The CoR Commission for Social Policy, Education, Employment, Research and Culture (SEDEC) will hold its first meeting of 2017 on January 31.

The members will adopt an opinion on Smart Specialisation Strategies (RIS3) and their impact for regions and inter-regional cooperation (rapporteur Mikel Irujo, ES/EA). MEP Lambert van Nistelrooij will take part in the debate.

Two other opinions are in discussion:
• Social innovation as a new tool for creating growth and jobs (rapporteur Marcelle Hendrickx, NL/ALDE)
• Local and Regional dimension of Bioeconomy and the role of regions and cities (rapporteur Katrin Budde, DE/PES)

In addition to that, a report on the activities of the Knowledge Exchange Platform (KEP) in 2016 will be presented to the members. The meeting will conclude with an overview of the 30th anniversary of the Erasmus programme.
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