European Week of Regions and Cities 

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The EURegionsWeek2023 brought together over 8,000 participants from local and regional administrations, local authorities, young politicians, academics, NGOs and private sector. Over 500 speakers from Europe and beyond, and more than 150 journalists engaged in topics around cohesion policy for an inte​nse four days. If you want to relive the highlights from this edition, here are the recordings and the photo gallery.

We are looking forward to having you on board for the next edition of the EURegionsWeek in 2024!​

Contents

​What actually happens?

The European Week of Regions and Cities (#EURegionsWeek) is the biggest annual event dedicated to regional policy. During this annual four-day event, regions and cities 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.

Since its first edition in 2003, the event has grown to become a unique communication and networking platform, bringing together regions and cities from all over Europe, including their political representatives, officials, experts and academics. The EURegionsWeek has done much to promote how regions and cities use EU funds to improve citizens' daily lives.

In October, more than 10 000 participants – including more than 1 000 speakers from all over Europe and beyond – will take part in an extensive programme of conferences, exhibitions and networking events on regional and local development. The programme is adapted every year to the specific context of the EU agenda. Participation in the event is free of charge.

Why a week for regions and cities?

Regions and cities are involved in the making of most EU policies. Subnational public authorities in the EU are responsible for one-third of public expenditure (EUR 2 100 billion each year) and two-thirds of public investment (about EUR 200 billion), the latter often to be spent in accordance with EU legal provisions.

How did it start?

Back in 2003, the European Committee of the Regions, the EU's assembly of regional and local representatives, invited Brussels-based local and regional representations to the European Union to open their doors to visitors at the same time as part of a joint "Open Days" concept. Over the years, the initiative has developed into a key annual event involving the European Commission and other stakeholders. In 2016, it was renamed the "European Week of Regions and Cities", dropping the "Open Days" heading. This was to avoid confusion with the Brussels-based "Open Doors / Open Day" events held every May by all EU institutions around Europe Day, as well as with similar events held by the Commission's representations in the Member States on the same occasion.

Who are the organisers?

The European Week of Regions and Cities is jointly organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO). A call for partners is launched early in the year, usually in January. Following the call, partners from all over Europe are selected: regions and cities, mainly grouped into consortia with shared issues (regional partnerships), companies, financial institutions, international associations, or academic organisations. Partners are required to hold seminars on matters of common interest, often related to implementing European Structural and Investment Funds and other EU programmes.

How is the progra​​mme arranged?

The programme is designed around a key slogan and a number of sub-topics. The sessions are organised by three categories of partners: 1) regions or cities; 2) EU institutional partners; and 3) companies, financial institutions and local and European associations. ​

Who attends the European Week of Regions ​​​and Cities?

The audience is specifically interested in regional and urban policy, so mainly comprises officials at local, regional, national and EU level. The typical participant is from a regional or local administration.

W​​hat is the impact of the European Week of Regions and Cities?

The impact of the event has been systematically evaluated from the very beginning. Participants have highlighted in particular the usefulness for their professional management of EU funds of information gained from the EU institutions and the networking with colleagues from other countries. The importance of the event is also proven by its significant media impact. For years now, up to 300 print, radio, TV and online media journalists from all over Europe have come to Brussels to cover it.

How to apply​​​ as a partner?

Applications generally open at the end of January each year. See the European Week of Regions and Cities website, in the partners section, for more information on how to apply.

How to app​​​​ly as a participant?

See the European Week of Regions and Cities website for more information on how to register as a participant in the event, registrations are open in summer.

How to sign u​​p for the newsletter?

Sign up for the European Week of Regions and Cities newsletter.

​Past Events

Past event​s

Latest news

Podcasts

Episode 6: Fund thy Neighbour: EU Support for Ukraine

 

​Regio Waves is back! With our new host Fiorella Lavorgna, dive into the many ways in which Cohesion Policy adapts to ever-changing circumstances and new crises. In our first episode, we'll delve into the power of the EU in tackling global threats, starting from the war in Ukraine and looking beyond to the security of the continent. How does the war affect the EU budget and the path to a greener future? European Commission experts Kadri Uustal and Antonia Battaglia lend their voices to unravel these complex issues.​

Watch more

  • Episode 6: Fund thy Neighbour: EU Support for Ukraine
    Episode 6: Fund thy Neighbour: EU Support for Ukraine
  • Episode 7: Border regions: the final frontier of cooperation
    Episode 7: Border regions: the final frontier of cooperation
  • Episode 8: OK Doomer: cooling the green transition
    Episode 8: OK Doomer: cooling the green transition
  • Episode 10: Unhitching the coal engine from the Just Transition Train
    Episode 10: Unhitching the coal engine from the Just Transition Train
  • Episode 9: Growing pains and Cohesion policy
    Episode 9: Growing pains and Cohesion policy
  • #4 European Citizens Ask - Cross-border regioins w/ Pavel Branda
    #4 European Citizens Ask - Cross-border regioins w/ Pavel Branda
  • #1 European Citizens Ask - Small urban areas w/ Kieran McCarthy
    #1 European Citizens Ask - Small urban areas w/ Kieran McCarthy
  • Episode 5: EU stands with refugees
    Episode 5: EU stands with refugees
  • Episode 4: Voices of You(th)
    Episode 4: Voices of You(th)
  • Episode 3: The EU's geography of discontent
    Episode 3: The EU's geography of discontent
  • "Local Solutions - Rural Depopulation w/ Angela Gimeno, Stefania Crotta & Enda Stenson"
    "Local Solutions - Rural Depopulation w/ Angela Gimeno, Stefania Crotta & Enda Stenson"
  • Episode 2: Green EUtopia VS Energy Crisis (07/11/2022)
    Episode 2: Green EUtopia VS Energy Crisis (07/11/2022)
  • Episode 1: Cohesion Policy - Put the money where EU’s mouth is (26/10/2022)
    Episode 1: Cohesion Policy - Put the money where EU’s mouth is (26/10/2022)

Multimedia

Opening Session - 2023

 

Watch more

  • Opening Session - 2023
    Opening Session - 2023
  • Opening Session  - 2022
    Opening Session - 2022
  • Europe's cohesion: building together the future of the EU
    Europe's cohesion: building together the future of the EU
  • Europe's cohesion: making the EU deliver for people
    Europe's cohesion: making the EU deliver for people
  • Europe's cohesion: a key for social progress
    Europe's cohesion: a key for social progress
  • Good morning regions: episode #1
    Good morning regions: episode #1
  • Good morning regions: episode #2
    Good morning regions: episode #2
  • Good morning regions: episode #3
    Good morning regions: episode #3
  • Good morning regions: episode #4
    Good morning regions: episode #4
  • EU Regions Week - Be part of it - Register!
    EU Regions Week - Be part of it - Register!
  • Framing the Circular Economy as an EU recovery opportunity
    Framing the Circular Economy as an EU recovery opportunity
  • Cohesion & Recovery to improve citizens daily lives
    Cohesion & Recovery to improve citizens daily lives
  • A summer street programme to give back the streets to citizens
    A summer street programme to give back the streets to citizens
  • Improving public health services in cross-border territories
    Improving public health services in cross-border territories
  • How green cities lead the way to European recovery?
    How green cities lead the way to European recovery?
  • Putting citizens first: EU cities & regions boosting digital solutions in recovery
    Putting citizens first: EU cities & regions boosting digital solutions in recovery

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