“Steady Development of the Carpathians and other Mountain Regions of Europe”

It was the name of international scientific and training conference that took place this September in Uzhgorod. 150 representatives from 18 European countries participated in it: parliamentarians of Ukraine and the Carpathians region, heads of several ministries
and departments, heads of regional authorities and local self-government, leading scientists, experts and public figures.

The participants of the conference stated that today we become witnesses of global climatic changes which substantially influence on both social and economic position of separate countries and the whole continent. The mountain ranges of the Carpathians come forward in these processes as an important stabilizing factor. They, as well as Alps, Pyreness, Caucasus, Scandinavian and other mountains of Europe presently play important part in the life-support of the continent and in forming of global ecological safety in the future. Although, in Europe mountain ranges occupy over 17 percent of the territory, the state of these ecosystems depends on the fate of almost every second European, 10 percent of them live in mountains, and about 40 percent – in the pools of rivers which take sources in mountains. That is why for state and local organs of self-government the problem of saving of social, economic and natural potential of the regions located on the territory of the Carpathians mountains and mountain regions of the European continent are of current importance and urgency.

The participants of the conference were unanimous in that settling the problems of steady development of mountain regions is possible only on condition of association of material, financial, intellectual and organizational efforts and possibilities of state and public institutions, organs of local self-government of all European concord. 

Several important decisions directed on steady development of the Carpathians and other mountain regions of Europe were made. 

Let’s give the floor to the participants of international scientific and training conference.

Viktor GAY