Investment spending in projects accelerated in 2020 up to €251 billion (03/03/2021)
Member States have accelerated their Cohesion policy investments in 2020 by €70 billion, increasing their total cohesion expenditure to €251 billion. This corresponds to 52% of the planned €482 billion in the 2014-2020 programming period.
Over €60 million to improve Dubrovnik's water supply and treatment system in Croatia (03/03/2021)
On 1st March 2021, the European Commission has approved an investment of more than €60 million from the Cohesion Fund to upgrade the water supply and wastewater collection and treatment infrastructures in and around Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Have your say on the updated Energy Performance of Buildings Directive! (03/03/2021)
Share your views by 22 March 2021 on the revision of the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, which the Commission is currently working on.
Play for Climate with VP Frans Timmermans (24/02/2021)
REGIO and CLIMA invite you to a live online event with VP Frans Timmermans on 25 February, 17:00 CET. The VP (Vice-President) will be joined by some of the Ding Dong and Climate Pact ambassadors to play a game of 2 Truths and a Lie.
Stories from the regions: The EU makes Bornholm greener, Denmark (24/02/2021)
Stories from the Regions takes us to the Danish town of Svaneke on Bornholm, where Pernille Bülow owns her glassblowing workshop already since 1989.
€6 million of advance payment from the EU Solidarity Fund to France (24/02/2021)
The Commission granted an advanced payment from the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to provide relief to the areas in France affected by the Alex storm in October 2020.
EUSALP Youth Council makes the Alps fit for the future (24/02/2021)
Tourism, culture, education: The Covid 19 pandemic has hit hard many sectors important for the Alpine space. The Alpine regions are therefore working on joint projects in the EU Strategy for the Alpine Re-gion (EUSALP) to make the Alpine space resilient and fit for the future. To do this as sustainably as possible, they are now counting on the support of the next generation.
New publication on “Interreg response to migration challenges” (17/02/2021)
The publication ‘Interreg response to migration challenges’ offers an overview and evidence of Interreg's contribution to migration-related challenges through 18 symbolic and outstanding project stories and serves as an inspiration for future actions.
Smart Regions: a small French village leads the way for energy transition (17/02/2021)
In this Smart Regions episode we travel to Venizy, a small municipality in Yonne, a department located in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region. Here, EU cohesion policy has helped the village with its energy transition with the installation of a wood chip boiler to power the town hall, the school and a business.
Discover the agenda of the EU Macro-Regional Strategies week (17/02/2021)
From 1 March to 5 March, follow the second EU Macro-Regional Strategies week!
Under the motto Reconnect, Rethink, Recover –the EU MRS Week will give a straightforward idea on the burning issues that will be tackled throughout the five days.
Over €86 million for Croatia’s next generation broadband (17/02/2021)
The European Commission has approved an investment of more than €86 million from the European Regional Development Fund in Croatia to expand its next generation broadband infrastructure, in line with the EU broadband strategy and policies. The investment will provide Croatia’s rural and suburban settlements with access to high-speed internet services to the benefit of citizens and local businesses.
Assessment Study of the Urban Innovative Actions 2014-2020 (10/02/2021)
Launched in 2015, the Urban Innovative actions provide urban areas throughout the EU with resources to test new and unproven solutions to address urban challenges with a total ERDF budget of EUR 372 million for 2014-2020. Five calls for proposals latter, it represents a set of 86 projects taking place in 19 Member states (and the United Kingdom) working towards making EU cities greener, safer, more inclusive, ready for the digital transition and a number of other urban issues in line with the Urban agenda for the EU.
Commission announces the kick-off of the 2021 REGIOSTARS Awards competition (10/02/2021)
The European Commission is opening the 14th edition of the flagship REGIOSTARS awards competition that rewards each year the best projects financed under Cohesion policy.
Toolkit for Youth Participation in the Just Transition Fund (10/02/2021)
The European Green Deal sets out Europe’s ambition to become the first climate-neutral continent by 2050. Given the different starting points of various regions to face the coming changes, the Just Transition Fund was created with the aim of alleviating the socio-economic impacts of the transition, so as to ensure that everyone in Europe benefits from it.
Survey on Open Data for EU Funds in shared management (10/02/2021)
Later this year we will redevelop #ESIFOpenData to reflect the new EU budget shared management programmes adopted for 2021-2027.
The winter edition of the fi-compass newsletter “The Beacon” is out (10/02/2021)
The Beacon is a quarterly newsletter with stories, news and developments on financial instruments in the context of Cohesion Policy. The winter edition, published last week, features among other things a significant study on residential energy efficiency financial instruments in Lithuania, as well as two new videos on the combination of grants and financial instruments.
Smart Regions: facing the challenges of digital economy in Bilbao (03/02/2021)
With the support of the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), “AS-Fabrik” aims to increase the competitiveness of Bilbao’s (Spain) innovative economic sector by offering university students, entrepreneurs and professionals the knowledge and skills they need to keep up with the progress of the manufacturing industry and its digital transformation.
EU Cohesion policy: €61 million to support research and innovation for innovative applications in economy and society in Croatia (03/02/2021)
The European Commission has approved an investment of more than €61 million from the European Regional Development Fund to modernise and expand the Ruđer Bošković Institute (RBI) in Zagreb, Croatia, to increase its scientific research capacity with the project ‘Open Scientific Infrastructural Platforms for Innovative Applications in Economy and Society’ (O-ZIP).
Stories from the regions: Foodtruck GULE "Handicap? So, what!? Prague, Czech Republic (03/02/2021)
Stories from the regions goes to Prague, the capital of Czech Republic, to introduce a special food truck. It is a social enterprise, created with the support of EU funds. The project employs people with disabilities who are preparing and selling donuts, milkshakes and coffee.
From 1 to 5 March 2021, DG REGIO will host the 2nd EU Macro-Regional Strategies Week (EU MRS Week) that will take place digitally.
Reconnect, Rethink, Recover – the motto of the EU MRS Week gives a straightforward idea on the burning issues that will be tackled throughout the five days:
Commission proposes to amend the EU’s 2021 budget to accommodate the Brexit Adjustment Reserve (27/01/2021)
The Commission has proposed a €4.24 billion increase of the EU’s 2021 budget. This will ensure sufficient resources are available this year to support EU countries in addressing the immediate effects of Brexit.
EU Cohesion policy: over €55 million for a more reliable and energy-efficient heating system in Croatia (27/01/2021)
The European Commission has approved an investment worth over €55 million from the European Regional Development Fund to replace more than 68 km of Zagreb's heating pipes with a more reliable and efficient network. This major EU project for the capital of Croatia will reduce heat and water losses and will make the system compatible with renewable heating sources.
Interreg ENI CBC programmes To Meet in February 2021 (27/01/2021)
The Interreg European Neighbourhood Instrument – Cross Border Coooperation programmes will meet on the 18th of February within the 6th Consultation and Coordination Group to be organised by DG REGIO and the TESIM team. Discussions will include topics such as reporting and financial management, the post-2020 policy framework and programming process and a thematic virtual exhibition of projects.
The fourth call for proposals for b-solutions is open (20/01/2021)
The Association of European Border Regions (AEBR) has launched the fourth call for proposals under the b-solutions initiative.
b-solutions, an initiative of the EU Commission’s DG REGIO managed by AEBR, offers the opportunity to public bodies and cross-border structures to find solutions to legal or administrative obstacles hindering or preventing cross-border cooperation.
Smart Regions: Italy, Albania and Montenegro join forces to protect the Adriatic-Ionian marine ecosystem with ADRINET (20/01/2021)
Thanks to the financial support of the Interreg IPA-CBC Italy-Albania-Montenegro, the “ADRINET” project is helping to improve a joint coastal management system and create governance plans to preserve biodiversity and coastal ecosystems in the Adriatic-Ionian Sea.
Involving young people in shaping European Cooperation Policy/Interreg (20/01/2021)
The Manifesto for Young People by Young People to Shape the European Cooperation Policy was launched in late 2020 on the occasion of the celebration of 30 years of Interreg, the EU’s flagship territorial cooperation scheme
New European Bauhaus: Commission launches design phase (20/01/2021)
The European Commission launched the design phase of the New European Bauhaus initiative, announced by President von der Leyen in her 2020 State of the Union address. The New European Bauhaus is an environmental, economic and cultural project, aiming to combine design, sustainability, accessibility, affordability and investment in order to help deliver the European Green Deal.
Kick-Off meeting of the 19th European Week of Regions and Cities (13/01/2021)
The EURegionsWeek organisers have the pleasure to inform that the Kick-Off meeting of the 19th European Week of Regions and Cities (11-14 October 2021), will take place on Thursday 28 January at 10:00.
EU Cohesion policy: €160 million to modernise the rail transport in Czechia (13/01/2021)
Entering the 2021 EU Year of Railway, the European Commission has approved an investment of over €160 million from the Cohesion Fund to replace the single line between Sudoměřice u Tábora and Votice in Czechia with a new 17 km-long double-track railway. This will enable the passage of long-distance, high-speed trains and more freight and regional trains.
Coronavirus response: €20 million to support the health sector and businesses in Poland (13/01/2021)
Thanks to a modification of the Operational Programme for Kujawsko-Pomorskie region in Poland, nearly €20 million are now available to help tackle the consequences of the coronavirus pandemic in the country.
Supporting the development of 14 Bulgarian research and innovation centres (13/01/2021)
The European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy and the Joint Research Centre (JRC) are delighted to invite you to the presentation of the results of the joint action for strategic support to the 14 Centres of Excellence and Centres of Competence, co-financed by the EU cohesion policy in 2014-2020.
Smart Regions: a cross-border cycle path between France and Spain (06/01/2021)
2021 has kicked off with a brand new episode of the Smart Regions series in partnership with Euronews. The episode broadcast on 4th January was about the Interreg POCTEFA “Ederbidea” project between France and Spain allowing 12 cross-border partners from the territories of Navarre, Gipuzkoa and Pyrénées-Atlantiques, to join forces to encourage cycling for tourism, leisure or for daily trips.
Save the date for 5th EUSAIR Annual Forum! (06/01/2021)
The 5th Annual Forum of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region (EUSAIR) will be virtually hosted in Belgrade (Serbia) on 28-29 January 2021 under the slogan “Strengthening the resilience of the Adriatic and Ionian Region through cooperation”, jointly organised by the Republic of Serbia, the European Commission and with the support of the EUSAIR Facility Point.
EU cohesion policy: end of year wrap-up of action against the effects of the coronavirus pandemic (23/12/2020)
Today, the Commission is announcing the 2020 results of the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (CRII) and the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative Plus (CRII+). Thanks to the two legislative packages launched by the Commission to fight the effects of the coronavirus pandemic, the EU mobilised investments of around €18 billion since the beginning of the crisis to support the health and socio-economic sectors.
Panorama 75: Going Green and Digital in 2021 (23/12/2020)
The winter issue of Panorama magazine is now available to download, and it marks the end of an era. Our 75th issue is also the final one to be produced in this PDF format, as in 2021 we will unveil a new digital version with more regular articles. A look back at two decades of the magazine, and a preview of things to come, can be found inside this issue.
Smart Regions: the most sustainable swimming pool in Brussels (23/12/2020)
Maintaining swimming pools has very high costs. This is why Brussels has had fewer and fewer swimming pools open to public. Moreover, some facilities are particularly polluting. Taking this into account, the Free University in Brussels (VUB) decided to take advantage of EU’s and Brussels region’s support to renovate its swimming pool and make it the most sustainable one in Brussels!
Stories from the regions: Cooperation on home care for the elderly between Croatia and Slovenia (23/12/2020)
This episode of the “Stories from the Regions” series comes to us from Ljubljana, Slovenia, where you will discover the CrossCare Project supported by Interreg Slovenia-Croatia. Elderly people on both sides of the border can benefit from free health and social activities in the reassuring environment of their home. This is a good example of cross-border cooperation with the Slovenian experience serving to implement these home activities in Croatia as well.
Season's greetings (23/12/2020)
Dear readers,
With this final Regioflash of the year we take the opportunity to wish you a happy, and most importantly safe, holiday break, from all of us here at DG REGIO.
And the best of wishes for a brighter, more prosperous 2021.
