New report highlights how EU Cohesion Policy improves the investment environment in Europe (04/04/2017)
One of the key elements of the Cohesion Policy reform for 2014-20 was the introduction of preconditions for Member States to receive money from the European Structural and Investment Funds.
A first assessment published today shows that this additional step has a high value, and that the preconditions proved to be a powerful incentive for Member States and regions to carry out reforms which would have otherwise been delayed or not necessarily implemented. The preconditions for successful investments (or "ex-ante conditionalities") cover a wide variety of sectors, including compliance with energy efficiency, innovation, digital plans, and education reforms. They were included in the reformed Cohesion Policy to ensure sound and effective spending.
Panorama 60: Bulgaria and Romania celebrate 10 years in the EU (04/04/2017)
Our first issue of 2017 heralds a double celebration – it is 10 years since Bulgaria and Romania joined the EU and a lot has changed during that time. Panorama takes a closer look at how being part of the Union has benefited the countries and their citizens. Our in-depth feature focuses on Western Greece where Cohesion Policy is supporting this region, which has huge potential, by rolling out a strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth.
Smart Regions 2.0 Conference: Maximising Europe's innovation potential (29/03/2017)
The second edition of the high-level Smart Regions event, due to take place this 1-2 June in Helsinki, will provide the opportunity to national and regional authorities to share experience of how smart specialisation has been implemented in their countries and regions. In 2014 smart specialisation strategies were introduced in the European Union's Cohesion Policy as the basis for research and innovation investment. As a result, over 120 strategies have been established to shape investments from 2014-20. It is now time to assess what has been achieved, exchange experience and reflect on how the impact of projects can be maximised on the ground and what lessons should be drawn for the future.
REMINDER: deadline to submit your projects for the RegioStars Awards 2017: 10 April (28/03/2017)
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!
The Award Categories for 2017 are:
1) Smart Specialisation for SME innovation
2) Energy Union: Climate action
3) Women Empowerment and Active Participation
4) Education and training
5) CityStars: Cities in Digital Transition
This year's RegioStars award ceremony will take place on Tuesday, October 10, during the 2017 European Week of Regions and Cities.
60 years of Europe; 60 projects for you (28/03/2017)
As a nod to the 60th anniversary of the signature of the Rome Treaty, we have created a gallery of 60 photos illustrating projects co-financed by the EU's main investment programme: EU Regional Policy.
TAIEX-REGIO PEER 2 PEER celebrates 2 years of successful exchanges of experience (28/03/2017)
Two years ago, DG Regional and Urban Policy launched a new instrument for Member States called TAIEX-REGIO PEER 2 PEER. PEER 2 PEER is a simple-to-use tool designed to help Member States administrations meet more easily and share their experience on various topics related to the management of the European Regional Development Fund and the Cohesion Fund (ERDF/CF), as part of Commissioner Creţu's priority to improve the way EU funds are invested and managed.
The 7th European Cohesion Forum is coming soon (27/03/2017)
The European Cohesion Forum is held every three years and is one of the largest political events to focus on the major challenges of European cohesion policy. It will take place on 26 and 27 June in Brussels in the Charlemagne building. The event will be a milestone in the preparations for the post-2020 framework for the European Structural and Investment Funds.
We are pleased to announce that the President of the European Commission, Jean-Claude Juncker, and the President of the European Parliament, Antonio Tajani, together with high level representatives of the EU presidencies will participate in the Forum. Professor Fabrizio Barca, Former Italian Minister of territorial cohesion, will deliver a keynote speech at the event.
Interreg is proud to launch “Interreg Volunteer Youth”: part of the European Solidarity Corps initiative (20/03/2017)
EU Regional and Urban Policy has joined President Juncker's European Solidarity Corps initiative, providing EUR 1 million to offer young Europeans aged 18-30 the possibility to serve as 'Interreg reporters'.
The “Interreg Volunteer Youth” (IVY) initiative is aimed at involving young European volunteers to support, promote and report the concrete achievements of Interreg programmes and projects, as well as generally promote cooperation across borders and related values such as solidarity. The IVY will give volunteers the opportunity to familiarise with the Interreg programmes and projects, make them aware of the many benefits of collaboration among EU internal borders as well as enhance their sense of European solidarity, citizenship and civic engagement.
In Your Own Words: EU Structural Funds have to support self-management (20/03/2017)
When we talk about Structural Funds, three key phrases stand out above all others: excessive bureaucracy, dependence on aid, and increased competitiveness.
Although two of these phrases have rather negative connotations, it is clear that the effect of Structural Funds on increasing the competitiveness of the state and business has been remarkable in Estonia, although underestimated at times.
Showcase for use of EU funds in the Outermost Regions (22/03/2017)
The Fourth Forum of the Outermost Regions entitled "The Outermost Regions, European lands in the world: toward a renewed strategy", will be held in Brussels on 30-31 March 2017 (Charlemagne Building, 170 rue de la Loi).
The Forum will gather together the Presidents of the Outermost Regions, representatives from their three Member States, members of civil society and external stakeholders as well as representatives of the EU institutions. As in preceding editions, the program will include plenary sessions and thematic workshops devoted to the above-mentioned issues.
To mark the occasion an updated brochure, (available in EN, ES, FR, and PT), has been produced to showcase successful projects in all the Outermost regions, complete with a foreword from Corina Creţu, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, and testimonies from project beneficiaries.
How competitive is your region? Commission publishes the 2016 Regional Competitiveness Index (27/02/2017)
The Commission has published the third edition of the Regional Competitiveness Index for 263 EU regions, a study that provides useful insights for regions to boost their economic performance.
Regional competitiveness is the ability of a region to offer an attractive and sustainable environment for firms and residents to live and work.
The novelty of the 2016 edition is the interactive web tool, which allows for a more detailed analysis and comparison of each region, either with its peers in terms of GDP per capita or with all EU regions.
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!
Real Economy: EU funds adding up for life improving projects (15/02/2017)
In this episode of Real Economy Vice President Jyrki Katainen and Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creţu sit down for a joint interview to address funding of projects improving the lives of European citizens, and to highlight the synergies that EU countries can utilize.
Launch of the third EU Regional Competitiveness Index (13/02/2017)
The third edition of the EU Regional Competitiveness Index will be launched by Marc Lemaitre, Director-General of the Regional and Urban Policy DG on 27 February as 14:30 in the Committee of the Regions. This presentation will be followed by two panel discussions on its relevance for policy-making with international experts from the global (World Economic Forum), the European and the regional level. A draft agenda is attached.
Registration is possible at: https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/regional_competitiveness
The event can also be followed live on the web at: https://livestream.com/corlive1/events/7008794
Please feel free to share this with interested colleagues
Invitation to a meeting with European Commissioner in charge of Regional Policy Corina Creţu - 20 February at 11:00 (02/02/2017)
I am pleased to invite you (or a representative) to the meeting between the Brussels Regional Offices and the European Commissioner in charge of Regional Policy, Corina Creţu, on 20 February 2017.
This meeting will be an opportunity for representatives of regions to exchange and discuss with Commissioner Crețu about the current and future priorities for Regional and Urban Policy. The main focus of the meeting will be " The future of EU Regional policy post-2020". Please come prepared with ideas and requests of your region.
Panorama 59: EU contribution strengthens UN global urban agenda (23/01/2017)
Welcome to the Winter 2016 edition of Panorama. In this issue Commissioner Corina Creţu takes stock of the achievements of 2016 and looks ahead to the challenges for 2017. Our main feature looks at the EU's participation in the recent Habitat III conference in Quito, Ecuador, which allowed for the sharing of experiences from around the world in the domain of sustainable urban development. We review this year's successful European Week of Regions and Cities, reveal some of the key findings of the ex-post evaluation of the 2007-2013 funding period, and look forward to the future of the Baltic Region Strategy. Our in-depth look at one region this time features the newly-created French region Grand Est, with an interview with the region's president and a selection of recent successful projects, and In Your Own Words features contributions from Poland, Italy, Romania and the Netherlands.
Ex Post Evaluation shows the positive impact of Cohesion Policy (25/01/2017)
A recently-finalised Ex Post Evaluation of Cohesion Policy interventions in 2007 – 2013 has shown the extent to which EU investments have helped create jobs and growth over the past seven years. The evaluation, carried out by independent experts, focused on the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund.
The Urban Agenda for the EU: four new partnerships on the economy, digital transition, jobs, and transport (13/01/2017)
The EU's Urban Agenda helps European cities voice their concerns during the development of policies which affect them, such as jobs, mobility, air quality or social inclusion. Thanks to their participation in thematic partnerships on an equal footing with national and local authorities, EU institutions, associations and other concerned parties, towns can promote best practice and proposals for improving the lives of their citizens. Four new partnerships have been launched this month.
