On May 23, the Volyn delegation headed by the head of the regional state administration, Volodymyr Bondar, took part in a meeting of the Lublin organizing committee on holding the European Football Championship. Speaking at the event, the head of the regional state administration expressed confidence that "only joint work in preparing for and holding Euro 2012 will become the next step in the development of Ukrainian-Polish cooperation, which will concern not only business and humanitarian relations, but also the revitalization and establishment of close contacts between the citizens of the two states."
"In addition to the corresponding economic effect, the implementation of this large-scale project will allow Europeans to know our state better, which, in turn, will contribute to the Ukrainian image in the global space," he continued.
At the joint meeting, issues were discussed regarding the modernization and development of crossings on the Ukrainian-Polish section of the state border, as well as the creation of appropriate transport infrastructure in order to ensure the proper level of holding the European Football Championship Euro 2012 with the participation of Ukraine and Poland.
Volodymyr Bondar emphasized how important this topic is: "After all, the technical condition of checkpoints, in particular the availability of well-ordered access roads, a sufficient number of traffic lanes, the equipping of customs and border control services with modern equipment, the creation of proper cultural, living and sanitary-hygienic conditions, are those mandatory factors that, to a large, if not decisive, extent influence not only the development of economic cooperation, but also the intensity of interstate contacts in other spheres of life."
At the meeting, there was discussion of the construction of a new checkpoint "Adamchuky-Zberezhe" and the arrangement of the necessary infrastructure there. According to the head of the regional state administration, "improving the conditions for crossing the border will increase its throughput capacity, which will positively affect the development of all types of cooperation at the interstate and regional levels. The implementation of this project will also make it possible to more fully use the existing recreational and health potential of the Shatsk State National Nature Park, and will contribute to the development of the industry of international ecological tourism and recreation."
Among the topical issues raised by the head of the regional state administration were the modernization of the international automobile checkpoints "Yahodyn" and "Ustyluh"; bringing the railway connection "Warsaw-Kovel-Kyiv" and roads in the territory of Volyn to EU norms and standards; simplified crossing of the state border for organized groups of fans; establishment of a joint exchange of information about the hotel and recreational complex, etc.
During the meeting, the parties signed a Declaration on mutual cooperation within the framework of organizing and holding the European Football Championship Euro 2012.
"I am convinced that the resolution of all tasks that will arise in the process of preparatory work for holding the European Football Championship will allow the planned work to be carried out at a high level and will once again confirm the reliability of Ukraine as a worthy partner of Poland in any matters," said the head of the executive branch of power of the region, speaking with media representatives at a press conference that took place after the meeting.
As part of the visit to the neighboring state, Volodymyr Bondar met with the Secretary General of the Council for the Protection of the Memory of Combat and Martyrdom of the Republic of Poland, Mr. Andrzej Przewoźnik. They discussed the situation regarding the arrangement of Ukrainian burial places in the territory of the Republic of Poland.