EUSALP: policy recommendations from the « Smart Villages » project (29/03/2021)
The Smart Villages project is an operational initiative of the macro-regional strategy for the Alpine space, EUSALP. The project runs from 2018 to 2021 and is funded by the Interreg Alpine Space Programme. The policy recommendations resulting from this project are therefore a major contribution to the implementation of EUSALP.
EU invests in new road infrastructure in Romania (30/03/2021)
Last Wednesday the Commission approved the construction of an express road between the cities of Craiova and Piteşti, in Romania. The EU will contribute with €726 million to the new 121 km connection between the two cities.
Polish supercomputer powers project that could help forecast floods (30/03/2021)
An ERDF-financed project harnesses the power of a Polish supercomputer to provide near-real-time access to satellite data which could help to monitor, respond to, or even ward off natural disasters.
Spanish school sees savings after sustainability upgrade (30/03/2021)
Thanks to an ERDF-funded insulation project, a school in southern Spain has cut its energy consumption by 70 %, helping to promote the benefits of investing in sustainability.
EU solidarity in action: Commission proposes €86.7 million for the recent natural disasters in France and Greece (23/03/2021)
The European Commission is proposing a financial support of €86.7 million from the European Union Solidarity Fund (EUSF) to provide relief to the population of several regions in France and Greece hit by natural disasters in 2020.
Smart Regions: MESTRELAB, a European software against coronavirus (23/03/2021)
The Spanish Galician company “MESTRELAB” has developed a European software that enables researchers to speed up drug production by interpreting chemical compounds and molecules on a range of laboratory machines.
Engaging citizens in Cohesion Policy: Participatory Mapping in Cohesion Policy in Hungary (PartiMap) (23/03/2021)
We are thrilled to present another of the beneficiaries of the grants for engaging citizens for good governance of EU cohesion policy.
Partner up for #EURegionsWeek2021: deadline is approaching! (23/03/2021)
Only two days left to apply to become partner of the European Week of Regions and Cities 2021!
EU Solidarity Fund: Commission proposes to mobilise almost €530 million to support emergency measures against the coronavirus pandemic (16/03/2021)
The European Commission is proposing an overall package of almost €530 million in financial support under the EU Solidarity Fund (EUSF) as an additional financial contribution to the efforts deployed by 17 Member States and three accession countries to fight the coronavirus health emergency.
Slovenia gets in on the act to help children with special needs (16/03/2021)
Helping special needs children discover the joy of creative expression, whilst building their self-confidence and social skills, is the aim of an artistic project receiving ERDF funding in Slovenia.
Cyprus encourages homeowners to ‘save and upgrade’ (16/03/2021)
Residents on the third-largest island in the Mediterranean are being offered a financial incentive, through the ERDF-funded ‘Save and Upgrade’ project, to let their homes reduce their energy consumption by at least 60%.
Bulgaria's Vidin municipality takes care of its most vulnerable residents (16/03/2021)
Faced with low economic growth and widespread poverty, Bulgaria’s Vidin Municipality is using ERDF funding to build 37 homes to provide shelter for those unable to help themselves.
Smart Regions: EGALURG, innovation and mobilisation to serve people beyond borders (10/03/2021)
Thanks to the financial support of Interreg POCTEFA programme, the “EGALURG” project is a true example of innovation and mobilisation to serve people beyond borders.
Watch the latest episode of Smart Regions produced in collaboration with Euronews to find out more!
Cross-border obstacles between EU Member States and Enlargement Countries: fill in the survey! (10/03/2021)
DG REGIO has launched a study “Cross-border obstacles between EU Member States and Enlargement Countries”. Spatial Foresight, in cooperation with EureConsult and t33 perform this study.
EU Cohesion policy boosts gender equality and women’s empowerment in Europe (10/03/2021)
EU Cohesion policy celebrates International Women’s Day not just on 8 March, but every day. Indeed, Cohesion policy plays an important role in implementing gender policy in the EU – at the national, regional and local levels. It addresses gender inequality with investment measures and by mainstreaming the gender perspective horizontally in all investments.
Over €63 million for improved drinking water and wastewater services in Burgas district, east Bulgaria (10/03/2021)
The European Commission has approved an investment of more than €63 million from the Cohesion Fund to provide better access to drinking water and improved sewerage for the people living in the district of Burgas, in east Bulgaria near the Black Sea. The project will contribute to improve the quality of life of more than 300,000 people.
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.
