A new AER website showcases the successful peer review pilot project which the AER has recently completed in its member regions of Dubrovnik Neretva (HR), Odessa (UA) and Alba (RO). The AER Peer Review Initiative (APRI) forms the basis of a European-wide peer review system, which enables the dissemination of best practice and development of excellence in the field of regional economic development. The peer reviews are one-week visits by multinational teams of regional officers and politicians to a host region which is interested in improving its economic development policies. Based on the findings made during the visit, the review team prepares a report with a series of policy recommendations for the host region.

The AER would like to express its g ratitude to the three host regions, as well as those regions which sent experts to participate in the review teams: Devon (UK), Hampshire (UK), Great Plains Region (HU), Mazowia (PL), Salzburg (A), Vienna (A), Friuli Venezia Giulia (IT), Steiermark(A) and Kärnten (A). The AER is also grateful to the Central European Initiative, which partially funded the pilot project.

As a result of the pilot project, a toolkit has been developed, which can be used to carry out similar reviews throughout Europe. The AER is now seeking regions that would be interested in hosting future reviews, or in participating in review teams.

Copies of the toolkit are also available on CD-Rom from the AER Secretariat.

For more information: [email protected]