European regional leaders advocate for increased influence and cross-border cooperation

Regional leaders in Central Europe are advocating for increased influence and cross-border cooperation within the European Union. During the 173rd plenary session of the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels, Carinthian Governor Daniel Fellner called for greater involvement of municipalities and regions in European decision-making processes.

Fellner emphasized the necessity of international cooperation regarding disaster management, particularly concerning wildfires. He noted that natural disasters do not respect national or regional borders and argued that assistance efforts must be equally borderless. He highlighted the dangers faced by emergency responders in difficult mountainous terrain.

In a separate regional conference held in Hainburg, near Bratislava, Austrian state parliament presidents discussed the integration of the border regions between Austria and Slovakia. Karl Wilfing, President of the Lower Austrian State Parliament, described the area as a unified Central European economic space. The leaders noted that while open borders have provided significant opportunities for research, services, and tourism, Europe faces increasing global competition, particularly from China. They advocated for combining regional strengths to maintain economic competitiveness.