Interview with the Mayors of Leba and Pruszcz Gdanski

As far as the needs of the town are concerned what are your expectations regarding the EU-enlargement?

Leba has many international contacts. We are developing foreign co-operation mainly within the Baltic Sea Rim. The idea of our co-operation is solving common problems with towns from other countries. We are pleased that our contacts motivate the inhabitants to further co-operation. We are striking up personal friendships, we understand other's problems and we try to reach the set goals jointly. We also try to apply good solutions from other towns.

Poland's accession to the EU should tighten our contacts. I do not keep the secret that I set my hopes on gaining financial means for big urban investments. If we are to be competitive and equalise the chances of development, we have to make basic investments. Communication, environmental protection, clear manage-ment structures are the basic subjects in which sphere there is still much to do.

Do you think that the identity of inhabitants will become more 'European' after Poland's accession ?

Leba slowly becomes European. The inhabitants are more and more taking care of their estates and are trying to make use of good examples. In the summer we receive many foreign guests who are very satisfied with the stay. I think, that we have to accept the advantages of Europe with goodwill but also keep our individual features. The crucial thing here is communication and therefore we put the emphasis on learning of foreign languages at schools.

In which direction will evolve the European Union after the enlargement?

European regions should preserve their individual culture, however, many areas of our life should be accessible for everyone. The standard of life of the Europeans should be equally high in most of the regions and knowledge should be within the reach of every person irrespective of someone's descent. The Baltic Sea Region has an indubitable chance to become the most consolidated European region and the hitherto existing co-operation within the Union of the Baltic Cities creates a sound basis for further development of our towns.

Halina Klinska
Mayor of Leba, Poland

What are your expectations for your own city in connection with the enlargement ?

Expectations?- Dynamic development of our town realizing UE projects. I hope - and I will do everything - that Pruszcz Gdanski will take a chance which joining the EU gives. Even today we are realizing Phare Projects, for example "Amber road across Pruszcz and Lowlands". I think that these experience will be useful in the hard work of gaining UE funds. I think that we are well prepared to realize new enterprises.

Do you think the identity of your citizens will be more European ?

Inhabitants of Pruszcz Gdanski are Europeans for a long time but they also have very strong feelings of their own identity. Inhabitants of Pruszcz Gdanski live in one of small homelands of the United Europe. Keeping own identity is of the same importance as obtaining new examples. But, of course, to open for new European experience is very important

In what direction do you think EU will develop after the enlargement ?

I think that economic integration will be still developing, but political integration will proceed slower.

Janusz Wróbel
Mayor of Pruszcz Gdanski, Poland