MEP cited the CoR's opinion before the Commission saying the following: "At its 137th plenary session on December 4th & 5th 2019, the European Committee of the Regions adopted an opinion on a Macro-regional strategy for the Carpathian region, in which it called on the Commission to support an initiative to establish a new macro-regional strategy, focusing on the second largest mountain area on the European continent, the Carpathians."

The ECR MEP stressed that this CoR opinion is the clear voice of the representatives of local and regional authorities. These local actors underline the need to create a strategy for the Carpathian macro-region which would support the economic development of this area and would benefit the EU on the whole.

Mr Poręba went on to say that the macro-regional strategy expanded the discussions regarding the importance of the Carpathian region in EU institutions, which is particularly valuable in the context of the new Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) of 2021-2027.

Mr Poręba shared his personal thoughts with the Commission: "In light of the growing importance of territorial cooperation, the inclusion of the Carpathian regions and states in this joint strategy provides an opportunity to work in concert with the region and carry out activities tailored to the specific needs and priorities of citizens in this vital territory."

It is for these reasons that Tomasz Poręba MEP requested information as to what actions the European Commission and specifically, the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy is taking and intends to take with respect to the initiative. Mr Poręba also reminded the Commission that the Carpathian macro-region encompasses a large number of regions with the lowest level of economic development in the EU, which, in the context of the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic, may contribute to handicapping the region's development and exasperate the economic differences between Europe's regions. Thus, the need for the need for the EU to have a responsible and engaging initiative approach with local and regional authorities in the Carpathian macro-region is paramount.