On 21st-22nd May, Programme Conference “Priority: ENVIRONMENT and TOURISM” took place in Lublin. The event was attended by representatives of the Programme Monitoring Committee and partners of Polish-Ukrainian projects financed by the Programme in both priorities. Due to the high interest in the event, some participants took part online.
How did the conference go?
From the feedback we received from participants, but also in our view, it was a great opportunity to get to know each other better, but also a chance to learn more about ongoing projects, exchange experiences and strengthen or build new partnerships.
During the Conference, participants were introduced to a summary of the implementation of environmental projects under the PBU Programme 2014-2020, the assumptions and expected outcomes of the ENVIRONMENT and TOURISM priorities, and projects in the Poland – Ukraine 2021-2027 Programme (presentation: Polish, Ukrainian).
As part of the meeting, we organised two panel discussions, broken down by specific objectives. The first panel looked at projects under Objective 1.1 and related to responding and adapting services to cope with the risks of climate change and natural disasters. In the second part of our meeting, we looked at projects that focus on the other two specific objectives of the ENVIRONMENT priority: water resources management (objective 1.2) and biodiversity conservation (1.3). The discussion was an opportunity to reflect on the role of various institutions (local authorities, emergency, health units, NGOs), the extent of cross-border cooperation and the importance of soft measures – such as training, educational campaigns or the development of local environmental awareness. This panel also included a representative of the only tourism project in this edition of the Programme (TrainToNature).
Here you may find the video of the substantive part of the event (Polish, Ukrainian).
On the following day of the event, we organised individual consultations for project partners on project and information and promotion issues.
At the end of the meeting, participants visited the ClimSafe and AquaForce projects implemented in Lublin. The former is an initiative of the Provincial Headquarters of the State Fire Service in Lublin, in partnership with the Main Department of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Volyn Oblast. During the visit, participants had the opportunity to see, among other things, the truck and equipment purchased under the PL-UA project (intended for the GFFF Group, which is famous for extinguishing forest fires without the use of heavy equipment), but also the interactive education centre and other vehicles and equipment of the Headquarters, and to hear about the specifics of the unit’s operations.
In turn, as part of the visit to the AquaForce project, those taking part were introduced to the operation of a facility of strategic importance – the Hajdów Wastewater Treatment Plant. The facility extends over 50 hectares of land and participants were able to see how the wastewater treatment process works, the steps involved, the risks and challenges. We also drove along Goździkowa (Carnation) Street, where, thanks to the implementation of the PL-UA project, a sanitary network is currently being developed to connect residents to the public sewage treatment system and treatment plant in Hajdów.
In addition to the exchange of experience, the Priority: ENVIRONMENT and TOURISM conference was also an attempt to find an answer to the question of whether the current projects can become a foundation for sustainable cooperation between partners from both sides of the Polish-Ukrainian border and a consistent approach to environmental management in the Programme area.
We sincerely hope so.
