"Important lessons have been learnt from the COVID-19 crisis. In particular, Europe must pay more attention to intense cooperation with the regional and local level and bring them to the discussion table as fully-fledged partners. The debate on the future of Europe is also the time to reflect on a broader vision of Europe, including the EU's competences in the field of health.” Joke Schauvliege, CoR Rapporteur for the outlook opinion on Experiences and lessons learned by regions and cities during the COVID-19 crisis made these remarks during a CoR plenary session.
Schauvliege, who is Member of the Flemish Parliament put forward various recommendations including a requirement that cross-border cooperation should be part of all emergency plans and that that interregional, cross-border contact groups should be set up to improve cross-border communication and collaboration between Member States and border regions. The recommendations also pay particular attention to the situation of rural regions, urging the EU to increase the flexibility of its budget and state-aid rules and to narrow gaps between urban and rural communities, particularly in terms of digital and transport infrastructure.
Marjon De Hoon-Veelenturf, Mayor of the municipality of Baarle-Nassau said that border regions have been hit hard by the pandemic especially in cases when individual European member states took measures that deviate from the measures taken by the neighbouring country. "Unfortunately, tangible differences are emerging in the border regions that have an impact on residents, entrepreneurs and visitors, differences which also create the danger of polarisation between communities. Ultimately all this had a negative effect on the economic development of border areas. Therefore, more consultation is absolutely necessary in this regard. Border regions can hereby act as testing grounds for a better European approach!"
Franz Schausberger, Representative of Salzburg Province said that even if there are great regional differences, all regions have a big role to play in fighting the pandemic. He said that the pandemic can't be dealt at European or at the national level and outlined the need to look into cooperation at the regional level. Schausberger said that several had left rural regions before the pandemic and some returned as the crisis evolved. "This proves that we need to invest more in education, transport and digitalization and that the recovery fund must ensure stronger opportunities for rural areas".
Radim Sršeň, Mayor of the Municipality of Dolní Studénky welcomed the opinion and the attention given to rural areas. He added " I am very happy that the opinion mentions instruments such as LEADER and Smart Villages, which have been very successful in developing rural areas!" Sršeň stressed the importance of integrating rural development policy into the regional development policy as linkages between rural, urban and regional development are crucial for successful cohesion and development of the rural areas in the future.