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European Entrepreneurial Region Award: Special edition on COVID-19 response  

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) opens applications for a special edition of the European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) award. Under the title "Entrepreneurship for a sustainable recovery" cities, regions and municipalities can submit strategies on how they plan to support SMEs over the next two years. The application deadline is the 28th of October 2020.

Each year, the European Committee of the Regions gives the EER Award to three cities, regions or municipalities with outstanding, future-oriented strategies that support SMEs, start-ups and scale-ups. Becoming a European Entrepreneurial Region gives recognition and visibility to local or regional entrepreneurial strategies. It provides access to a growing network of pioneering territories actively strengthening their entrepreneurial ecosystems, exchanging good practices and collaborating on European projects. 

This year's special edition builds on the extended EER 2021 award and encourages EU regions and cities to develop strategies for boosting entrepreneurship and SMEs that address the impact of the COVID-19 crisis. The award will be given to up to six regions who will hold the EER label for a period of two years (2021 and 2022), allowing them to plan and implement strategies for a successful economic and social recovery.

"Rebuilding the EU economy after the Covid-19 crisis will be lengthy and it will need the efforts of all European, national, regional and local levels. Our local economies will need a great deal of active entrepreneurship and innovation to cope with this challenge, taking full advantage of the opportunities brought by a green and digital transition. The performance of our SMEs will be one of the keys to restart Europe's economic engine and strengthen its long-term resilience. We will need to review and update our policies, local development plans and strategies to reflect this new economic and social reality", said Michael Murphy, Chair of the CoR's commission for economic policy (ECON).

The special edition of the EER award was formally launched during a debate with representatives of the European Commission on the economic impact of the pandemic and the EU's response measures for SMEs and industry.

"The European Entrepreneurial Region Award is a proof that the pace of economic recovery in the EU will rely on decisive actions taken at local and regional level. The European Commission fully supports the EER initiative, mobilising EU regions and cities to put entrepreneurship at the fore of their strategies and action plans", said Kristin Schreiber, Director of DG GROW of the European Commission and EER jury member.

The call for applications for the EER 2021-2022 will be open until 28th of October 2020. To apply, please visit the EER webpage.

Contact:

Carmen Schmidle
Tel. +32 (0)494 735787
carmen.schmidle@cor.europa.eu


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