ECR Member Pavel Branda, member of the steering board of the European cross-border platform, took part in the European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs)  Awards ceremony, to reward the Eurodistrict SaarMoselle with the prize. This Award is assigned every two years to actions implemented by European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs) in Europe. The event took place in Budapest in the framework of the Hungarian Presidency of the Council of the European Union.

Mr Branda took the opportunity to highlight how "instrumental EGTCs have been in responding to a variety of challenges, including crises such as the COVID-19 pandemic". Mr Branda stated that they "continue to improve the lives of Europeans living in border regions" and also underlined the importance of "facilitating cross-border interaction by involving different cross-border entities".

Additionally, Mr Branda also represented the Committee of the Regions in the official launch of the European Cross-Border Platform, which aims to create a new space for cross-border stakeholders to meet and discuss border communities' needs, allowing them to engage with the EU institutions through the CoR. So far, over 130 stakeholders have joined the new platform. 

Mr Branda, whose opinion on cross-border emergency services will be voted on in the November CoR plenary session , highlighted how different levels  can help solve obstacles to cross-border emergency services, with the local level, be it municipalities, cities or regions always involved: "this is where the obstacles are directly felt and where intervention should occur to remove them".