The European Week of Regions and Cities (OPEN DAYS) is an annual four-day event during which cities and regions showcase their capacity to create growth and jobs, implement European Union cohesion policy, and prove the importance of the local and regional level for good European governance.

The event was created in 2003 when the Committee of the Regions invited Brussels-based local and regional representations to the European Union to open their doors to visitors simultaneously. One year later the European Commission's DG for Regional Policy also joined the adventure.

Developing from the initial concept, the event has become a European networking platform for experts in regional and local development. Exchange of good practice in economic development and social inclusion, cross-border cooperation, public-private partnerships, regional innovation and community-led local development have become some of its many topics.

Over the years, the event has grown into the key event on EU Regional Policy. It welcomes some 6.000 participants in October each year (local, regional, national and European decision-makers and experts) for more than 100 workshops and debates, exhibitions and networking opportunities.

In addition to the Brussels-based workshops, some 250 local events are run from September to November all over Europe.

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2018 Programme

The event programme consists of over 160 workshops, participatory sessions, Q&A sessions and EURegions Talks under the headline of 'For a strong EU Cohesion Policy beyond 2020' during the European Week of Regions and Cities.

Take a look at the list of partners and stay tuned for more information and updates on the preparation of the #EURegionsWeek

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Themes in 2018

Under the headline of 'For a strong EU Cohesion Policy beyond 2020', the 16th European Week of Regions and Cities will be a key platform where to gather and present the views of European regions and cities on both the budget and the legislative proposals related to Cohesion Policy and rural development, as well as discuss the future of Europe in a regional and local perspective.

Discussions during the event will examine:

• the need of a strong Cohesion Policy beyond 2020 to overcome structural barriers, boost human capital and improve the quality of life;
• growth and regional development, understanding and managing the territorial impacts of globalisation and digital transformation, regional dimension of climate change and energy transition;
• integrated territorial development as well as effective regional and local strategies on youth, integration of migrants and social exclusion.

In view of upcoming reforms, challenges to Cohesion Policy governance should also debated.

The thematic priorities have been identified through a public online survey carried out from 15 December 2017 to 14 January 2018. The results of the survey show a clear interest in participating and organising sessions during the European Week of Regions and Cities, especially on the three first clusters:

• Territorial development (regional, urban, rural)
• Future of cohesion policy, EU budget
• Education, culture and youth
• Energy, climate, environment
• Social inclusion, citizenship, migration
• Economic development, employment
• Governance and administrative capacity
• Research and innovation
• Sustainable transport and mobility
• International cooperation, EU as global actor
• ICT and digital
• Agriculture and food production
• Maritime affairs
• Security and civil protection

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Contacts:

European Week of Regions and Cities Secretariat Team

General coordination information, contact for participants

Phone: +32 (0)2 502 0615
Main contact: contact@ewrc.eu

Information on speakers' arrangements (hotel, accommodation, collecting of presentations)

Main contact: speakers@ewrc.eu

European Commission - Regional Policy DG

Avenue de Beaulieu 01
B-1160 Auderghem
Main contact: REGIO-ewrc@ec.europa.eu