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On October 9, 2024, the European Committee of the Regions in Brussels hosted the session “Every voice matters: experiences in citizen engagement at local level” during this year's edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities. Representatives of the European Union along with local NGO leaders Magdalena Krasowska from Poland, Iliyana Nikolova from Bulgaria, and Ragna Fidjestol from Norway discussed how they promote citizen engagement and democratic participation at local level, and how their...

With over 7000 onsite participants, over 500 speakers from all over Europe and beyond, 156 sessions, an exhibition with 30 stands and 9 regional tastings, and over 180 journalists, it was once again an excellent celebration and showcase for cohesion policy! Your active involvement, the interesting discussions, the inspiring good practices and the networking opportunities contributed to making this event truly special. If you missed any #EURegionsWeek high-level sessions last week, you can watch...

Room JDE 62 in the Jacques Delors building is full on this 9 October morning. According to Emma Toledano Laredo, Director General for Regional and Urban Policy at the European Commission, this clearly shows the importance of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the topic of the event, for Europeans. Sustainable development is a "fundamental" principle of the Treaty of the European Union. At the Sustainable Development Goals Summit in 2023, President Ursula von der Leyen said: "Developing...

Since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukraine has been fighting for the survival of its democracy and national sovereignty. From the very beginning, the EU stood by Ukraine’s side through implementing significant sanctions. Moreover, since June 2022, Ukraine has been officially given the EU candidate status. So far, the EU has also made available approximately €108 billion in financial, humanitarian and military support to Ukraine. How does this materialize? An...

How does war affect the lives of young people? In 2022, when Russia’s full-scale invasion started, young Ukrainian Daria Pidkoshena realized that life in her country has turned upside down. Daria began volunteering in support of her countrymen. Currently, she lives in Kyiv, where she studies journalism and public relations at the National University of "Kyiv-Mohyla Academy". Do you remember the life before Russia's war in Ukraine? How was it? Well, the war had started in 2014, but we did not...

A small island in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean, a large community between the Pyrenees and the Mediterranean, and a picturesque region stretching from mighty mountains to farmland, what do they have in common? These regions - the Azores in Portugal, Catalonia in Spain and Dalarna in Sweden - are three perfect examples of how innovation and cohesion can go hand in hand, thanks to the Regional Innovation Valleys (RIVs) initiative, one of the 25 actions of the New European Innovation Agenda...

The 22nd European Week of Regions and Cities included a session on 'The true cost of unhealthy urban environments: how healthy cities can save money', which dealt with the topic of living in cities and the impact on health. Healthy Cities, based in Barcelona (Spain), is a company that focuses on urban planning in regards to people's health and well-being. According to Marta Rofin, CEO of Healthy Cities, "there is a relationship between urban planning and health. We see health as a tool for urban...

Imagine having a business idea that won’t let you rest – a vision that could change the world but hasn’t gained traction yet. How do you bring that idea to life? Where do you find the inspiration, knowledge, and contacts to succeed? Thankfully, you don’t have to go it alone. The Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs (EYE) programme has been helping young talents turn their dreams into reality by learning from experienced business leaders. This year, the programme celebrates a significant milestone –...

Four days of high-level policy sessions, workshops, participatory labs, an exhibition and regional tastings! Once again, the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy and the Committee of the Regions have joined forces to create this unique event that brings together regional representatives, policymakers, experts, and citizens to exchange on cohesion policy and build their networks! With many sessions fully booked, we thank all participants for their enthusiasm...

You can now register for the European Week of Regions and Cities 2024 with its motto "Empowering Communities," taking place in Brussels 7-10 October 2024. Discover the #EURegionsWeek programme and register now! Get ready to exchange ideas, connect with regions and cities across Europe, and expand your network and knowledge, all while keeping up with the latest developments in regional and cohesion policy. Explore over 100 sessions, including EU sessions, political workshops, participatory labs...