Regional Policy - Inforegio

The ESPON (European Spatial Planning Observation Network) 2013 Programme is organising an Info Day and Partner Café on 8 September 2010 in Brussels to present its latest calls for proposals. The aim of the event is two-fold: to provide information on the new funding opportunities and the eligibility criteria for the new calls; and to provide a networking opportunity for potential project partners. The European Commission and the Belgian EU Presidency will also present an overview of current policy developments and their implications for the ESPON 2013 Programme.

URBAN II, the Community Initiative for boosting depressed urban areas, has made a positive contribution to tackling the challenges of neighbourhoods in crisis. This was one of the key findings of the evaluation carried out by the European Commission. Between 2000 and 2006, URBAN II enabled converting and renovating 2314,000 m² of buildings, the creation of 3,238,000 m² of green space, and support for 6,000 small businesses and start-ups, resulting in new 2,000 jobs.

With around €5.69 billion of funding from the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the INTERREG Community Initiative generated significant results between 2000 and 2006. This is the conclusion reached by the European Commission after finalising the evaluation of INTERREG III, covering the programme's three strands – cross-border, trans-national and inter-regional cooperation – as well as the related ESPON and INTERACT programmes. Key findings show that the added value of INTERREG goes far beyond mutual learning: INTERREG supported around 5 800 business start-ups, created or safeguarded 115 000 jobs and created some 12 000 networks and cooperation structures.

Do you have an innovative good practice example that is relevant relevant under our "economic competitiveness" or "low carbon economy" themes? Do you have a potential award winning promotional photo of a co-funded project under the European Union's regional policy? If so, please consult the website of Regio Stars 2011 for information and the application forms. Applications should be submitted by the Managing authority (national or regional) in cooperation with the project partner.

Commissioner Johannes Hahn will pay an official visit to the Republic of Moldova on 15 July where he will meet with Prime Minister Vladimir Filat. In the Framework of the “Eastern Partnership”, the purpose is to launch a dialogue on regional policy between Moldova and the European Union. On 16 July, the Commissioner will go to Ukraine to discuss with Prime Minister Mykola Azarov the implementation of the Memorandum of Understanding on regional policy signed one year ago. This dialogue between the EU and Ukraine promotes exchange of information and experience on regional policy since the two parts face similar challenges of uneven development of the regions.

What exactly do policy experts mean when stressing the importance of an "integrated approach" to regional policy-making? The new issue of Panorama sets out to investigate this latest buzzword, offering ample examples of what integrated regional policy can look like in practice. Be it urban development, support for the outermost regions, or projects in the structurally weaker areas of Bavaria – coordinating policies with a view to ensuring overall regional development has proven to be an effective regional policy tool.

Online registration for the OPEN DAYS 2010 European Week of Regions and Cities gets underway today. Participation is free, with 130 specialist seminars to choose from 4-7 October. Registering for an event could not be simpler: the official website, includes details of all the seminars and workshops, speakers, dates and venues, as well as a step-by-step guide on how to apply.

The 2010 FIFA World Cup is upon us, offering a perfect opportunity to highlight one of regional policy's lesser-known aspects: its contribution in the field of sports. While sport is seldom at the forefront of regional policy, it can have an important impact on regional economic development and competitiveness, acting as a catalyst for economic growth and innovation and helping to create new jobs and businesses. A case in point is the football stadium in Maribor, Slovenia which was revamped with the support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), with positive knock-on effects for local businesses.