April 22th 2004
Slovakia- new face in Enlarged Europe, is the title for Slovak week in Brussels, which was launched on Monday April 19th and would last till Sunday April 25th. The chain of events was opened by Pal Csaky, vice president of the Slovak republic for European integration and Paul Nielson, a member of European Commission, who welcomed Slovakia to community of "new European family" in the premises of Charlemagne building, which was located directly in the centre of European institutions. A part of opening of Slovak week was a vernissage "Impressions of my homeland" of painters from the Kosice Self-Governing Region (KSR) Stefan Buban, Stefan Filep and Marian Hennel. After ceremonial reception guests and participants participated at film screening "Cruel Joys" directed by Juraj Nvota.
KSR from the beginning of Slovak week till Friday had in the Charlemagne building, which is a seat of European Commission, a prezentation kiosk. The part of prezentation of Slovak self-governing regions in the entrance hall of Charlemagne building were an information banners which presented information about Slovakian regions.
On Wednesday April 21st was organized a seminar of Slovakian regions, which was opened by Colin Wolfe from DG Regio, who is responsible for the Czech and Slovak republic.The participants of the seminar were mainly employees from European institutions, which are dealing with matters concerning Slovakia. Sue Bird, a representative of EC, who is responsible for regional policy in connection with the Slovak republic had a speech at the seminar. In her speech he talked about structural and cohesion funds, about experiences and visions, concerning their implementation. President of the KSR Rudolf Bauer in his speech presented the objective and duration of decentralisation of public administration, informed about creation and competencies of Higher Territorial Units and about their present activities.
He also drawed attention of participants towards new manners of work of self-governing regions after an expected fiscal decentralization in 2005. Rudolf Bauer also dedicated his speech to intention of connection of KSR to transeuropean transport coridors and in this regard to speed up construction of speedy communication Kosice - Milhost with connection to Miskolc. President of KSR presented Kosice region and its potential. He also mentioned intention of KSR and Presov self-governing region create an industrial and technological park between Kosice and Presov.
After seminar followed opening of prezentation of six Slovak regions including KSR in the entrance hall of DG Regio building.
On Friday April 23rd would be organize "Day of opened door" at Liaison office of KSR in Brussels.
Text: Marek Kolarcik / Michal Porvaznik
Photo: Marek Kolarcik
Slovenska verzia stranky