The AER action plan was adopted by the General Assembly in June 2016 and runs from Spring 2016 to Spring 2017.
AER Priorities 2015-2017
• Supporting regions in ensuring a sustainable future for all
• Sharing regional policies that improve wellbeing
• Making European Regions the connecting link between Europe and citizens, while increasing the link between the European Regions
• Using networks and interconnections to boost the regions’ innovation potential
• Accompanying youth towards better involvement and participation in public life
The Focus for the AER 2016 agenda is “Revitalising democracy”. This lead to the organisation of the Seminar on “Communication & Actions in times of crisis” on the occasion of the Committees’ Spring Plenary. Members discussed how policy makers need to engage with citizens, listen better, provide opportunities to contribute and create a narrative to which citizens adhere to enable more efficient and collaborative political action, especially in times of crisis such as the current “refugee crisis”. The Bureau discussion “(R)e-inventing Democracy” further explored how democracy needs to be thought differently and what the role of technology could be in this perspective.
Youth: many of the AER activities focus on supporting youth in the job market. This is why we are working hard on revamping the Eurodyssey international youth work placement programme and also why the Summer Academy is focused on youth entrepreneurship.
Sustainability is a crucial theme as well, reflected in the organisation of several activities around the circular economy. The most relevant of these events will be the Award ceremony of the Regional Innovation Award in December.
