The proceedings of a one-day conference held on 10 April 2018 in the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in Brussels are available now. The event addressed among others questions related to the subsidiarity principle, the possible effects of a "multi-speed Europe" and the governance of macro-regions. It was attended by 180 representatives of regional, national and European parliaments, governments and associations as well as researchers and experts from EU institutions, universities and think tanks.  

​Under the leadership of Elio Di Rupo, Mayor of Mons in Wallonia (Belgium), architects have created a collection of works of art within a chapel of the former convent of the Ursulines. In this renovated 18th century building, visitors can discover 50,000 works of Mons cultural heritage through real and virtual immersion. The collection of works of art – the Artothèque – also reveals how reserve collections work and raises the awareness of the public regarding conservation techniques. 

​The municipal forests of Spišská Belá and Kežmarok, together with Tatras National Park Forests (ŠL TANAP), are set to receive almost EUR 1.5 million in European funding. The mayor of Spišská Belá, Štefan Bieľak, has announced that the Paths to Healthy Forests project is one of several major infrastructure plans under the cross-border cooperation programme between Hungary, Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine (ENI 2014-2020) to have been successful at the project evaluation stage. 

Years ago, the port of Ghent was located in the Old Dockyards area, to the east of the historical city centre. However, port activities gradually moved to the new municipal port, which is situated just north of the city. Gradually, the vicinity of the Old Dockyards fell into disrepair, becoming a real ‘no man’s land’. However, things are starting to change now. Thanks to the EU-funded Old Dockyards project, the area is being radically transformed into a brand new vibrant quarter, where citizens can live and work near the waterfront and in a green, sustainable environment.  

Local communities are getting more involved in political decision in six districts of the Austrian capital thanks to an ERDF co-funded project, which has helped a wide variety of sustainable urban development projects. Compared with other big cities around Europe, political decision-making in Vienna has traditionally been centralised to the City of Vienna local authority, with district councils only having a small say in a relatively small range of issues.  

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) today welcomed a wide-ranging set of recommendations that would give local and regional authorities a greater say, alongside national authorities, on the preparation, adoption and implementation of EU policies, noting that the ideas would benefit citizens, increase EU efficiency and improve politics.