Cohesion policy

The Open Days that will bring together more than 70 regional/city representation offices will take place in Brussels between 27 and 30 September 2004. This initiative of the European Commission's DG for regional policy and the Committee of the regions aims at launching a debate about the future of regional policy.

 

The Open Days offer a vast programme of over 60 conferences, seminars, workshops, round tables and exhibitions to allow some 2000 local and regional actors, experts and journalists to discuss and share experiences and ideas. The opening debate, on 27th September at 3.00pm will focus on how the structural funds should be used and managed post 2006.

 

Speakers will include Peter Straub, President of the Committee of the Regions; Jacques Barrot, member of the European Commission responsible for regional Policy and Péter Balázs, Member of the European Commission.

 

The partners of this event will be the regional and local representation offices in Brussels:
- Baden-Württemberg
- Capital Cities/Regions-Cities for Cohesion
- Czech Regions
- Dynamo Regions
- Lower Austria
- North Rhine-Westphalia
- Northern Ireland & Irish Regions
- Rond Point Schuman 6 Regions
- The Dutch House
- TransMarAlpes
- Valencia Region
- Brussels-Capital Region

 

Each of these regional offices will organise workshops or seminars about key issues they feel close to. For instance, Baden-Württemberg will set up two working groups of experts that will discuss partnership and cooperation between Europe's regions and cities. The Lower Austria workshop will discuss best practices to entice citizens to engage in small-scale and grass-roots projects. Northern Ireland & Irish Regions will host a seminar aimed at reinforcing progress towards a peaceful and stable society and promoting reconciliation.

 

The number of regional and local offices in Brussels has risen over the last 10 years. Today, there are some 220 such offices,The United Kingdom and Italy has the largest number of such local or regional offices in Brussels.

 

For further information about the Open Days, see the Committee of Regions website.

See the offices of Europe's regions and cities list