European Week of Regions and Cities

European Week of
Regions and Cities
A political vision for 2007-2013
EUROPEAN UNION
Committee of the Regions
European Week of Regions and Cities
OPEN
DAYS
Communication, Press,
Information and Events Unit
Brussels
10 – 13 October 2005
rue Belliard 101
BE-1040 Brussels
Tél: + 32 (0)2/282 21 55
Fax: + 32 (0)2/282 20 85
E-mail: [email protected]
www.cor.eu.int
EUROPEAN UNION
organised jointly by
Committee of the Regions
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DG Regional Policy
with the cooperation of the
European Parliament’s Regional
Development Committee
OPEN
DAYS
09 –12
2006
Investing in Europe’s
Regions and Cities
EUROPEAN UNION
Committee of the Regions
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DG Regional Policy
“Europe cannot be built in Brussels. It is built
in the cities and regions throughout Europe.
They are the pillars of our community. They
guarantee the protection of historical, political,
social and cultural diversity.”
Danuta Hübner, Commissioner for Regional Policy
“Enlargement, cohesion and competitiveness:
these are the reasons why the Committee of the
Regions has given the European Commission’s
proposals for a reformed and strengthened
cohesion policy its full support.”
Peter Straub,
President of the Committee of the Regions
2
Introduction
If numbers are any indication of success, then the OPEN DAYS European Week of Regions and Cities, held
in Brussels on 10-13 October 2005, can certainly be said to have measured up. Statistics may not always tell
the whole story, but in the words of one of the 2,500 participants, “big is beautiful when you want to get
your message across”.
This year’s OPEN DAYS, organised by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Commission
Directorate General for Regional Policy, with the support of the Regional Development Committee of the
European Parliament, brought together 106 key partners, representing regions and cities from 26 countries.
Together, they hosted 66 workshops and three flagship debates linked by one common theme – “working
together for regional growth and jobs”. The programme featured no less than 380 speakers at 30 venues,
including contributions from Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner, CoR President Peter Straub, UK
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott, European Parliament President Josep Borrell, European Investment
Bank President Philippe Maystadt, Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström, European Parliament
Regional Development Committee chairman Gerardo Galeote Quecedo and UK Minister for Industry and
the Regions Alun Michael.
The third annual OPEN DAYS brought together presidents and mayors of regions and cities, members of the
European Parliament, officials from European, national and regional administrations, experts from
development agencies, university academics and private sector lobbyists. It was also a major media event,
attracting nearly 250 regional journalists, including 55 editors-in-chief from the Circom association of
European regional public television stations.
The 2,500 participants – twice as many as in 2004 – came from 30 countries and made a total of 8,000 seat
reservations. “House-full” signs were up at almost every workshop; indeed, such was the demand, a further
600 participants took part in
the Opening Session at the
European Commission’s
Charlemagne building
3
The official banner of
the 2005 OPEN DAYS
European Week of Regions
and Cities
over the entrance to
the Charlemagne building
4
2,000 seats could have been filled had there been more space. The official OPEN DAYS reception held at the
Musée du Cinquantenaire, the largest single event ever organised by regions and cities in Brussels, was a
tribute to European regional identity and its rich diversity.
The success of the 2005 OPEN DAYS European Week of Regions and Cities, however, was not just about the
numbers. The acid test was in achieving its objectives. This year’s event had three clear aims:
■To send a united message to Member States about the urgency of securing an agreement on the EU
budget (financial perspectives) for 2007-2013
■To highlight the role of regions and cities as key players of the growth and jobs agenda in a modern
European economy
■To help the regions and cities prepare for the next generation of Structural Funds’ programmes, based on
a newly designed cohesion policy focused on convergence, competitiveness and enhanced cooperation
The record number of participants involved, together with strong media interest, guaranteed that the main
political message about the financial perspectives would be heard not only in Brussels, but throughout the 25
Member States and applicant countries.
The flagship debates were dominated by discussions about the EU budget and the decisive role to be played
by regions and cities in making the Lisbon objectives of higher growth and more and better jobs a reality.
The 66 workshops focused on preparations for the new Structural Funds’ programming period through its
new “Convergence”, “Regional Competitiveness and Employment” and “European Territorial Cooperation”
objectives, set out in the Commission’s strategic guidelines for cohesion policy. The results of a public
consultation on these guidelines, including more than 200 contributions from Member States, regions and
cities, social partners, business and NGOs, were presented during the OPEN DAYS by Commissioner Hübner.
Getting the message across
during the exhibition in the
Charlemagne building
5
Financial perspectives:
“no time to lose”
Some 800 delegates took part
in the Plenary Session of
the Committee of the Regions
in the Charlemagne building
The failure of EU leaders to agree a new multi-annual budget at the European Summit in June 2005 caused
consternation in regions and cities throughout the Union, but especially in new Member States where the
prospect of a strong cohesion policy was a key factor in gaining public support for accession. If a deal on the
financial perspectives is not reached by the end of this year, the launch of the new generation of Structural
Funds’ programmes for 2007-2013 could be delayed – with grave implications for cohesion and the relaunched Lisbon Strategy. The presence of John Prescott, the UK Deputy Prime Minister, and Alun Michael,
Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, at two of the debates ensured that the “no time to lose”
message would, at the very least, be received loud and clear by the EU Presidency.
The CoR and European Parliament both support the Commission budgetary proposal for cohesion policy;
the institutions all agree that it represents a realistic assessment of what is needed and affordable at the
European level to help meet the Lisbon and Gothenburg objectives.
6
“What we need now is an agreement on the next financial perspective. Without it there is no point in
talking about solidarity, cohesion and competitiveness, about bringing growth and jobs to regional and
local levels. We are in a moment where we can either continue postponing decisions and prolong the period
of uncertainty and confusion or we can prove to our citizens, to our regions and cities that the Union is
working for them. We must act now.”
Danuta Hübner, Regional Policy Commissioner, at the Opening Session of the OPEN DAYS European
Week of Regions and Cities, 10 October 2005
“Territorial cohesion is and will remain one of the major symbols of European integration ... this objective
should neither fall victim to deep budget cuts nor be used as a pawn in the budget negotiations.”
Peter Straub, President of the Committee of the Regions, at the Opening Session
Alun Michael, UK Minister of State for Industry
and the Regions,Graham Meadows, Director
General, European Commission Regional Policy
Directorate General, Danuta Hübner, Regional
Policy Commissioner, Peter Straub, President of
the Committee of the Regions, and Gerardo
Galeote Quecedo, chairman of the European
Parliament Regional Development Committee,
at the Opening Session
7
”It is essential that the heads of state or
government reach an agreement on the
financial perspective in December during
the UK Presidency. It should be based on the
European Commission proposal, but also
agreeable to the European Parliament.
The Parliament’s proposal for the EU’s future
financing is realistic and is detailed in the
report drafted by Reimer Böge. However,
not just any agreement would be acceptable
to the European Parliament – the agreement
must be based on the principles of solidarity
and a step-by-step approach, both for old
and new Member States.”
Gerardo Galeote Quecedo, chairman
of the European Parliament Regional
Development Committee, at the Closing
Session, 13 October
“We have to do everything we can to get
a budget by the end of the year, otherwise
we will have considerable difficulties in
meeting the needs of our citizens. Late
negotiations might have a negative effect
on the procedures for meeting the
objectives we have laid down. I expect the
UK Presidency to do everything it can to
ensure we get an agreement on finance.”
Pavel Bém, Mayor of Prague, Czech
Republic, Vice-President of the CoR, at the
Plenary Session, 12 October
“We cannot accept any further cuts to the
budget. We have now reached a minimum
below which we cannot go.”
Michael Schneider, Vice-President of the
European People’s Party group in the CoR
and representative of Saxony-Anhalt to
the federal government, at the CoR
Plenary Session
8
“Cutting cohesion policy doesn’t enhance
trust in the EU.”
Constanze Krehl, Member of the
European Parliament, rapporteur on the
opinion on policy challenges and
budgetary means of the enlarged Union
2007-2013, at the Closing Session
“It is not possible to ask the European
Union to focus more on areas where it
provides added value, but at the same
time to cut its budget. As you say in
English, it is not possible to have your cake
and eat it. How can we compete with
China, India, America if we cannot even
be clear about our financial perspective
for the rest of this decade?”
Kent Johannson, President of the
Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for
Europe group in the CoR and executive
member of the regional council of Västra
Götalands, Sweden, responding to UK
Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott at
the CoR Plenary Session
“A balance must be found between
cohesion and competitiveness.”
Alain Rousset, President of Aquitaine,
France, at the CoR Plenary Session
9
“We understand and share concerns
about the delay in reaching agreement on
the budget … but it has to be the right
deal – one that equips the EU to deal
effectively with the challenges of the 21st
century, one that takes account of the
wider debate on the direction of the
Union, and one that meets the needs of
the new Member States to ensure that EU
enlargement continues to be a success.”
Alun Michael, UK Minister of State for
Industry and the Regions, at the
Opening Session
“More than 2,000 participants from
over 30 countries are here … clearly
demonstrating both the great interest in
and success of this event. Our institutions
have embarked on an unprecedented
degree of collaboration.”
Gerardo Galeote Quecedo, chairman
of the European Parliament Regional
Development Committee, at the
Opening Session
10
“I think we can all agree that the main focus … must be on helping less wealthy European partners to
improve their economies. And that money must be spent effectively, without undue bureaucracy standing
in the way of national and regional governments delivering jobs and growth for all their people. I know
that early agreement on the EU budget is the key to taking this work forward: that’s why the UK Presidency
will do its best to reach a deal in December.”
“We have put the abatement on the table. We say that is not best way to use European money. We’d sooner
put it into education, investment and training.”
John Prescott, UK Deputy Prime Minister, at the CoR Plenary Session
Is John Prescott, UK Deputy Prime Minister,
getting an ear-bashing?
President Straub maintains a diplomatic silence
11
“Without the active work carried out by the
regions and cities throughout Europe, we
will never reach the targets set in Lisbon.
But in order to make it a success, these key
players need support from the EU in the
form of a well-financed cohesion budget.”
Istvan Serto-Radics, Mayor of Uszaka,
Hungary, and member of the Alliance of
Liberals and Democrats for Europe group,
at the CoR Plenary Session
“I can really only support the wish expressed
that we get an agreement as soon as
possible on the financial perspectives.”
Philippe Maystadt, President of the
European Investment Bank, at the
Closing Session
“Any delays to the start of the programming
period as a result of protracted negotiations
will lead to financial disruption and
instability across local and regional
authorities. The competitiveness for growth
and employment pillar of the financial
perspective cannot be the adjustment
variable for negotiations on payment
appropriations … my colleagues and I reject
any notion that structural and cohesion
funding is renationalised in any manner.”
Jerzy Zająkała, Mayor of Łubianka,
Poland, speaking for the Union for a
Europe of the Nations-European Alliance
group at the Closing Session
12
“We are worried about the uncertainties
regarding the adoption of the financial
perspectives. Working on a year-by-year
basis would lead to limited availability of
funds. We encourage the UK Presidency to
make serious efforts to ensure that
pertinent decisions are made.”
Bozena Ronowicz, Mayor of Zielona
Góra in Poland, speaking for the Union
for a Europe of the Nations-European
Alliance group, at the CoR Plenary Session
“I would have concern at the pressure
being applied on the budget resources
provided for the ‘Competitiveness and
Employment’ strand. There is a real
European added-value to this strand and
it must be maintained and be given
sufficient resources to ensure that it is a
credible measure.”
Seamus Murray, 1st Vice-President of
the Union for a Europe of the NationsEuropean Alliance (UEN-EA) group in the
CoR and member of Meath County
Council, Ireland, at the Opening Session
Danuta Hübner,
Regional Policy
Commissioner,
addressing the
Closing Session
in the European
Parliament
13
Regions and cities:
key players of the growth
and jobs agenda in a
modern European economy
The re-launch of the Lisbon Strategy has renewed focus on regions and cities as the engine of growth and
jobs in a modernised European economy. Many participants argued that the strategy had initially largely
failed to achieve its objectives because it had not sufficiently tapped into the expertise and experience
available at the local and regional level. The OPEN DAYS workshops underlined that a top-down, one-sizefits-all approach was doomed from the start: while there is no single magic formula for unlocking the full
innovative potential of Europe’s regions and cities, the presentations illustrated that they can learn a great
deal from each other through the sharing of ideas, best practice and by combining forces.
“EU regional policy is not
a charity for the poor …
regional policy funding is
helping the endogenous
growth potential of
regions. It is supporting
investments in human
capital and physical infrastructure (transport and
energy), telecommunications and information
technology infrastructure,
and research and innovation activities.”
José Manuel Barroso,
President of the
European Commission,
writing in the
Parliament Magazine
‘Going local’ issue
14
“The Lisbon Strategy … has shown
clearly that governments, nations
themselves, cannot go it alone. They
need the sub-national level, they need
the regions and the cities to put political
intentions into practice.”
“Building a knowledge-based society is probably the
best – and maybe the only – way to preserve the
European social model, without having to make tradeoffs between economic growth, social cohesion and
environmental protection.”
Peter Straub, President of the CoR,
from interview in Parliament Magazine
‘Going local’ issue
Hermann Winkler, Minister of European Affairs,
Saxony, Germany, during a presentation on high-tech
networks, 11 October
“The participation of the local and regional
authorities is an essential condition for the
success of the Lisbon Strategy ... and if
Europe is going to advance we need the
fuel of the Structural Funds.”
Michel Delebarre, President of the
Socialist Group in the CoR, former Minister
of State and Mayor of Dunkerque, France,
at the CoR Plenary Session
“Regions and cities contribute significantly
to a more competitive and dynamic
knowledge-based European economy. The
OPEN DAYS European Week of Regions and
Cities of 2005 confirms this fact and sends a
clear message to the other EU institutions
and national governments: the strength
and potential of regions, cities and
municipalities must be better exploited.”
Isidoro Gottardo, President of the
European People’s Party Group in the
CoR and member of the regional council
of Friuli Venezia Giulia, Italy, at
the CoR Plenary Session
15
The Official Info Point in the
Committee of the Regions
“Growth and employment are central day-today concerns for all of us. I am sure that those
attending the Open Days from 10-13 October
will benefit greatly from exchanging
practical experience. It is essential that there
be very close cooperation between elected
representatives at local, regional, national
and European level.”
Josep Borrell, President of the European
Parliament,
message to the OPEN DAYS
16
“Our aim is to become the knowledgebased technology centre of Europe, with
rising living standards and high
employment … we propose, inter alia, to
reduce the amount of formality and
bureaucracy involved in the legal decisionmaking process insofar as it affects business.
… in the context of European regional and
structural policy, we must channel these
resources into areas with the highest
leverage effect and make sure they are
used to the full.”
Martin Jahn, Deputy Prime Minister for
Economic Affairs, Czech Republic,
message to the OPEN DAYS
“The linkage between research and enterprises is
crucial for competitiveness in Europe and in the
regions. International and interregional thinking and
acting becomes more and more important in a
globalised market economy. Therefore, Thuringia is
working closely with its European partners.”
Gerold Wucherpfenning, Minister for European
Affairs, Thuringia, Germany, during workshop on
interregional cooperation in the fields of information
technology, opto-electronics and renewable energies
“Going to the USA must no longer be a oneway road for young scientists from Europe.”
Jorgo Chatzimarkakis, Member of the
European Parliament, arguing that Europe
must keep its brightest and best to
encourage research and development (hightech networks presentation, 11 October)
17
Presentation map, in the Charlemagne
building, showcasing the 106 OPEN
DAYS partner regions and cities
“JASPERS (Joint Assistance to Support Projects in the
European Regions) will help Member States to design
and prepare large projects supported by EU Structural
Funds and the Cohesion Fund… JEREMIE (Joint
European Resources for Micro-to-Medium Enterprises)
will offer the authorities the chance to work with the
European Investment Fund in order to improve
capacity in the field of financial engineering. The
initiative will contribute to encouraging business
development including highly innovative activities, for
the benefit of the regions concerned and of the
Union’s economy as a whole.”
Danuta Hübner, Regional Policy Commissioner,
launching two new financial initiatives for cohesion
policy following her meeting with ministers responsible
for regional policy, 11 October
“The urban dimension of the cohesion
policy must be considered a priority.
Regions where the urban, the suburban,
and the rural areas are in a welldeveloped symbiotic relationship will be
in a better position to help Europe achieve
its goals for growth and jobs.”
Arpad Molnar, member of Somogy
County Assembly, Hungary, and member
of the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats
for Europe group in the CoR, at the
Opening Session
18
“There are some fears whether the
European Commission and Ministers have
really drawn conclusions from the initial
failure of the Lisbon Strategy and whether
this will lead to solutions.”
Olek Krzysztof, Institute of Business,
Poland, at the Opening Session
“Economic analysis should pay more attention on
the regional dimension of competitiveness and
development. Talents, innovation and competitiveness
flourish at local level. It is therefore fundamental to
assess and monitor regional performances. This is
the path to achieve a balanced, fair and steady
economic growth.”
Lorenza Badiello, Head of the Emilia-Romagna
(Italy) office in Brussels
“The Lisbon Strategy is Europe’s only hope to achieve
growth and jobs across the Union and to deal with the
rising challenge of China and India. It plays directly
to regional challenges of a global competitive
environment with jobs and growth as main drivers
for sustained economic growth. However, without
continuous support and engagement from the Member
States, the Lisbon Strategy is not set to achieve its goals
following the re-launch.”
Paul Lovejoy, South East England Development
Agency, during the workshop on “Regional
competitiveness and employment – the Lisbon
Strategy as a framework for a successful region”
“The secret of a successful region is the
effective use of knowledge and the
constant renewing of technological
innovation. It is highly important that new
research results are realised in competitive
goods and services.”
Mátyás Firtl, Vice-President of the
general assembly of Györ-Moson-Sopron
County, Hungary, during the workshop
on Innovation in the WestTransdanubian Region
“Just as the principle of subsidiarity has
the goal of ensuring that local
communities still make as many decisions
as possible themselves, so too should we
bear in mind that a vibrant thriving local
economy forms the basic building block of
a successful world economy.”
Keith Brown, President of the Union for
Europe of the Nations-European Alliance
group in the CoR and member of
Clackmannanshire Council, Scotland, at
the CoR Plenary Session
19
Danuta Hübner, Regional Policy Commissioner, and Peter
Straub, CoR President, addressing a briefing for regional
media at the Commission´s Berlaymont headquarters
“The Forum for Economic and Industrial
Competitiveness of Castilla y León was
created with a view to making the best of
the opportunities and challenges that arise
with the enlargement of the EU and to
adapt itself to the requirements of an open
and globalised economy. Its mission was to
help design a set of strategies that could
ensure the definitive diversification and
modernisation of the entrepreneurial fabric
of our Community and, in doing so, it was
to take a special interest in those sectors
and activities in which clear competitive
advantages could be detected.”
Victor Valverde Gómez, Director General
for Economy and European Affairs of the
Regional Government of Castilla
y León, Spain
20
“Statistics state that 90% of all start-ups
set up inside a business incubator are still
active three years later. 850 European
business incubators assist in creating
29,000 new sustainable jobs every year
and the enterprises in which these jobs are
created are much more viable than those
set up outside incubators.”
Neil Kemsley, Merseyside Special
Investment Fund, Liverpool, during the
workshop on “Regional Cooperation of
Enterprises and Universities: Financial
Instruments for SMEs”
“We love legislation.”
Jackie Seddon of Envirolink Northwest,
UK, at the workshop on “Innovative
Environmental Policies and Solutions in the
regions”, arguing in favour of laws that
encourage companies to reduce waste
“The real key to regional competitiveness
is the way regional players are capable of
organising and cooperating among
themselves in a given territory. As an
American friend says, it is about the three
Ts: Technology, Talent and Tolerance.”
“Competitive centres in future will need to be
carbon-light.”
Mikel Landabaso, deputy head of unit
at the European Commission’s Regional
Policy Directorate General
Roger Read, Secretary-General of METREX, the
Network of European Metropolitan Regions and
Areas, Glasgow, UK
“In the Development Agency of the
Region of Murcia (INFO), we work to
provide integral SME support through
different resources, like the European
Regional Programme of Innovative Actions
(RPIA). We are convinced that SME growth
creates the basis for achieving economic
development along with increasing
employment. We take this approach to
facilitate sustainable growth and
substantial job-making. This is definitely
the best social service one can offer.”
Francisco Sardina, General Director,
Regional Development Agency of
Murcia, Spain
21
22
More than 2,200 guests
attended the official
OPEN DAYS reception
in the Musée du
Cinquantenaire, the
largest single event
ever organised by regions
and cities in Brussels
23
24
Workshops and seminars:
Convergence,
regional competitiveness,
territorial cooperation,
managing the Structural
Funds and instruments
When it came to choosing the topics to be addressed during the OPEN DAYS workshops, the starting point was
how best to explore the details involved in preparing for the next generation of Structural Funds programmes
in 2007-2013. The aim of these sessions was two-fold: to offer practical advice to regions and cities in their
preparations – and also to create a forum for regions and cities to help each other through the sharing of
experiences, ideas and best practice.
The 66 seminars and workshops were grouped around four themes. The 15 “convergence” seminars analysed
development needs and preparations with a focus on transport infrastructure, research and technological
development, environmental issues and sustainable development. A total of 23 workshops were dedicated to
“regional competitiveness and employment”, focusing on four priorities: knowledge-based development and
innovation at the regional level; sustainable regional development; accessibility and transport infrastructure;
development for urban and rural areas. There were 13 seminars on “European Territorial Cooperation”,
highlighting cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation, as well as neighbourhood programmes
with non-EU countries. Finally, 15 workshops looked at the cross-cutting theme of “managing the Structural
Funds and instruments”, with the emphasis on programme management and project selection, monitoring and
evaluation, and financial management, control and audit.
Workshop in
Valencian Office
25
“It would be hard to enumerate the
different initiatives and projects that have
been beneficiary of our membership to
the European Union. There are so many,
around 10,000 of them, that probably
there is not one area in life of citizens of
Murcia that have not been directly
favoured by European funds.”
Inmaculada García, Regional Minister
of Finance and Economy, Region of
Murcia, Spain
“The best approach is a combination of a bottomup planning and evaluation process, based on
social cost-benefit analysis, and of a top down
programming exercise, based on appropriate
statistical and policy analysis.”
“Structural Funds have created a new
dynamic in Sweden, by allowing a
partnership between the national
government and the regions that didn’t
exist before Sweden’s accession to the EU.”
Professor Massimo Florio, University of Milan, during
the workshop on “Planning and Evaluation of
Infrastructure under the 2007-2013 EU Structural Funds”
Jens Nilsson, Mayor of Östersund,
Sweden, and co-rapporteur for the CoR’s
opinion on the general regulation for
Structural Funds
Peter Wenster,
Swedish
Association of
Local Authorities,
chairing one of the
seminars of the
conglomerate
Green Innovation
in Action
26
“The maintenance of the current EU
support to Andalucia in the next period
2007-2013 will make possible the
continuity of our advance in the real
convergence with the most prosperous
regions of Europe. This support will allow
us to exceed the barrier of 75% of the
GDP per capita of the EU average. This will
be the best indicator to show that good
use has been made of European funds.”
Antonio Ávila Cano, General Secretary
of Economy, Region of Andalucia, Spain
27
“Prepare an overall strategy, with clear
priorities, and then worry about the
funding sources. Involve the private
sector. Invest in the process, both creating
the baseline and the support structures.”
Neil Robertson, Cornwall Enterprise,
Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly,
during the workshop on “Efficient
programme management for
Convergence regions”
“The challenges of the Lisbon and Gothenburg
agendas, key-reference points of the draft ERDF
Regulation, and the increasing awareness of the
importance of creating a more competitive Europe,
make interregional cooperation a relevant pillar in the
development of future regional policies.”
Michel Lamblin, INTERREG IIIC West, Lille, during
the workshop on “Challenges for inter-regional
co-operation”
“Structural Funds’ implementation is primarily about
improving economic development, not the efficiency
of administration. The key points are: absorption is
fundamental to successful implementation; it is a
constantly changing challenge – regulatory
environment, evolution of programme, market
conditions, types of beneficiary, etc; and there is no
such thing as a perfect system.”
The RUP Plus
workshop
“Ensuring that the programme includes
high-quality projects, all helping to
ensure that financial and performance
targets are met in the context of a clear
strategic direction that is supported by a
partnership that is committed to meeting
programme objectives.”
Peter Smith, Government Office North
East, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK, during the
workshop “Lessons learnt from
programme management”
28
Professor John Bachtler, European Policies
Research Centre, University of Strathclyde, Glasgow,
UK, during the workshop “Addressing Absorption
Capacity in the New Member States”
“The key to developing good quality
projects is to identify gaps/priorities in
strategies, help sponsors and partners devise
deliverable solutions to address ‘problems’
(eligibility, state aids, match funding), have
a strategy for sharing best practice and have
expert advisors on horizontal themes.
Key lessons include ensuring projects
understand the importance of effective
project management and delivery – not just
development – and to be prepared to take
action against under performance.”
Peter Holmes, Government Office for
East Midlands, UK
CoR member Anders Gustav,
Mayor of Solna, Sweden,
taking part in the workhop
on "New spaces for
cooperation within the
framework of the future
European Regional Policy"
“Preserving the textile and cultural
heritage in the city of Łódź is one of the
main purposes of its authorities.”
Jacek Zielinski, Director of Partnership
and Funds Department in the City of
Łódź, Poland, during his presentation on
the revitalisation of the White Factory of
L. Geyer in Łódź
"The Commission is working to raise the
importance of the urban issues. There are
still a lot of opportunities and the
negotiations are open on this. The cities
have to do even better than they do now.”
Rudolf Niessler, of the Commission’s
Regional Policy DG, speaking at the
seminar on "Sustainable development
and competitiveness in the European
Union’s urban areas"
29
A successful partnership:
communication, impact
and next steps
The 2005 European Week of Regions and Cities has not only been the biggest ever event focused on EU
regional policy, it has been a powerful platform for political debate and capacity-building. The event
has been the catalyst for numerous new activities, projects and networking between the regions and
cities involved, individual participants and the EU institutions.
The inclusive concept of the event, based on a wide partnership, openness and transparency, is
the key of its success. Its scope may well be increased in future with more partners, from the business and
Margot Wallström,
Vice-President of the
European Commission,
addressing Circom regional
TV editors at the Committee
of the Regions
30
banking sector for instance, and it is likely to form the basis for parallel conferences, debates and
seminars, not only in Brussels but in the regions and cities themselves.
The event was also a communication success, generating coverage on regional television, in the regional print
media and on both national and regional news websites. The importance of the regional media as a channel
for communication was underlined by Commission Vice-President Margot Wallström during OPEN DAYS in a
presentation to editors-in-chief from the Circom association of European regional public television stations,
who were partners for the event.
“We need to ‘go local’ and work with the regional media … if we are to bridge the local and regional
knowledge gap about Europe.”
Margot Wallström, Commission Vice-President, addressing editors-in-chief from the Circom association of
European regional public television stations at the Committee of the Regions, 11 October
“The OPEN DAYS are the most successful
event in the past three years in fostering
European integration.”
Karl-Heinz Klär, vice-president of the
Party of European Socialists group in the
CoR and Secretary of State for European
and Federal Affairs of Rheinland-Pfalz, at
the CoR Plenary Session
31
Scenes from
workshops during
the European
Week of Regions
and Cities
“You should not ask yourself what you can
gain from EU, but what you can contribute
to the Union.”
Christer Nilsson, Board Member,
Mid-Sweden Office, during the workshop
on “Innovative Environmental Policies and
Solutions in the regions”
32
“For the first time (at OPEN DAYS) we had
such a strong presence of regional media
… they are the ones who open our door
to European citizens.”
Danuta Hübner, Regional Policy
Commissioner, at the Closing Session
“We applaud the Committee of the Regions and the
European Commission for organising the OPEN DAYS
European Week of Regions and Cities because this
initiative is all about harnessing the potential of our
regions, cities and towns to deliver more and better
jobs, as well as stronger and sustainable growth,
throughout our communities.”
John Prescott, UK Deputy Prime Minister, message
to the OPEN DAYS
“In these four days of Open Days …
together, in partnership we have started
the ball rolling, we have lit the fire.
Cohesion policy is more alive than ever, but
we now need to feed these little flames.”
Sir Albert Bore, CoR First Vice-President,
at the Closing Session
33
Thank you
to our partners
The OPEN DAYS European Week of Regions and Cities could not succeed without the indispensable support of the offices of
the regions and cities, which hosted the majority of the workshops. They are the key actors at the heart of the event. This
year, 106 offices of regions and cities were involved (up from 70 in 2004 and 10 in the inaugural OPEN DAYS in 2003). They
were divided into 16 conglomerates, almost all of which included representatives from a new Member State:
5 Seas 1 Future
Stockholm Region (SE), Diputació de Barcelona (ES)), Bretagne - Pays de la Loire Poitou-Charentes (FR), Riga City and Region (LV), Veneto (IT), Wales (UK)
Baltic Sea Group
West Sweden (SE), Copenhagen (DK), Hamburg (DE), Helsinki (FI), MecklenburgVorpommern (DE), Oslo Region (NO), Schleswig-Holstein (DE), Tallinn (EE), West
Pomerania (PL)
Capital Cities/Regions
London (UK), Berlin (DE), Brandenburg (DE), Brussels-Capital Region (BE), Ile de
France (FR), Madrid (ES), Prague (CZ)
From Convergence to Competitiveness
Murcia (ES), Andalucia (ES), Balearic Islands (ES), Cantabria (ES), Castilla y León (ES),
La Rioja (ES), Lodz Region (PL), Lubelskie Region (PL)
Green Innovation in Action
Mid Sweden (SE), Fyn (DK), Mid-Norway (NO), Northwest of England & Lancashire (UK),
Pomorskie (PL), Western Greece (GR)
Knowledge Regions
East Midlands (UK), East Netherlands (NL), Romanian County Councils (RO),
Swietokrzyskie (PL), Teleorman (RO), West Finland (FI)
METREX and Lisbon Regions
Stuttgart Region (DE), Bratislava Region (SK), Budapest (HU), Emilia-Romagna (IT),
Regio Randstad (NL), West Midlands (UK)
34
Natural Effect Regions for Competitiveness and Innovation
Valencian Region (ES), Irish Regions (IE), South Aegean Region (GR), Presov
Region (SK), Sterea Ellada (GR), Yorkshire & Humber (UK)
Networking for Lisbon
Saxony (DE), Thuringia (DE), Carinthia (AT), Kaunas Region (LT), Lower Silesia (PL),
Saxon Local Authorities (DE), South Finland (FI), Vilnius Region (LT), West
Norway (NO)
Partners on Innovation
Niedersachsen (DE), Haute-Normandie (FR), Kaunas City (LT), Noord-Nederland Drenthe, Fryslân, Groningen (NL), Wielkopolska (PL)
Pirineoak-Pirineus-Pirineos-Pyrénées
Basque Country (ES), Andorra (AD), Aquitaine (FR), Aragon (ES), Catalonia (ES),
Kujawsko-Pomorskie (PL), Midi-Pyrénées (ES), Navarra (ES)
Regions for Change
Provence-Alpes - Côte d’Azur (FR), Liguria (IT), Trenčín Region (SK), Unioncamere
Piemonte (IT), Valle d'Aosta (IT), Zlín Region (CZ)
Regions for New Development Horizons
CzechInvest (CZ), Alsace (FR), Asturias (ES), Olomouc Region (CZ), Pilsen Region (CZ),
Silesia (PL), Ústí Region (CZ)
Regions of Rond Point Schuman
Central Italy Regions - Lazio, Marche, Toscana, Umbria (IT), Scotland (UK),
Malopolska (PL)
RUP Plus
Canary Islands (ES), Azores (PT), Guadeloupe (FR), French Guiana (FR), Madeira (PT),
Martinique (FR), Reunion (FR)
The Gate of the East
Friuli Venezia Giulia (IT), Piemonte (IT), Styria (AT), Slovenian Development Regions (SI),
Istarska (HR), Gyór-Moson-Sopron County (HU)
35
Pictures: Juha Roininen, Erik Luntang, Horst Wagner (EUP & Images)
OPEN DAYS European Week of Regions and Cities
Published November 2005
Produced by the Communication, Press, Information and Events Unit
Committee of the Regions
Rue Belliard 101
1040 Brussels
Tel: +32 /2 282 21 55 - Fax. +32 /2 282 20 85
Committee of the Regions http://www.cor.eu.int
European Commission Regional Policy Directorate General http://www.europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/
OPEN
DAYS
09 –12
2006
Investing in Europe’s
Regions and Cities
EUROPEAN UNION
Committee of the Regions
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DG Regional Policy
European Week of
Regions and Cities
A political vision for 2007-2013
EUROPEAN UNION
Committee of the Regions
European Week of Regions and Cities
OPEN
DAYS
Communication, Press,
Information and Events Unit
Brussels
10 – 13 October 2005
rue Belliard 101
BE-1040 Brussels
Tél: + 32 (0)2/282 21 55
Fax: + 32 (0)2/282 20 85
E-mail: [email protected]
www.cor.eu.int
EUROPEAN UNION
organised jointly by
Committee of the Regions
EUROPEAN COMMISSION
DG Regional Policy
with the cooperation of the
European Parliament’s Regional
Development Committee