On 21st-23rd June 2018, in Truskavets (Lviv oblast, Ukraine), the 3rd Local Development Forum was held. During three days, the event has been the unique, international platform for exchanging experiences in establishing cooperation between representatives of local governments, non-governmental organizations and international partners. The Cross-Border Cooperation Program Poland-Belarus-Ukraine 2014-2020 was one of the co-organizers of the Forum and organized the panel discussion "Ukrainian-Polish cross-border cooperation after 2020: we improve the quality of life of the inhabitants of the border area". "Our cooperation which was launched in 2003, has now evolved into powerful mutual assistance programme. During the forum, we have discussed what has been achieved within 15 years of joint work and how we will cooperate in the future" said the director of the Department of Territorial Cooperation of the Ministry of Investment and Development Rafał Baliński during the panel discussion.

"We must fight for continuation of the Programme and increase its funding. Statistics are on our side. Other programs that exist on the EU's external borders do not have such number of applications. In my opinion, the programme areas such as history, heritage, security, business should still be maintained. Particular attention should be paid to small projects" - underlined the head of the Lviv Oblast Council, Oleksandr Hanuszczyn.

At the Forum was also present the Minister of Investment and Development of the Republic of Poland Jerzy Kwieciński, who expressed the hope that the macroregional strategy of the Carpathians development could become the fifth such strategy in Europe. "The initiative of creating the macroregional strategy is important from the point of view of the future. It can become important tool for integration of our Carpathian countries and regions, as well as give Ukraine impetus to European integration and economic development" - emphasized the minister.