State Secretary Kalinak: Border Areas Need Common Safety Solutions

Warsaw, 18 December (TASR) - Interior Ministry State Secretary and Government Proxy for Local Government Michal Kalinak spoke at the opening conference of the Polish-Slovak cross-border project Safe Border on Thursday, discussing with partners ways to better prepare municipalities and regions for emergencies and strengthen their resilience to the effects of climate change, TASR has been told by the ministry's strategic communications department. "We can't view the safety of people living near borders in isolation. Natural threats and crises aren't governed by administrative borders. That's why we must build functional partnerships, common procedures and mutual trust with our neighbours," said Kalinak. Thursday's conference on the Safe Borders project confirmed the importance of local authorities playing an active role in preventing crises and protecting local people in areas that are particularly vulnerable in terms of natural and technological risks. Cross-border projects create a practical framework for cooperation between municipalities, exchanging experience and implementing solutions that have a direct impact on safety and the quality of life in the regions. The conference brought together experts from Poland and Slovakia, representatives of local authorities, environmental organisations and emergency services. The discussion focused mainly on the common challenges facing border regions in relation to climate change, extreme weather events and the need for coordinated action during crises. am/df