The international seminar „Around the Baltic – European Inspirations" was held in the Polish city Ryn on September 15-17, 2009. The seminar was organized by the Self - Government of the Warminsko – Mazurskie Voivodeship in cooperation with the RELEX Commission of the Committee of the Regions of the European Union. The subject of the seminar referred to problems of the Baltic region as a centre of the modern interregional cooperation with the eastern neighbours of the European Union, especially with Ukraine, which representatives were the guests of honour of the event.
Mayor of the City of Košice František Knapík as a Member of the Committee of the Regions of the EU and Member of the RELEX Commission gave a speech within the first session „The Baltic Sea – European Gate to East". In his presentation under the title „The Role of the Local and Regional Authorities within the New Eastern Partnership" he designated as the main goal of the Eastern Partnership „creation of the necessary conditions for the acceleration of political association and further economic integration between the European Union and interested partner countries." The Eastern Partnership Initiative is vitally important to Slovakia, both politically and economically. Slovakia alone may according to Mayor of Košice „provide its experience of reforms, as well as of accession process to the EU; the decentralization strategy, which helped to strengthen the position of the local authorities; as well as possibilities for cooperation of the Slovakian local authorities with the partners at local and regional level."
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