Eastern Border Regions: MEPs call for investments to support communities, build resilience

During a three-day visit to North-Eastern Poland, MEPs from the Regional Development Committee discussed local priorities with actors on the ground.

The MEP delegation led by Andrey Novakov (EPP, BG) visited three EU external border regions in Poland, namely the Lubelskie Voivodship, the Podlaskie Voivodship and the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Voivodship.

To collect first-hand information about the situation and needs of these regions, they met with national, regional and local authorities in the cities of Biała Podlaska, Białystok and Pisz, border guards at the Polish-Belarusian border, representatives of the customs administration, as well as farmers, businesses and academia. MEPs also visited infrastructure projects co-funded by cohesion funds, including a road-rail reloading port, a wharf on the Pisa River and a cycling path loop project.

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In the closing press conference in Pisz, head of delegation Andrey Novakov (EPP, BG) said: “The Eastern border regions are facing multi-dimensional security threats and challenges related to the economy and depopulation, but the stakeholders we met showed great resilience and determination to ensure a prosperous future for their regions. They cannot be left alone in their efforts, and the EU has to provide concrete financial and technical support.

In the regions bordering Ukraine, Belarus and Russia, EU investments create jobs, modernize infrastructure and demonstrate that Europe does not forget its citizens. These investments also build societal resilience against outside interference, demonstrating why regional policy must remain regional in the future. We will apply all that we have learned during this visit to the legislative work in front of us to deliver a cohesion policy we can all believe in. ”

Members of the delegation

Andrey NOVAKOV (EPP, BG)

Daniel BUDA (EPP, RO)

Sabrina REPP (S&D, DE)

Mārtiņš STAĶIS (Greens/EFA, LV)

Jacek PROTAS (EPP, PL)

Marta WCISŁO (EPP, PL)

Krzysztof HETMAN (EPP, PL)