Deadlines reminder: Boost citizen engagement in the implementation of cohesion policy! (22/04/2020)
Are you convinced that citizen engagement can improve public governance and ensure stronger sense of ownership? Do you want to boost citizen engagement in the implementation of cohesion policy?
Whether you are a managing authority or intermediate body involved in the management of EU cohesion policy funding programmes or a civil society organisation, we have the right type of support for you!
Panorama 72: Hungary looks to a brighter future (14/04/2020)
The spring issue of Panorama magazine is now available to download, featuring an exclusive interview with Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira. The wide-ranging discussion covers her past experiences and her priorities for the future.
Our country focus this time is on Hungary. As well as a wide selection of projects there is also an interview with László Palkovics, Hungarian Minister for Innovation and Technology on his plans for increasing his country’s competitiveness. Our other main article showcases successful projects funded through Interreg in the year in which it celebrates its 30th anniversary.
Commission launches competition for aspiring young journalists (07/04/2020)
The European Commission is launching the 2020 edition of the Youth4Regions competition for aspiring young journalists. Youth4Regions is a programme helping journalism students and young journalists discover what the EU is doing in their region.
As of today, they can apply to participate in the eponymous competition, and based on their application, 33 winners will be selected. They will be invited to Brussels during the EU Week for Regions and Cities expected to take place in October 2020, where they will be able to follow trainings, receive mentorship from established journalists, work together with the latter in the pressroom and visit the EU institutions and media organizations. Successful applicants will also be considered for the Megalizzi – Niedzielski prize for aspiring journalists.
#EURegionsWeek call for partners remains open: apply by 17 April 2020! (07/04/2020)
The call for partners for the European Week of Regions and Cities remains open.
Taking into account the difficult situation we are all facing in these times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the organizers of the #EURegionsWeek have extended the application deadline to become an event partner until 17 April 2020.
As organisers, the European Commission/DG REGIO and the European Committee of the Regions are closely following the developments of the pandemic and the unfolding of exit strategy. We are also part and parcel of the collective EU response to help fellow citizens out of this dramatic health challenge and accompany the economic recovery.
Contribute to the Public Consultation on the European Climate Pact (07/04/2020)
The European Commission’s European Green Deal is the new growth strategy for an EU economy that is sustainable, cleaner, safer and healthier. The engagement of the public is critical to instil a new climate culture, awareness and motivation for climate action, bringing together citizens, industry, civil society and authorities at all levels. To achieve this, the Commission will consult the public and interested stakeholders in order to launch a “Climate Pact” in the 3rd quarter of 2020.
European Week of Regions and Cities 2020: applications deadline extended to 17th April! (20/03/2020)
In light of the latest developments of the Corona-virus pandemic and its impact on public and private entities across Europe, the organizers of the European Week of Regions and Cities have decided to extend the deadline for submitting applications to become partners of the 2020 edition until 17 April.
We recognize the difficulties partners across Europe may be facing at the moment, with many offices being locked down or seriously impacted by the ongoing pandemic. By extending the application period, we want to offer equal opportunities to all potential partners across Europe, to take part in this year's EURegionsWeek.
We stand with all the local and regional authorities and partners who are affected by the pandemic.
EURegionsWeek team
Cohesion Policy and EU Solidarity Fund contribute to the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative (18/03/2020)
Cohesion Policy funding and the EU Solidarity Fund will play a central role in the Coronavirus Response Investment Initiative. The initiative announced by President Ursula von der Leyen last week seeks to mobilise all existing EU budget resources to provide financial support to Member States for their immediate response to the Coronavirus crisis and its long-term impact. This includes advancing payments, redirecting cohesion funds and assisting Member States in channelling money where is most needed as quickly as possible.
EU Cohesion Policy invests over €1.4 billion in green projects in 7 Member States (18/03/2020)
The European Commission has approved an investment package worth more than €1.4 billion of EU funds in 14 large infrastructure projects in 7 Member States, namely Croatia, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, Portugal, Romania and Spain. The projects cover several key areas such as environment, health, transport and energy for a smarter, low-carbon Europe. They represent a massive investment to boost the economy, protect the environment and improve citizens’ quality of life and social well-being.
Engaging citizens in cohesion policy: new call for propsals for civil society organisations published (18/03/2020)
You are a civil society organisation and you are convinced that citizen engagement can improve public governance and ensure stronger sense of ownership? We need your creative ideas to encourage and support a genuine and meaningful participation of citizens in planning, implementing and monitoring EU-funded projects.
The Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) is seeking proposals to support innovative ideas and initiatives for promoting citizen engagement in the design and/or implementation and/or monitoring of cohesion policy. The selected projects will promote active participation of citizens at the level of an operational programme, of a policy objective covered by the programme and/or of a within the specific objective.
Pilot action for supporting Managing Authorities and Intermediate Bodies in promoting citizen engagement – deadline 31 March 2020 (11/03/2020)
You are a managing authority or intermediate body involved in the management of EU cohesion policy funding programmes, willing to boost engagement with civil society and citizens for better results of the investment. We have the right solution for you.
You could apply for participation in a pilot action to receive top class expertise from the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and tailored assistance in setting up new initiatives to involve citizens and promote transparency and accountability.
The support will result in concrete set of recommendations on how to improve existing practices and/or on the introduction of new initiatives to be taken by the selected institutions and a jointly elaborated action plan on how to implement them successfully.
The experiences from the pilot project will be disseminated to further promote genuine and meaningful citizen engagement in the management and implementation of cohesion policy investment.
Gender pay gap: public consultation (11/03/2020)
Last week the Commission launched its new Gender Equality Strategy for the next five years. At the same time, it also launched a public consultation on pay transparency which is the first step towards an initiative at the end of the year. This consultation is very important to collect evidence on pay discrimination cases and views on possible measures to increase pay transparency.
This public consultation aims at collecting information, views and experiences on (i) gender-based pay discrimination and (ii) pay transparency measures as a tool to support awareness and enforcement of the ‘equal pay for equal work or work of equal value between women and men’ principle. The information collected will feed into an impact assessment accompanying an initiative on pay transparency measures.
The consultation is open until 28 May 2020.
European Semester: Cohesion policy funds support Member States’ reforms (26/02/2020)
The European Semester is about helping Member States to identify the reforms needed to ensure a thriving economy and sound finances. To execute these reforms, Member States may need to invest, and the EU funds - in particular the Cohesion Policy funds - can be of great support.
Cohesion Policy Investments on the Rise – 2019 ESI Funds Data Sets Published (26/02/2020)
The cohesion policy financial data from the end of 2019 provided by national and regional programmes shows that the total volume of decided projects has risen nearly EUR 80 billion to EUR 439 billion (91% of all planned investment) in 2019.
#EUdatathon 2020: innovating for Europe with EU Open Data (19/02/2020)
The fourth edition of EU Datathon, the open data competition, has been launched on 19 February. This is your chance to demonstrate the potential that open data present in today’s society and, of course, your creativity and talent! It is also your chance to claim your share of the total prize fund amounting to EUR 100 000.
To take part, you should propose the development of an application that links and uses open datasets, of which at least one from the thousands made available by the EU institutions, agencies and bodies. For more detailed information, see the rules of the competition.
Engaging citizens in the implementation of cohesion policy: call for expression of interest (11/02/2020)
Managing Authorities and intermediate bodies of ERDF and CF operational programmes are invited to apply for a Commission pilot project “Engaging citizens in the implementation of cohesion policy”. If selected, they can benefit from tailored advisory support in developing a closer cooperation with citizens and/or civil society organisations in the implementation of cohesion policy. The advisory support will be provided in close cooperation with the OECD.
Engaging with citizens and relevant civil society organisations in decision-making processes can improve the delivery and quality of investments. Selected managing authorities will receive support to strengthen their participatory practices and experience from the pilot will serve as inspiration to build good practices for effective use of the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund.
SAVE-THE-DATE: OUTERMOST REGIONS FORUM – 24 & 25 MARCH (06/02/2020)
Join us for the 2020 Outermost regions Forum “Together for a sustainable future” organised by the European Commission (Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy)!
Date: 24-25 March 2020
Venue: Brussels, Charlemagne building
This high-level event will bring together the nine outermost regions of the EU, their Member States, the EU institutions, civil society and experts interested in learning from the experience of these special EU regions.
The Forum will take stock of the progress made under the 2017 Communication “A stronger and renewed strategic partnership with the EU outermost regions”, two years after its adoption. It will also discuss the role of the outermost regions in adapting to climate change and protecting biodiversity, promoting circular economy as well as their significant blue economy potential.
