The COVID-19 pandemic has put a strain on the cooperation between cross-border regions. Closing national borders has resulted in a decrease in growth opportunities in border regions. The obstacles preventing freedom of movement to citizens and businesses need to be removed as soon as possible, and new programmes favouring cross-border youth employment have to be supported. Piero Mauro Zanin, President of the Regional Council of Friuli-Venezia Giulia made these remarks during a debate on EU matters for local and regional authorities discussing town twinning beyond COVID-19.
Zanin stressed that cross border cooperation and twinning is a way of encouraging people to develop knowledge. Zanin said that mobility of persons is important to develop common feelings among citizens of Europe. Appealing for the relaunch of the twinning initiative, Zanin said "It is crucial that we relaunch the process of twinning with a new approach. This will give us the opportunity to share cultural values and identity."
Addressing CoR members, Zanin added that with the help of regional and local authorities, it is necessary to support economic and territorial development projects that are focused on tourism resources, energy efficiency and rural development, especially in inland and mountain areas. He explained that this was crucial to boost recovery.
In his concluding remarks, Zanin emphasised on the need of cooperation and multi-level governance. "Removing obstacles to cross-border cooperation means fostering the social well-being of European citizens as well as a common European consciousness among new generations. We need cities and regions to cooperate and to work together. As shown during the pandemic, national governments cannot achieve results on their own".