For many years now, the second week of October has been reserved in Brussels for discussing the present state and future of European cities and regions. This year was no different: From 9 to 12 October, the European Commission and the Committee of the Regions hosted the 21st European Week of Regions and Cities, which attracted more than 7,000 participants. They followed more than 300 sessions onsite with over 1,000 speakers from across the EU and beyond.
Our programme contributed to this year’s EU Regions Week (as the event is known in short) with sessions related to the breaking of barriers among EU funds, the energy transition, and the REGIOSTARS awards:
- In our talk session on Breaking barriers among the EU funds for better impact, we presented our approach on how to bring together partners from projects funded by various EU funding instruments to increase the impact of their existing results. Our experimental call in the last programming period titled “Capitalisation through coordination” was presented as proof that this approach delivers better impacts.
- In the workshop session on Boosting local and regional cooperation for a clean energy transition and improved energy security, our programme expert highlighted the need for cooperation to make energy transition on local and regional level possible. The enforcement of synergies among the various funding sources plays a crucial role in shaping an energy-safe future.
- In the REGIOSTARS pitching sessions our SIforREF and Dynaxibility4CE projects demonstrated the impacts of their transnational cooperation on project regions and cities. Their stage performance was closely followed by members of the competition jury and a broader audience working on the topics of migrant integration through social innovation, as well as sustainable mobility. Selected as the REGIOSTARS finalists, their attendance to EU Regions Week included a meeting with EU Commissioner Ferreira in an official ceremony, where they received a certificate to commemorate this important moment. You can support our projects with your vote and learn more about the competition here.
Cohesion Policy has once again been at the frontline of Europe’s response to recent crises. This is a clear expression of the solidarity that is at the heart of Cohesion Policy, and a concrete demonstration of its commitment to leave no one, and no region, behind.
Elisa Ferreira, Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms
at the press conference launching the 21st EU Regions Week
