The kick-off event for Pillar 2 of the Talent Booster Mechanism was held at the Headquarters of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, France on 18-19 April 2024. It was hosted by the OECD’s Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities and the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO).
- 22 May 2024
The event brought together key stakeholders from all 10 regions selected under Pillar 2 of the Talent Booster Mechanism, as well as policy experts from the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, DG REGIO and the OECD.
During the event, participating regions gained insights from international experts and shared experiences. Dedicated sessions highlighted regional demographic projections for the European Union and existing initiatives to help manage demographic change. Regions shared their specific challenges and explored opportunities for new approaches.
Helping regions adapt to demographic change
Under Pillar 2 of the Talent Booster Mechanism, a focus is placed on helping regions facing high rates of departure of young people to adapt to the demographic transition and supporting the adoption of tailored place-based policies.
Based on an open call, 10 regions were selected to receive technical assistance and expertise. The selected regions were: Banská Bystrica Self-Governing Region (SK), Campania (IT), Castilla y León (ES), Nord-Vest (RO), Região Autónoma dos Açores (PT), Centre - Val de Loire (FR), Extremadura (ES), Norte (PT), Regional Council of Pohjois Savo (FI), and Thessalia (EL).
The support will help the selected regions develop spatially oriented, smart policy approaches that respond to key issues related to demographic change such as spatial planning, dealing with vacant land and housing, maintaining attractive built-environments, providing infrastructure and services, addressing labour and skill shortages, developing supportive multi-level governance systems, and reforming subnational government finances.
The assistance will be provided in two main waves, each targeting five regions. The first wave is planned to take place between April 2024 and July 2025, and the second wave between July 2025 and October 2026. Each wave will follow a similar set of activities including analytical research, study missions, policy seminars, and a final stock-taking event.
The next policy seminar under Pillar 2 will be held in February 2025. It will bring together the 10 regions as well as experts, peer reviewers and external stakeholders to share preliminary findings and exchange knowledge.