​"We must look to the future, make plans and think about implementing joint projects so that we are ready to take action as soon as the pandemic is over." With these words, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Spain to Poland, Francisco Javier Sanabria Valderrama, started talks with Władysław Ortyl, Marshal of the Podkarpackie Region and ECR CoR President, on his arrival in Podkarpackie on 17 March 2021 for a courtesy visit.

This was the Ambassador's first visit to Podkarpackie, and he stressed during the conversation that it would not be his last, since the location of Podkarpackie made it an important strategic partner not just for EU countries, but also for partners beyond the eastern border. The potential of the region represented a broad range of opportunities for cooperation in the spheres of business and tourism, as well as culture. The Ambassador also addressed the issue of cooperation under the Three Seas Initiative, whose activities have recently been developing, and in which the Podkarpackie region is a key stakeholder. Indeed, the first Forum of the Regions of the Three Seas Initiative took place in Podkarpackie, and Podkarpackie is also the leader of the flagship road project to build a multimodal transport route, the Via Carpatia, developed under the Three Seas Initiative.

The Ambassador also talked about preparations for the meeting of the Polish and Spanish governments planned for July 2021, during which the issue of regional cooperation will be very much to the fore.

"We are shaping regional policy based on government priorities, but how well this cooperation works will depend on us at regional level. The Ambassador said that our strength lies in the potential to create a local environment that directly shapes the region and its population", said the Marshal.

The Ambassador also gave credit to Poland and to the Podkarpackie region in relation to take-up of EU funding. Mr Ortyl noted that the development of road infrastructure, and modernisation or revitalisation of infrastructure would not have been possible without additional external funding, which the regional government had been successful in accessing.

The Ambassador also pointed to the rapidly developing economic relations between Poland and Spain and steady increase in trade between the two countries. Poland is currently Spain's eighth biggest trading partner in the EU. Despite the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a significant impact in Spain, interest in trade cooperation remains considerable.

With reference to the Podkarpackie region, Mr Ortyl pointed to the smart specialisation on which the region relies and which the regional government is successfully developing. He also noted: "Our region's strength lies in combining culture, ancient traditions and a conservative outlook with innovation. Podkarpackie is an excellent example of how these elements can interact and create a strong regional brand".