The General Assembly is the highest authority of AER and convenes representatives of all its full members at least once a year. The General Assembly adopts among other things, the annual reports of the Thematic Committees.
This report is the compilation of actions developed and implemented within Committee 3 between the 2018 General Assembly in Lillehammer, Oppland (NO) and the 2019 General in Larnaka (CY).
Activities are organised in 3 categories:
- Projects
- Good practice sharing
- Advocacy/ Lobbying
The AER Action plan, which brings together all the activities carried out within AER, is constantly updated.
Projects
“Road to the Future”: ongoing
“Road to the Future” is a project submitted under the Erasmus+
- First, it encouraged debate among young European on the European elections and increase young voters turnout
-The I Choose Europe campaign was launched in Paris on 16 March, as part of a large-scale youth event: Quartier Général, le festival desjeunes
-The campaign included a youth mobility exchangeprogramme for youth activists and leaders
–I Choose Europe was also represented at the Democracy Alive Festival, where AER had a pavilion andorganised several debates
-The project alsoorganised train ings for youth activists and leaders
-Road to the Future also developed tools and resources for youth activists and leaders to help them encourage young people to vote in the European elections. - After the elections, the project will continue the training for trainers and mentors, based on the ideas collected during the first phase. This will ensure that young people gain the knowledge, skills, and tools necessary to be engaged for the future of Europe at the local level.
The lead partner is JEF Europe – Young European Federalist. AER represents local and regional authorities. AER is responsible to connect young people and
Together for Cohesion: let’s rEUnite! project: ongoing
This project is funded by DG REGIO. It will:
- raise awareness on the importance of programmes, projects and services funded by Cohesion Policy funds
- encourage the participation of citizens and stakeholders to ensure they are active players in the dialogue on cohesion policy.
The project officially started on 1st of April 2019 and will last for 12 months. The following regions, which have sent a letter of support for this project will be involved in different actions funded by the project to engage citizens and communicate about Cohesion Policy in their territories:
Trento (IT), Alba (RO), Timis (RO), Catalonia (ES), Varazdin (HR) and potentially Csongrad (HU).
All AER members are invited to share examples of communication campaigns on Cohesion Policy and to participate in the launching event of the project on 5 June 2019 in Larnaka on the occasion of the AER General Assembly.
The project is led by AER with the international communication agency MC Group (DE). The application was submitted to the DG Regio on the media calls for proposals. The project is part of AER’s work on Cohesion Policy.
Bridging the gap project: canceled
Dialogue between elected politicians and Youth representatives to promote the active participation of young people in democratic life and foster debate around the major issues affecting youth. After several exchanges, the project initiator, the Province of Vojvodina (RS), and the potential coordinator, Timis County Council (RO), agreed that there the conditions to
Silver Economy Awards (SEED): finished
The Silver Economy Awards aimed to
Event: EU funding for Croatian & Albanian regions: finished
The event on EU funding for Croatian regions, hosted by Varaždin (HR) and Committee 3 President Radimir Čačić, and the event on EU funding for Albanian regions, hosted by Korcë (AL) and MEG member Ana Verushi brought together about 70 participants, both members and non members of AER to:
-hear about AER’s activities
-learn more on AER services for projects and services
-obtain information on the areas of cooperation with EU
-get a relevant update on the current and forthcoming EU funding opportunities
-become aware of the successful experiences of project applicants
Good Practice Sharing
Civil servants exchange programme: ongoing
This
- In September 2018, at the Autumn plenaries in Vojvodina a working group, which brought together Radimir Čačić President of the AER Committee on Culture, Education and Youth, Larisa Križan Breljak Seconded Officer for the AER Committee on Culture, Education and Youth, Simon Johnsen Chair of the Subcommittee on Education, Ivana Prikratki Expert Associate for Project Management at the Public Institution for the Regional Development of Varazdin County, Agnese Pantaloni AER Coordinator for European Projects & Private Partnerships, Esther
Esthany President of the AER Eurodyssey Programme, Mathieu Mori AER Secretary General, validated the survey developed to specify needs in order to be able to start a pilot project - Varaždin County developed the survey as a starting point for
development of the programme - In October 2018 the survey was sent to Eurodyssey correspondents, AER single points of contact and published on the AER website. Eurodyssey correspondents have already a wealth of experience in the coordination of international exchanges, which is why their support will be instrumental for the development of the
programme . The feedback from the respondents will be used forpreparation of the exchangeprogramme . - In March 2019, Radimir Čačić President of the AER Committee on Culture, Education and Youth visited the European College of Cluny to better understand and discuss how the two initiatives could be articulated: the European College of Cluny will offer a post-masters degree, including a seminar developed by AER on interregional cooperation, networks, territorial innovation. The AER exchange
programme could be part of this widerprogramme . This has yet to be further specified. - 26-30 August 2019 a pilot training seminar will take place in Cluny (see description below)
- In 2020, a full-fledged
programme will begin, with a one-week introductory seminar at the College of Cluny, the traineeship in one of the regional authorities for a month, and a one-week restitution seminar.
AER Training at European College of Cluny: ongoing
In the framework of the cooperation with the European College of Cluny, AER agreed to offer
- Regular meetings have been taking place between the AER Secretary
- AER is teaming up with Experts from the AER Observatory on
regionalisation as well as European Institutions for high level and meaningful contributions - The goal of this seminar is to provide participants with actionable knowledge:
-Clarify the purpose and basis on which to develop interregional cooperation: what regions want to share/ get; Identify allies in their ownorganisations and territories
-Identify which resources and frameworks could be used for cooperation: EU projects,programmes , institutions, networks
–Further explore how to use the different institutions &organisations and meet representatives
Identify best practices on Youth entrepreneurship: ongoing
Committee 3 would like to exchange good practices on youth entrepreneurship and identify best practices in Europe. The idea is
EMAX, a Swedish organisation, which organises innovation camps presented their work on the occasion of the Autumn Committee 3 plenary meeting. They organised a Breakfast Debate on youth entrepreneurship on the occasion of the Spring 2019 plenary meetings in Örebro (SE).
Equal opportunities Committee 3: ongoing
Members expressed the intention to follow up on activities on culture
and health as well as wellbeing, education and culture to fight
obesity.
The AER Transversal Group on Equal Opportunities held regular phone calls to identify joint actions on the topics identified by the Group.
Raise awareness on added value for members of Eurodyssey programme: ongoing
Promote youth mobility for all across wider Europe via the
International Migrants Day: Promoting Diversity in Regions: finished
The three AER committees and the AER Task Force on Migration worked closely together to develop messaging ahead of the International Migrants Day: Promoting Diversity in Regions event in Barcelona on Tuesday 18 December 2018.
Participants
shared their experiences and good practices in diversity management at
regional level, including examples of policies, programmes and projects
promoting inclusion, participation in civic, economic and political
life, positive intercultural interaction and the sense of belonging.
Spring plenary meeting Committee for Culture, Education and Youth : finished
On the occasion of the 2019 Spring Committee Plenaries, Committee 3 gathered to assess progress, elect new representatives and define their work
- Committee
President : Radimir Čačić, Varazdin (HR) Vice-President : Aleksandra Djankovic, Vojvodina (RS)- Chair of the Sub-Committee on
Youth : Hrvoje Kovač, Varazdin (HR) - Chair of the Sub-Committee on Culture: Fereshteh Jalayer, Värmland (SE)
Autumn plenary meeting Committee for Culture, Education and Youth : finished
On the occasion of the 2018 Autumn the Committees Plenary meetings in Vojvodina, the Committee on Culture, Education and Youth a
Panel discussion at the Vojvodina plenaries on Open data for regional development: finished
On the occasion of the Autumn plenaries in Vojvodina, the panel discussion “Open data for regional development: governance, start-ups
Mutual learning event on the Sharing Economy: finished
Each year Brussels Capital proposes a mutual learning event on a current and transversal topic. On December 4th 2018, Brussels Capital organised a mutual learning event on the sharing Economy together with Catalonia, in Brussels, Brussels Capital Region (BE). This event organised upon the invitation of Committee 1 President Jean Luc Vanraes, aimed to gather experiences from all three AER Committees and regions were welcome to share inputs and regional examples.
The event brought together policymakers, entrepreneurs, academics and representatives of the third sector for vivid exchanges. A follow up article with updates on what happened in Brussels was published.
AER Summer Academy 2018 – Cultural Heritage for Regional Attractiveness: finished
This aim was to create opportunities for inter-cultural exchanges & debates among people from European regions, supporting citizens understanding of the relevance of culture & cultural heritage as a means of promoting social inclusion, equality, combating discrimination as well as increasing the attractiveness of their regions.
Virtual reality: planned
Creation of an informal network of regions with a focus on immersion and visualisation of world heritage and cultural heritage. Best practices, exchange of methods and exchange of “products”, I.E. VR, AR & MR visualisations of different cultural heritages, museums and schools. Gävleborg (SE) will lead the action, other supporting regions are Västragötaland (SE) and Västernorrland (SE).
Cooperation around Cultural Routes: finished
Västra Götland is particularly interested in developing cooperations
around walking and hiking paths along cultural routes through the path
of St Olov. Västra Götland is a “missing link” in the path from Santiago
de Compostela to Nidaros and is developing this path. The path should
be completed by 2031 for the big celebration of St Olov.
Members have
been made aware of initiatives around cultural routes. So far no
additional activities were planned. In case this topic is still relevant
to members steps for implementation need to be defined at the Spring
2019 plenary meeting.
Activities around youth mental health: finished
On the occasion of the 2018 Spring plenaries in Arad members decided to refocus the cooperation, which initially was oriented on project development (see here the 2017-2018 action on youth mental health) activity on good practice sharing and awareness raising through
-workshops
-webinars
-data collection
-gathering of prevention resources
-potential topic for a future Summer Academy
-advocacy activities
These activities have yet to be organised, regions are welcome to take the lead.
Youth Mental Health: participation in “Young Carers in a Changing World” event: canceled
Over the Summer the AER Secretariat has been in touch with the President of the Greek Carer Network (EPIONI), who is also a board member of EUFAMI – European Federation of Associations of Families of People with Mental Illness, and of the World Federation for Mental Health.
EPIONI is organising an event at the Office of European Parliament on Mental Health in Athene (GR) the 28 September 2018: “Young Carers in a Changing World” and invited AER members working on youth mental health to speak at this conference. Members involved in youth mental health were not available to contribute to this event.
LGBTIQ rights: canceled
Members at the Committee 3 plenary meeting expressed interest
Sex and relationship education in schools: canceled
Members at the Spring 2018 meeting expressed interest in exchanging
experiences on sex and relationship education in schools. After the 2018
Spring plenaries no concrete initiatives were identified. In case this
topic is still relevant to members steps for implementation need to be
defined at the Spring 2019 plenary meeting.
Digitalisation in education: finished
Nordland (NO) expressed interest in working around the topic
–An update on Erasmus+ calls
–Information about an Erasmus + partner search with Madrid
–Information about a partner search on youth & technology
Advocacy/ Lobbying
Cohesion Policy Activities: ongoing
Members agreed in September 2018 that the Task Force on Cohesion will now be under the responsibility of the Bureau, which is also in charge of the other Task Forces. Joint actions include:
– Convene joint advocacy: Bureau Members adopted an updated position on the European Commission legislative proposals for the future EU cohesion policy, setting out the specific changes European regions propose to make to the new framework.
– Advocate towards the European Union and Member States
– Work in alliance with other relevant stakeholders and European associations
Flevoland (NL) is coordinating the implementation of the action and the cohesion policy task force help implement the action.
AER Bureau Task Forces
The 2018 Spring Bureau established the creation of Task Forces on dedicated topics. These Task Forces will gather examples, identify and formulate policy messages which will be brought together in position papers which will then be used for advocacy. Members who would like to contribute to one of the below Task Forces should contact AER Coordinator for Advocacy & Institutionnal Relations Vania Freitas
-Task Force on Food
-Task Force on Cohesion Policy
-Task force on Digitalisation
-Task Force on Migration
-Task Force on Social Innovation
Joint initiatives for advocacy
Member regions can decide to initiate joint actions and find partners among AER members. Regions can get support from the Secretariat to connect with other regions, get an overview of existing legal framework and identify relevant actions, target institutions. The AER Secretariat will also organise Breakfast Briefings to help regions organise their advocacy activities.
The Committees’ work programmes and the AER action Plan
The developement of the Action Plan is a collective process to enable all participants to specify needs and decide to initiate activities which add value for their region. The principle is the following: as long as an action fits with the AER values, is in line with the AER priorities and has support from other regions, it can be included in the Committees work programmes. The work programmes are developped in Spring each year.
The AER action plan is the consolidation of the three Committees’ work programmes with all other activities led by the Bureau and the Executive Board. It is adopted at the General Assembly.
Members can propose new joint initiatives at any time during
Committee 3 Coordination & implementation of the work programme
The new Presidium of the AER Committee on Education, Culture and Youth will meet met on 4 June 2019 in Larnaka, to discuss the implementation of the Committee’s work
Photo by Ricardo Gomez Angel on Unsplash
