The fifth AER Summer School will take place on 6-11th August in Vilnius, Lithuania (candidate country for the European Union (EU)). Just like every year, the event aims to stimulate exchange and debate between representatives of regions from Eastern, Central and Western Europe on issues related to regional development and EU accession.

The topics to be explored this year will include:
· Regional institutions and the EU
· The EU as a motor for job creation
· Regions as motors of democratic consolidation

The four previous editions – Pest (H), Krakow (PL), Thuringia (D) and Istria (HR).- confirmed the Summer School’s role in the field of training, exchanges of experience and the development of interregional cooperation in Europe. In order to encourage interactivity between the participants, Summer School 2000 will consist of the plenary sessions followed by smaller workshops that will explore each of these topics in more detail.

This year, the Summer School has received the support of the European Commission and of the Council of Europe (Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe), from which several representatives will take part in the debates. Many other participants from regions of candidate countries and experts from the European Union are also expected. The AER invites all persons interested in the topics of the debates during the 2000 edition to take part in this event.

For more information: [email protected]