What are the priorities for citizens as Europe recovers from the pandemic? How much do they trust European, national and regional governments to solve the issues that matter to them? How many have heard of the Conference on the Future of Europe? These were some of the questions the AER put to 6,291 EU citizens as part of a survey across six countries, representing … [Read more...]
AER at EU Regions Week 2021 – Online Debate on Gender Equality
We are delighted to announce that the AER is once again a partner for the annual European Week of Regions & Cities. The 2021 edition of #EURegionsWeek will continue in an online format, and it is our pleasure to invite you to our virtual workshop on... An Equal Europe? A truly democratic Europe demands an equal voice for all. Indeed, making “significant progress” … [Read more...]
REGISTER NOW: Unboxing the MFF Session II — Accessing Direct Grant Funding Programmes
Date: 24 September 2021 Time: 10:30 - 12:30 CET Venue: Online (via Zoom) Background On 17 December 2020, after months of painstaking inter-institutional negotiations against the backdrop of a global pandemic, the European Union adopted the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), its long-term budget for 2021-2027. Together with the NextGenerationEU recovery … [Read more...]
Call for Nominations: AER Statutory Bodies
Nominations have now closed. Open Positions Ms Monica Gundahl, Chair of the Election Committee (Värmland, SE) has announced that the following positions will be open for elections at the 2021 General Assembly: as far as it is known, two Executive Board members are leaving their positionsthe position of Chair of the Monitoring and Evaluation Group (MEG) is open for … [Read more...]
Internship Opportunity: Events Assistant
We are looking for a motivated student to join the AER Team at our Strasbourg or Brussels Offices or, if desired, predominantly remotely for four to 4,5 months from early August 2021 until the middle of December 2021. Working closely with the AER Institutional Relations & Advocacy Officer and Communications & Events Officer, your main tasks will be … [Read more...]
AER Climate Debate: Back to Our Future – Regions Leading Europe’s Green Recovery
The COVID-19 crisis brought the world to a standstill in 2020. City centres became ghost towns, economic activity slumped, and political priorities fell by the wayside as managing the pandemic became the all-consuming political focus. However, what has not stood still despite the pandemic is the alarming rate that our planet continues to heat up. Unless we align our recovery … [Read more...]
Skillnet Training Session – Making the Most of Cohesion & Rural Development Funds
MFF, ERDF, ESF, EFRD, EAGF...navigating the sea of acronyms in the EU funding lexicon can be a daunting task for would-be applicants. Yet, unlocking these funds will be crucial for regions if they are to bounce back from the pandemic. What can be done to help regions access the crucial funding they need to support their recovery? The AER recognises these challenges members … [Read more...]
AER Bureau Debate on Democracy: Putting Citizens back at the Heart of Decision-Making
Rising populism, widespread misinformation, and a loss of trust in governments and institutions. Add a global pandemic to that list of ailments, and it’s clear that democracy in Europe is not in the best shape. But what is the best course of treatment to restore Europe’s democratic health? The answer is a wholesale ‘lifestyle change’ for our democratic system, … [Read more...]
The Long Road to Recovery – working in Renewed Partnership with Regions
Europe’s local and regional authorities have been on the frontline of the pandemic; working tirelessly on the ground in villages, towns and cities across the continent to shield citizens from the worst impacts of the crisis. Yet, as member states prepare their national plans to access funding from the EU's Recovery & Resilience Facility (RRF), local and regional … [Read more...]
Apply for the 2021 Emperor Maximilian Prize
Are you undertaking a project or initiative in your region that puts European cohesion into practice? The AER invites you to apply for the 2021 Emperor Maximilian Prize! Instituted in 1997 by the Land of Tirol and the town of Innsbruck, the prestigious 'Emperor Maximilian Prize for European Service at the Regional and Local Level' is awarded biennially to pioneering … [Read more...]
Wrap-Up: Highlights from the first virtual AER General Assembly, Bureau Meeting and Eurodyssey Forum
The first ever virtual General Assembly, Bureau Meeting and Eurodyssey Forum took place last week on 19-20 November. Owing to the Covid-19 crisis, these meetings scheduled to take place in Barcelona were moved online. Despite these challenges, AER members from across the continent tuned-in; making the most of the new format and ensuring the important work of the AER could … [Read more...]
AER Appoints Christian Spahr as Secretary General
The Executive Board has appointed Christian Spahr as the Secretary General of the Assembly of European Regions (AER), which represents regional governments in wider Europe. A former European Commission Spokesperson for Regional Policy, Spahr will lead the work of the AER Secretariat, which has offices in Brussels and Strasbourg and also includes the AER’s Southeast Europe Hub … [Read more...]
Covid-19: important update regarding November events
After carefully considering the developments of the pandemic in Europe and the current regulations and guidance regarding international travel and large events, we have decided to hold the General Assembly, Bureau Meeting & Eurodyssey Forum on 19-20 November online. While we regret that we will not be able to gather our members in person in Barcelona, we feel … [Read more...]