Officials from Romania and Hungary, representatives of regions in Poland and Slovakia as well as experts from public policy institutions in Central Europe have participated in an international conference dedicated to the trans-European Via Carpatia project on Friday. The event, which took place over 3 and a half hours, was hosted by the city of Oradea in the main room of Bihor County Council and was translated live in Romanian, Hungarian, polish and English. Bihor County Council, together with ADD Bihor, hosted this event themed „Developing trans-European road infrastructure – Via Carpatia – In Romania”, with the purpose of realizing a common collaboration framework which will further support the necessary steps to be taken in order for this project to be successfully implemented. Further professional and representative assistance is needed in supporting and implementing a road transport corridor of strategic importance. Via Carpatia represents a road corridor which will link the Baltic Sea with the Black Sea. The corridor begins in Lithuania, in Kaunas, continuing through Poland, Slovakia and Hungary. In Romania the corridor stretches out in two directions, one towards the port city of Constanta through Oradea – Arad – Timisoara – Lugoj – Deva – Sibiu – Pitesti – Bucuresti – Constanta and another one towards the Bulgaria – Romania frontier, linking up with the future bridge across the Danube in Calafat-Vidin and following the route of Oradea – Arad – Timisoara – Lugoj – Drobeta Turnu Severin – Vinju Mare – Calafat.
The Via Carpatia project was approved in 2006, when transport ministers in Poland, Lithuania, Slovakia and Hungary have signed a common declaration for extending the trans-European transport network through creating a shorter route along the north-south axis, which will connect the four states. But, in 2010, representatives from the Transport Ministries of all 7 European countries have signed another declaration in Poland in order to extend this route through Romania, Bulgaria and Greece. Among those present at the conference in the main hall of Bihor County Council were the prefect of Bihor County mr. Ioan Mihaiu, the three leaders of the county in mr. Pasztor Sandor, Mr. Ioan Mang and Mr. Traian Bodea, the public manager of the county mr. Szabo Jozsef, european parliament member mr. Emilian Pavel, directors Andrei Caciora and Vitalyos Barna of ADD Bihor and other representatives of important institutions in the county. They were joined by the presidents of county councils from Satu Mare (Pataki Csaba), Timis (Dobra Calin Ionel) and Arad (Bilcea Sergiu). The prefectures of Satu Mare and Timis counties were represented by prefects Filip Darius and Andreas Eva Georgeta while Arad Prefecture was represented by Damian Vasilica. From abroad, we note Toth Andor (state secretary in the Hungarian Ministry for Public Development), Piotr Miaso (leader of the Podkarpatckie Region Road Administration), Barbara Kovacova (EGTC Via Carpatia Kosice), Mateusz Gniazdowski (Center for Eastern Studies in Poland) and Dubniczky Kitti from the CESCI Institute in Budapest. The foreign guests held complex presentations in which they clearly showed the purpose and route of Via Carpatia as well as the advantages that this project could bring for all 7 countries. They also pressed on the difficulties that can be met along the way. The presentations were followed, according to the schedule, by two debate sessions and a coffee break, with the conference closing at about 2:30 PM. Absent at the conference were the representatives of the Ministry of Transportation in Romania, which missed the conference because of a flight delay. „In February, when we scheduled this conference, we did not anticipate this weather. Even if Maria Magdalena Grigore did not manage to arrive at the conference, she sent a clear message to all present in which she tried to explain that transport connections which are of excellent quality are essential for the economic activities in Europe and for the quality of life of our citizens” – Pasztor Sandor.
One of the most emotion-filled declarations belonged to Piotr Miaso of Poland who stated that when this project was first drafted on a piece of paper he had great doubts about its implementation. However, he now hopes to be able to drive along the entire route of Via Carpatia before he retires from public office. Barbaora Kovacova further stated that government support from the Romanian side is essential in the implementation of this project. Mr. Ioan Mihaiu, representing the government in his capacity as prefect, promptly responded that following a meeting last week with Minister of Transportation Lucian Sova, he found him to be „extremely receptive to this initiative and sad that he could not attend this conference because of other obligations”. Emilian Pavel, member of the European Parliament stated that „together with the 7 countries we have a 21% margin in the EP, as a number of deputies”, being able to take a significant position towards supporting Via Carpatia on a continental level. Mateusz Gniazdowski from the Center for Eastern Studies Poland stated that „Romania is a very important commercial partner for Poland” and realizing this project and this route will be an immense advantage in capitalizing on this partnership: „I think that through Via Carpatia, tourism will grow significantly in all areas”. At the end of the conference, Andrei Caciora, deputy director of ADD Bihor, which is an institution that facilitates cooperation between member municipalities in order to promote common interest development projects at county level while respecting the principles of durable development spoke to the reporter from News Bihor and shared some ideas on the impact that this project can have in Bihor County: „I firmly believe that we need to treat this engagement with the upmost responsibility in order to bring this trans-European transport network through the our country’s territory. Apart from the tourism benefits, this project will increase the level of regional cooperation between the 7 countries and our county, being bordered directly with Hungary, will share an even greater benefit”.
Arad County Council, Bihor County Council, Satu Mare County Council, Timis County Council and the Institutions of Prefect in these counties have signed a collaboration protocol which aims to increase the development capability of road infrastructure in the western area of the country. The duration of the partnership is until December 2022 and it came into effect on Friday, when it was signed in Oradea.