Panorama 64: Cohesion Policy: 30 years investing in the future of European Regions (21/03/2018)
The Spring issue of Panorama magazine, now available to download, marks the 30th anniversary of the creation of Cohesion Policy with two special features. A look back at the five programming periods shows, via maps and infographics, how the policy and the regions it serves have evolved over time. We also highlight 30 emblematic projects from across all Member States, showing the breadth and effectiveness of the investments made. Our regional profile this time looks at North Rhine-Westphalia in Germany, with project profiles and an interview with Prof. Andreas Pinkwart, Minister for Economic Affairs, Innovation, Digitalisation and Energy of North Rhine-Westphalia. We also explore ERDF’s support for SMEs, Territorial Impact Assessments, and the Commission’s new toolkit for integrating people with a migrant background.
Cohesion policy after 30 years: watch the debate live online (21/03/2018)
EU’s main investment policy celebrates its 30th anniversary. What has cohesion policy achieved over this period? And how ready is it to answer current and future challenges?
On 21 March, at 17:00 CET, top politicians and EU officials will answer these questions. They will look at how cohesion policy has been at the heart of each milestone in the history of the Union, from the creation of the single market, to the need to foster convergence, through successive enlargements and the need to respond to the migration crisis. And they will explore how tomorrow’s cohesion policy will help the EU harness globalisation, foster prosperous economies, caring societies and sustainable growth, through innovation and skills.
Conference on Good Governance for Cohesion Policy – boosting quality of institutions for the present and the future (15/03/2018)
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) is organising a conference "Good Governance for Cohesion Policy" which will take place on 24 May 2018 in Brussels, in the Charlemagne building. The aim is to bring together top decision-makers and experts from Member States and EU institutions to debate and reflect upon achievements and future challenges of boosting administrative capacity in the field of management and investment of European Structural and Investment Funds, as well as to identify ways to further strengthen the link between quality of institutions and sound and effective investments for the future cohesion policy beyond 2020.
The conference will be opened by Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu and Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Bulgaria Tomislav Donchev.
EU Cities for Fair & Ethical Trade Award (02/03/2018)
For the first time, the European Commission will grant an EU city with a Fair and Ethical Trade Award.
The aim of the Award is to highlight the important role of cities in providing platforms for fair and ethical trade schemes. The contest was officially launched in Brussels on 7 December 2017 and applications will be accepted until 13 April 2018.
What is the EU Cities for Fair & Ethical Trade Award?
The Award is part of the EU’s efforts to raise awareness about how purchasing decisions of EU consumers can affect the environment and livelihoods of people in other countries – and the role that cities and local authorities must play.
Help your city apply!
Civil society organisations, NGOs and other stakeholders are welcome to complete city applications with the approval, in the form of a Mayoral Declaration, of the relevant municipality authority.
Applications are open to all EU cities that contain at least 20.000 inhabitants.
You will find all the relevant informati
Real Economy on cohesion policy benefits (07/03/2018)
A new episode of Euronews - Real Economy provides key facts and figures regarding cohesion policy and its numerous benefits. EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu describes how cohesion policy is a win-win policy for each and every EU region, including those in countries that contribute the most to the EU budget.
Examples of projects are given to illustrate how all EU regions reap large benefits from Cohesion policy, thanks to the direct effects of investments and/or indirect effects like increased trade.
Watch the episode to discover how 'rich nations' also get a return on their investment !
Euronews Real Economy : Reducing regional disparity in the EU: Cohesion Policy Aims
Commission supports more industrial regions to build resilient and competitive economies (07/03/2018)
The Commission announces which additional industrial transition regions will benefit from tailored support under an EU-funded pilot action.
The Commission has selected 7 additional EU regions and Member States for tailored assistance under the pilot call on industrial transition launched in December 2017: Cantabria (Spain), Centre Val de Loire (France), East-North Finland, Grand-Est (France) and Greater Manchester (United Kingdom) as well as Lithuania and Slovenia. They come on top of five regions already selected in December.
RegioStars Awards 2018: Time to submit your best projects (02/03/2018)
RegioStars Awards identify good practices in regional development and highlight original and innovative projects that are attractive and inspiring to other regions.
Think your project deserves to be known and rewarded? Then submit it! You can apply until April 15.
Please note that this year 2 projects can be submitted per programme by the project manager, with the endorsement of the managing authority.
The Award Categories for 2018 are:
Supporting smart industrial transition
Achieving sustainability through low carbon emissions
Creating better access to public services
Tackling migration challenges
Topic of the year 2018: Investing in cultural heritage
RegioStars 2018 Application Platform
“Interreg Volunteer Youth“ initiative: celebrating its first anniversary (02/03/2018)
Launched exactly one year ago - on 1st March 2017 - by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional & Urban Policy thanks to the European Regional & Development Fund (ERDF), the “Interreg Volunteer Youth” (IVY) initiative aims at involving young volunteers to support, promote and report the concrete achievements of Interreg programmes and projects, as well as generally promote cooperation across European borders and related values such as solidarity. IVY is part of the broader European Solidarity Corps (ESC) initiative launched by the European Commission and is indeed contributing to spread and enhance a sense of solidarity and civic awareness among an increasing number of young Europeans.
Food industry 4.0: sustainable and safe solutions for a sustainable and safe food chain (28/02/2018)
How to jointly address the societal and economic challenges in the food sector thanks to innovation? This ambitious yet practical objective is the starting point for the networking workshop on "Application of ICT and Advanced Manufacturing Solutions in the Food Supply Chain" which will take place in Budapest (Hungary) on 4-5 April 2018. The event will bring together all relevant regional actors from Central Europe and stimulate them to identify common ICT and advanced manufacturing solutions in driving the change in the food processing and supply chain. Enterprises, intermediaries including food industry federations, chambers of industry and agriculture, research centres, higher education, research and innovation agencies, funding agencies and clusters will thus foster regional cooperation based on the shared goals and synergies of the respective smart specialisation strategies.
Frontloading administrative capacity building for post-2020 (28/02/2018)
Managing Authorities are invited to apply for a Commission pilot project “Frontloading administrative capacity building”. If selected, they will benefit from tailored hands-on support, provided in close cooperation with the OECD, to further improve the way they manage and invest EU funds and, therefore, be better prepared for the next programming period post-2020.
Along with other important calls launched recently, this is part of the work of the Directorate General that is expected to feed in the better preparation for the next programming period, offering hands-on support by the Commission and other experts (e.g. the OECD) in analysing and addressing their administrative capacity building needs.
European Quality of Government Index 2017 (27/02/2018)
The European Quality of Government Index (EQI), 2017 edition, developed by the Quality of Government Institute of Gothenburg University, is the only measure of institutional quality available at the regional level in the European Union. Institutional quality is defined as a multi-dimensional concept consisting of high impartiality and quality of public service delivery, along with low corruption. Funded by the European Commission in 2010 and then again in 2013 and 2017, the EQI aims at capturing average citizens’ perceptions and experiences with corruption, and the extent to which they rate their public services as impartial and of good quality in their region of residence.
Join the IUC city-to-city cooperation programme (27/02/2018)
Cities in the member states of the European Union who wish to exchange with a city facing similar challenges in another global region are encouraged to apply for the International Urban Cooperation (IUC) city-to-city cooperation programme on sustainable urban development. The programme aims to foster links between EU cities and those in Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, and North America. Through the programme, local leaders will be able to connect and gain new perspectives on pressing sustainable development issues.
Successful candidates will be paired with a city that faces related challenges, allowing both parties to cooperate, build connections and share knowledge. Representatives from each city will take part in study tours, staff exchanges, trainings and seminars, etc. and will develop together a local action plan to drive sustainable urban development in the selected area.
Euronews - Real Economy: putting the wheels in motion! (07/02/2018)
Welcome to the 5th year of partnership with Euronews, which today is broadcasting the first episode of the new season of Real Economy. Coinciding with the 30th anniversary of Cohesion Policy, this year we will focus on the macro-economic policies in Europe that have an impact on the daily lives of the citizens, looking for solutions that work. The series kicks off with an episode produced with DG REGIO on "Transforming regions to compete in a globalized world".
The episode provides an overview of how regions need to modernise their economies and create value in a globalised world. Further investments are needed especially in innovation, and decarbonisation. There is a need for continued support for all regions to focus on the promotion of new approaches, re-orientating private and public investments to address the challenges posed by the shift to the low carbon economy.
Advancing the New Urban Agenda with the EU's International Urban Cooperation programme (07/02/2018)
The European Union undertook a Voluntary Commitment, in framework of the Habitat III Conference of 2016, to expand opportunities for city-to-city cooperation at regional and international level, and in that way to contribute to implementing the New Urban Agenda, notably by fostering capacity building through knowledge-sharing, exchanges of experience and mutual learning on sustainable urban development policy and practice, in a multi-stakeholder approach involving all relevant actors.
Accordingly, next 8 February, in the framework of the 9th World Urban Forum in Kuala Lumpur the European Commissions' Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy organises the networking event "Cities contributing to the New Urban Agenda implementation through the International Urban Cooperation programme", which aims to present the actions undertaken by the EU to deliver this Voluntary Commitment, under the EU funded International Urban Cooperation programme and World Cities project.
Urban Agenda for the EU : provide your feedback on Digital Transition, Circular Economy and Urban Mobility (07/02/2018)
Three more Partnerships established within the framework of the Urban Agenda for the EU (Digital Transition, Circular Economy and Urban Mobility) have finalised their draft Action Plans, which now await public input. The informal Public Feedback on all three draft Action Plans is open as of today and closes on Friday, 16 March 2018.
All interested stakeholders (e.g. institutions and authorities, academies and research centres, companies, NGOs, experts and citizens) are invited to participate and contribute to the draft actions developed by the Partnerships. Each draft action has its own survey, allowing users to provide input on the themes and actions most relevant to them. The surveys can be answered anonymously.
Better competencies for better results in investing EU funds (02/02/2018)
The European Commission is helping Member States and regions to improve their capacity to invest EU funds for better results through strengthening their professional and operational competencies. A brand new tool is now available for all public institutions involved in managing the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund - national coordinating bodies, managing, audit and certifying authorities, joint secretariats and intermediate bodies – in order to identify and address competency gaps and adapt their training and recruitment strategies.
Conference on Good Governance and EU Cohesion Policy (24/01/2018)
The European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) is organising a conference on "Good Governance and the EU Cohesion Policy". The conference will take place on 24 May 2018 in Brussels.
The aim of this event is to bring together decision makers and experts to discuss achievements and challenges in terms of administrative capacity and good governance in the management of European Structural and Investment Funds. The event will provide an opportunity to showcase the results of the capacity building initiatives undertaken by Member States, DG REGIO and other international organisations. We will also discuss how to p
Spread the word: your input on the future of Cohesion Policy is needed (24/01/2018)
This is a crucial time for the future of cohesion policy. The European Commission is currently working on proposals for the next generation of EU Funds and Programmes to be financed by the EU budget from 2021. These proposals will set priorities for investments in the context of growing challenges facing the EU, and increasing competition for resources.
Now is the time to make your voice heard; what should be the priorities when designing our future policy? The Commission has launched recently several on-line public consultations to collect the opinions and ideas of all interested parties and citizens on how to make the most of the EU budget. The consultations will inform the preparation of the Commission’s proposals. We strongly encourage you to share your views via the on-line consultation on cohesion policy, available in all EU languages and open until 8 March.
