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Multiple times per year, AER brings together regions, so that they may stand stronger together, and grow in a space of best practice exchange.

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6th AER Black Sea Summit
15 September 2016 - 16 September 2016

The Autonomous Republic of Adjara (GE) hosts the 6th AER Black Sea Summit on 15-16 September, a biennial international conference aimed at gathering all stakeholders from the regions surrounding the Black Sea to increase their cooperation, develop new partnerships and exchange best practices.
This edition of the Black Sea Summit will mainly focus on funding opportunities, calls for projects and a presentation of the Joint Operational Programme Black Sea Basin 2014-2020. Participants will have the opportunity to get deeper knowledge in one of the three workshops on:
- Business and entrepreneurship in agriculture
- Environmental challenges in the Black Sea region
- Sustainable growth using learning networks
Programme
Presentations
Related articles
The AER is hiring an EU Finance and Administrative Manager (Strasbourg/Brussels) – APPLICATIONS CLOSED




Are you a numbers guru, with experience in EU project management? And a good organiser who is happy to reinforce an enthusiastic, small, international team with a wide range of responsibilities? If so, you may be our new EU Finance and Administrative Manager. Apply now!
We are looking for a colleague to successfully support our Project Unit in the financial management of EU-funded projects over the whole project cycle. We want this to be combined with a knack for administrative matters related to project activities. This position is to be based in Strasbourg or Brussels, depending on the available location of the successful candidate. We offer an initial 1-year full-time French or Belgian employment contract, with a possibility of extension. You must ...
Engendering Equality across Europe’s Regions: addressing the Underrepresentation of Women in Politics




On International Women’s Day 2022, Bianca Silva shares a wrap-up of an in-depth debate on how to bring about a gender equal Europe, starting in our regions.
As part of the 2021 European Week of Regions & Cities, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) organised a debate on achieving gender equality in politics, bringing together politicians and civil society to share ideas on how regions can help bring about a truly equal Europe.
The debate included high-level speakers from the European and regional level. With a video address from Helena Dalli, European Commissioner for Equality and the participation of: Cllr Andrew Gibson, AER Vice President for Inclusion, Diversity & Equal Opportunities; Christian Spahr, AER Secretary General; Cllr Alison Gilliland, Lord Mayor ...
REGISTRATIONS OPEN: Skillman International Forum 2021| The Future of Learning




About Skillman International Forum 2021
The 7th edition of the Skillman International Forum (SIF) 2021 is taking place online from 15-18 November 2021 and plans to discuss how to redefine the future of learning with a focus on the advanced manufacturing sector but not exclusively. This year the forum addresses three main topics: Digital and green revolution, Micro-credentials and Sharing is Caring.
Join AER at SIF 2021!
As a proud partner of the SIF 2021, organised within the Skillnet project, the Assembly of European Regions will contribute in manifold ways. During the opening on 15 November, AER President Magnus Berntsson will give a keynote speech on AER vision on society and education. On the afternoon of the same day, the Project and Advocacy Unit represented by Birgit ...
Y-FED: AER Poll Finds Young People are Optimistic About the Future but Lacking Awareness on the CoFoE



Under the scope of the European Project, ‘Y-FED: Europe is what we make of it’, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) ran a poll gathering data on citizens’ expectations and priorities on the future of Europe, with a focus on young people. The results were presented at the Y-FED Final Conference in Brussels and announced in our press release, which can be read here.
About the poll
The representative poll was conducted by Savanta in June 2021 and included six EU countries (Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Romania and Sweden), with a sample over 1,000 participants per country.
On the Y-FED Project
This poll aimed to gauge the state of young people’s active citizenship in the European project, something that the AER and our ...
REGISTER NOW — AER General Assembly & Agenda 2030 Conference: Transforming Regions, Changing the World



Joining the GA & SDG Conference online?
AER General Assembly — Join us in Strasbourg or online.
The General Assembly is organised in tandem with the Agenda 2030 Conference, hosted by the Region of Grand Est (France).
The General Assembly will take place on 28 October from 10:15 to 12:30 CET online and in Strasbourg.
Members are invited to join on-site in Strasbourg or online by registering via the relevant buttons above.
Direct Links:
Invitation Letter
Draft Agenda
Practical Information (transport, accommodation, etc)
Please note: the on-site and online registration forms for the General Assembly and Agenda 2030 Conference are the same. You can find out more information about the Agenda 2030 Conference and all practicalities below.
You have until Friday, 8 October to register for on-site participation, and until Monday, 18 ...
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 in Alba Iulia, Romania. He takes over the role in November from his predecessor Mathieu Mori, who led the daily work of AER from 2013 until 2020.
Christian Spahr, a German national, has held a number of key management roles in the fields of European policy, communications and media. Between 2018 and 2020, he was in charge of the European Commission’s media relations on ...
Jam-packed EU Regions & Cities Summit in Bucharest




AER played an active role at the #EUlocal Summit in Bucharest on 14-15 March.
The YRN was represented at the 2nd International Youth Climate Summit in Slovenia




An article by Marsel Haka, Chair of the YRN Committee for a Green & Sustainable Europe
6-8 December 2024 – The 2nd International Youth Climate Summit in Slovenia was a fantastic event organised by the Youth Health Organization (YHO), held in the picturesque coastal city of Koper. This gathering brought together passionate young climate advocates from diverse backgrounds and organisations from different countries, united by a common goal of addressing environmental challenges and mental health.
The summit was a dynamic blend of interactive workshops, insightful discussions and networking opportunities. Participants had the chance to share perspectives, work on innovative ideas, and strengthen connections with like-minded individuals. Experts from organisations such as Youth and Environment Europe (YEE) and Escape4Change delved into critical topics ...
Hydrogen: Fostering Regional Collaboration and Learning




On 27th November 2024, the AER Working Group on Green Hydrogen hosted a webinar on Green Hydrogen Ecosystems featuring regional examples and an update on EU support to green hydrogen development in the regions.
This objective was to promote shared learning among regions involved or interested in developing green hydrogen ecosystems.
Green hydrogen ecosystems are integrated networks that cover the production, storage, distribution, and use of hydrogen generated from renewable energy sources like wind and solar power. They bring together diverse technologies, infrastructure, and stakeholders to establish a sustainable, carbon-free energy system.
The webinar was facilitated by Albert Ballbé, Programme Manager at the General Directorate of Industry at the Government of Catalonia, currently chairing the working group. He spoke about the two-year journey ...
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW! EU-Belong & DT4E: how intercultural integration can foster successful and sustainable labour migration pathways




On World Migration Day 2024, The Assembly of European Regions is pleased to release an exclusive interview, produced in collaboration with the International Organization for Migration (IOM) Country Office for Belgium and Luxembourg. The interview bridges two flagship AMIF-funded initiatives coordinated by the organisations: EU-Belong and Displaced Talents for Europe. While doing so, it demonstrates the need to promote interculturally inclusive society, where skills are nurtured, and talents are unlocked, driving the transition towards a digital, green, and inclusive European future.
Give a chance to displaced individuals, because their enthusiasm, passion to contribute, and dedication know no bounds. (Ammar Kolko, displaced professional relocated to Belgium under DT4E)
Displaced Talents for Europe (DT4E) is one of the frontrunning initiatives – coordinated by the ...
Highlights of the AER Autumn Bureau & Working Group meetings | Insights of the CL-YE study visit in Brussels




The AER Autumn Bureau and Working group meetings in Brussels on 3 and 4 December wrapped up a year of intense political engagement for and with European regions. The Bureau also hosted a study visit of the Erasmus+ project Climbing the Ladder (CL-YE), which aims to explore models and mechanisms of youth engagement at regional and European levels.
For the AER Bureau, decarbonisation and rural development are essential to the future of European regions
The Autumn Bureau meeting and High-Level Debate took place at the European Parliament, hosted by AER Vice President and MEP Lukas Mandl and MEP Alexander Bernhuber.
After the introductory remarks of AER President Castellanos, Vice-President Sundelin gave an overview of key activities delivered since the Spring Bureau meeting in ...
The YRN capacity-building event in Zurich: Inspiring Collaboration Across Europe




An article by Elona Matoshi, Chair of the YRN Committee for Gender Equality & Women’s Empowerment
From October 31st to November 3rd, the Canton of Zurich hosted a YRN capacity-building event, bringing together young leaders from across Europe. With Switzerland’s breathtaking lakes and mountains as the backdrop, participants came together to tackle important youth issues and exchange fresh, innovative ideas for driving real change.
As our Vice President Sigrun Myrvang (Innlandet County) put it, “The capacity-building event in Zurich was incredibly engaging. It’s always inspiring to have meaningful discussions on topics that impact young people, both in and outside the meeting rooms.”
A Warm Welcome and Call to Action
The event kicked off with opening remarks from Mario Fehr (Government Councillor, Canton of Zurich), ...
Eurodyssey Forum 2024 – Peer-learning, community and capacity-building at the core



On 5-7 November, the Eurodyssey Forum 2024 took place in Brussels, Belgium, at the Delegation of the Government of Catalonia to the European Union. Focused on peer-learning, capacity-building workshops, exchanges of good practices, and community building, this Forum brought together Eurodyssey correspondents and coordinators from the regions participating in the programme, as the yearly opportunity to meet and work together in person.
A resilient, committed and united community brought together
The Eurodyssey programme has existed since 1985, its membership has evolved across the past 39 years (new regions joined the programme, others left it, others came back), it faced the COVID19 pandemic (with lockdowns and travel restrictions preventing many Eurodyssey traineeships to happen), it welcomed new colleagues across regions and bade farewell ...
EU-Belong & History Box: demonstrating the role of history education in advancing intercultural integration across Europe




On 17 October 2024, Emanuela Pisanó, EU-Belong Project Manager, participated in the final event of History Box, an Erasmus+ funded project coordinated by KMOP Policy Centre. Different experts were invited to share experience and knowledge on the topic of migration and inclusion, resulting in an insightful conversation and inspiring best practices. The event underscored the importance of history education in intercultural integration, highlighting relational skills, cultural understanding, and lifelong learning as essential Skills for the Future in an evolving European landscape.
Founded in 1977 in Greece, KMOP has grown into a prominent civil society organization dedicated to advancing individual and community well-being through a wide range of social support services, educational initiatives, research, and policy advocacy. Central to KMOP’s mission is ...
The Role of Regions in Europe’s Green Hydrogen Transition




Green Hydrogen ecosystems integrate the production, storage, and use of hydrogen from renewable sources. They play a significant role in reducing carbon emissions, strengthening energy security, and promoting economic growth by fostering innovation and generating employment opportunities.
Understanding Green Hydrogen Ecosystems
A green hydrogen ecosystem is a comprehensive network that encompasses the production, storage, distribution, and utilisation of hydrogen produced using renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar power. This ecosystem integrates various technologies, infrastructure, and stakeholders to create a sustainable and carbon-free energy cycle. Green hydrogen is produced through the electrolysis of water, powered by renewable energy sources such as wind, solar, or hydropower.
Why Green Hydrogen?
Green hydrogen is crucial for reducing carbon emissions in industries that are hard to ...
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW! EU-Belong at the European Citizens’ Panel on Tackling Hatred in Society: creating a safe and healthy European society through democratic participation




On 17 May 2024, Emanuela Pisanó, AER European Project Manager, joined the European Citizens’ Panel on Tackling Hatred in Society, sharing insights from the AMIF-funded EU-Belong project. Afterwards, the European Commission shared the availability to release this exclusive interview, that demonstrate the need for collective action at all levels to build a safe and inclusive Europe.
Do you answer your phone when receiving a call from an unknown number? Well, you should because it might be the European Commission calling.
After making citizen participation in democratic processes and policies a strong pillar of its mandate, the Commission established European Citizens’ Panels as a regular feature of democratic life in the EU. Each Citizens’ Panel brings together 150 randomly selected citizens from all ...
Why and how place matters | Highlights of the Partnership Leadership Programme Dúiche at the Irish College Leuven




From 14 to 18 October 2024, the Dúiche programme at the Irish College Leuven welcomed executives from development agencies, community development practitioners, public officials, and policymakers to explore how and why place matters in a global economy.
In a world shaped by the unrelenting pressure of globalization, the place-based approach represents a paradigm shift from the capitalistic logic of growth and accumulation. Promoted by Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh, AER Vice President for Youth, Culture and Tourism (Donegal, IE), the Dúiche workshop explored why and how place matters in a global economy. The workshop was moderated by Professor Finbarr Bradley and Professor James J. Kennelly, who brought to the discussions their expertise blending international business, cultural studies and Irish studies.
Dúiche: the place as ...
EU-Belong brings testimonials of intercultural integration strategies to the 22nd European Week of Regions and Cities




As Europe faces demographic shifts and an evolving migration landscape, projects like EU-Belong are essential for promoting integration and social cohesion. By promoting intercultural integration through multi-stakeholder governance, EU-Belong seeks to create the conditions for inclusive societies that celebrate diversity while addressing inequality. At the 22nd European Week of Regions and Cities, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) hosted the workshop “Skills: (EU)Belong here – How intercultural strategies can boost talent attraction and retention”, where attendants gained insights on the outcomes of strategies implemented in three partner regions committed to talent attraction and retention.
Migrant integration requires clear and effective employment incentives and services.
In Italy, Emilia-Romagna takes a proactive approach through the Emilia-Romagna International Talents Program. Presented by Lara Porciatti, Project Manager ...
AER EU Funding Digest series #3: Social Inclusion



Chapter 3: Social Inclusion
We are excited to return with the third episode of our “EU Funding Digest” series, where we explore key EU funding opportunities under the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027, examining funds that are directly, shared, or indirectly managed, each time focusing on a different topic.
We are kicking off this new chapter of our series with a key topic at the heart of AER’s work: social inclusion. As Europe becomes increasingly diverse, it is essential to harness the strengths and opportunities that this diversity brings, implementing initiatives to cultivate a sense of belonging and cultural understanding. Celebrating diverse identities while promoting equity is a delicate balance that requires robust policies to recognise and nurture the value of ...
The AER at the 22nd European Week of Regions and Cities




Empowering communities requires action on multiple levels and fields. During the European Week of Regions and Cities, the AER political leadership put forward our commitment to advocating for Cohesion Policy as means to ensure territorial cohesion and boosting competitiveness.
President Albert Castellanos (Catalonia, ES), Vice President Linda Helén Haukland (Nordland, NO) and Secretary General Vania Freitas met with Mario Nava, Director-General at the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion to underline the role of the regions in creating and improving job opportunities, highlighting their capacity to deliver the European Skills Agenda through initiatives like Eurodyssey. Potential areas of common interest, especially regarding upskilling and reskilling, were also highlighted during the meeting with Karl Vanlouwe, President of the European ...
Ukraine Focus Group—new partnerships between Catalonia Trade & Investment and Ukrainian Regions




At the launch of a new platform for cooperation between EU and Ukrainian enterprises, Catalonia Trade and Investment (ACCIÓ) signed letters of intention with Ukrainian member regions Odesa and Dnipropetrovsk
It is no secret that financing Ukraine’s reconstruction and recovery will depend, to a large extent, on significant financial support from international institutions, with recent estimates putting the total cost of reconstruction at nearly 500 billion euro.
While most of the headlines (rightly) focus on immediate needs for reconstruction, less is being written about the need to secure private sector partnerships and investments that will rebuild the economy in the mid- to long-term. Indeed, the Ukraine Facility, the European Union’s 50 billion euro recovery fund, underlines the need to mobilise investment ...
Job Vacancy – Programmes Coordinator (Applications CLOSED)




Role Description
The Programmes Coordinator manages the AER’s three flagship programmes: Eurodyssey, the Summer Academy and the Youth Regional Network (YRN). This entails network management, event organisation, advocacy, as well as budgetary and administrative tasks related to the Programmes’ functioning.
The Programmes Coordinator reports directly to the AER Secretary General and to the Programmes’ Presidents.
Key Responsibilities
Coordination, management and development of the AER’s Programmes (Eurodyssey, Summer Academy, Youth Regional Network), of their activities, and of their steering committees.
Member relations: supporting and liaising with member regions in the Programmes; following up on requests.
Planning and organisation of events (from 100+ participants to smaller capacity-building activities), including coordinating multi-disciplinary teams (members in the steering committees, young volunteers, colleagues, facilitators, service providers…).
Coordinating the participation of YRN members ...
AER Vice President to speak at Rijeka conference on youth mental health




Johannes Sundelin, AER Vice President for Sustainability, Green Transition and Health will open the Conference “Mental Health Challenges in Today’s Youth – A Regional Perspective”, which will take place in Primorje-Gorski Kotar (HR) on 22-23 October in the context of the AER Working Group on Mental Health and will feature practices from all over Europe.
Interregional peer learning for complex problems
Current needs in terms of mental health and wellbeing are on the rise all over Europe in the context of polarisation and a decline in the popularity of human rights. Regions in the AER Working Group on Mental Health share concerns about suicide, violence at school and the impact of social media, fake news and isolation to name a few.
Youth mental ...
Systemic solutions for a circular bioeconomy




In 2022, the Podravje region in Slovenia joined the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative and was selected as one of the 12 Pilots in Europe. After developing the first Regional Strategy for the Transition to Circular Bioeconomy Podravje 2030, the region is now establishing an effective action plan to implement the circular systemic solutions (development projects) identified in the strategy.
Connecting the Bioeconomy & the agri-food sector
The circular systemic solutions identified in the circular bioeconomy strategy are designed so that everyone who wishes, can participate in realising and building a greener future for the region. The chair of the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy, Nataša Ritonija, (East Slovenia, SI) therefore took part in Agra, a major international Agri-food fair event, ...
Applications for the 2024 competition ‘School Public Budget’ of the Poltava Region are now open




From September 15, 2024, it is possible to submit project ideas for the competition ‘School Public Budget’ of the Poltava Region. This initiative, established by the Poltava Regional Council, aims to engage youth and strengthen collaboration with local governments and executive authorities to enhance civic awareness. The competition encourages the pooling of resources and efforts to address social, economic, environmental, and cultural development issues.
This year, the competition features a new program, “Educational Bridges: Ukraine and Poland,” supported by the “Jagiellonian Foundation” and co-financed by the “Polish Aid for Development” program of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Poland. The initiative seeks to foster Polish-Ukrainian cooperation in youth projects, spark interest in the Polish language and culture among ...
Job Vacancy: Financial and Administrative Manager (Strasbourg, France)




About the job
The Financial and Administrative Manager will be responsible for overseeing the general financial administration of the association, including a part of the Assembly of European Region’s finances related to EU-funded projects. Prior experience in bookkeeping is essential for success in this role. Key responsibilities include financial reporting and related administrative tasks.
The AER has its main offices in Strasbourg and Brussels. The Financial and Administrative Manager will be based in Strasbourg, France. The role involves working closely with a dynamic team in the Secretariat, with the possibility of partial remote work. The manager will report to the Secretary General based in Brussels, and together they will coordinate on financial matters with the Treasurer, ultimately reporting to the Executive Board. ...
AER President issues statement following recent attacks on Ukraine




In the first week of September 2024, a Russian barrage targeted the civilian populations and infrastructure of Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Lviv and Poltava.
In the aftermath of this deadly attack, AER President Albert Castellanos issued the following statement:
‘There are no words to fully express the injustice of such an appalling, callous attack on the innocent people of Ukraine. We are keeping the families and friends of the victims in our thoughts. The targeting of unarmed civilians further underlines the need for continued international solidarity. The Assembly of European Regions will redouble our efforts to mobilise European and international support; working with our 130 members and partners and remaining steadfast friends and allies of Ukraine.”
The Assembly of European Regions also ...
NEW PUBLICATION! Building Inclusive Societies: Regional strategies for intercultural integration




Co-financed by the EU Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (AMIF), the EU-Belong project wants to improve the socio-economic inclusion and migrants’ sense of belonging through innovative regional integration strategies. By utilising both intercultural and multi-stakeholder approaches, this groundbreaking initiative aims to set a new standard for inclusion. Today, after more than three years of dedicated effort, the ten regional authorities involved present the results of their work in the publication, “Building Inclusive Societies: Regional Strategies for Intercultural Integration”.
Publication
The process
Regions play a pivotal role in building more inclusive and cohesive societies by cultivating welcoming and open communities where everyone feels welcome, valued, and empowered to reach their full potential. Since 2022, EU-Belong guides regions in the establishment of an intercultural approach ...
Interview with Nataša Ritonija, Chair of the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy




The newly nominated Chair of the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy, Nataša Ritonija, from East Slovenia (SI), shares her motivation for taking on this role, introduces herself, and presents the priorities the group agreed on at the AER General Assembly in Ajara (GE) in June 2024.
Could you please introduce yourself?
My name is Nataša Ritonija. In Slovenia, I am responsible for leading the largest and oldest regional development agency, RDA Podravje – Maribor. Throughout my career, I have gained valuable knowledge and experience in various fields, both at home and abroad, which have provided me with insights into the diverse opportunities for regional development.
I have worked in public administration, the private sector, and non-profit organizations, focusing on project development, ...
Highlights from the Summer Academy of Culture in Bodø | Insights of the CL-YE study visit on models of youth engagement




Bodø, the first European Capital of Culture within the Arctic Circle, welcomed participants from all over Europe for the AER Summer Academy 2024. Co-organised by Nordland County Council and the Assembly of European Regions (AER), the Summer Academy explored best practices, experiences and examples of how culture can foster youth inclusion and engagement.
The Summer Academy also hosted the award ceremony of the Most Youth Friendly European Region (MYFER Award). Read more about the contest and winning projects.
https://youtu.be/0yTen8PYwNc?si=QzrqcUNiNlkPmMTb
Video by Maylinda Bajrami, former Chair of the Youth Regional Network‘s Committee on Gender Equality & Women Empowerment
Insights from the opening plenary: culture builds bridges within and between communities
Kickstarted by Kari-Anne Bøkestad Andreassen, President of the Summer Academy and County Councillor of ...
Share your experience on Youth Mental Health in Rijeka!




In the context of the AER Working Group on Mental Health, Primorje-Gorski Kotar County is inviting all AER members to a conference on: Mental Health Challenges in Today’s Youth – A Regional Perspective, which will feature regional practices and experts from all over wider Europe on 22-23 October.
Shared concerns across Europe, peer learning at the fore
Current needs in terms of mental health and wellbeing are on the rise all over Europe in a context of polarisation and a decline in the popularity of human rights. Recent events in the macroregion have raised concerns about violence at school and the impact of social media, fake news and isolation to name a few.
At global level there are major concerns around youth mental ...
MYFER Award 2024 – Celebrating the most youth-friendly European regions



Nordland County Council, the AER and the Youth Regional Network (YRN) relaunched the MYFER Award in 2024, awarding the most youth-friendly European regions, and celebrating the youth initiatives from the AER member regions across Europe.
12 youth projects and initiatives were submitted to the MYFER Award, from the following regions: Krapina-Zagorje County, the Autonomous Region of Trentino-Alto Adige / Südtirol, the Cohesion Region of West Slovenia, the Autonomous Republic of Adjara, the Municipality of Brdovec (Zagreb County, Hrvatsko Zagorje – Prigorje Region), Varaždin County, the Azores, and Brussels-Capital Region.
The jury highlighted the high quality of all applications received, as all the submitted projects and initiatives reflected concrete opportunities and commitments for youth participation, inclusion, education, active citizenship and/or professional development. It ...
Press release – The Youth Regional Network is selected to take part in the EU Youth Test at the European Economic and Social Committee




The Youth Regional Network (YRN) has been officially selected to take part in the EU Youth Test at the European Economic and Social Committee (EESC). The EESC will hold a first online kick-off meeting on the 3rd of September, gathering the youth organisations who will participate in the initiative. The meeting will represent the occasion to introduce the participants to the EESC, the EU Youth Test and their role in it. This meeting will be joined by Mathilde Colarte, YRN Chair for Youth Participation & Governance, who sucessfully submitted the YRN application to contribute to the EU Youth Test at the EESC.
Ms Colarte, originally from the AER member region of Wallonia, Belgium, shared the following:
“As a youth organisation, this is a unique opportunity to ...
The YRN joined the Consultation for the Revision of the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life




On the 5th of July 2024, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe organised a consultative meeting for the revision of the European Charter on the Participation of Young People in Local and Regional Life. Mathilde Colarte, Chair for Youth Participation & Governance in the Youth Regional Network, participated in this consultation, and reports about the experience and findings in the present article.
The AER aims to empower the issue of youth participation. In this context, there are many opportunities available to members of the YRN (Youth Regional Network). As Chair of the Committee on Youth Participation within the YRN, I had the unique opportunity to take part in the Consultative Meeting for the Revision ...
Job Vacancy: Institutional Relations & Advocacy Coordinator (Applications CLOSED)




Role Description
Reporting directly to the Secretary General, the Institutional Relations & Advocacy Coordinator will play a central role in coordinating and implementing the AER’s advocacy strategy, in collaboration with the AER’s members. The holder of this position will develop and maintain strong relationships with institutional stakeholders to maximise influence and deliver strategic objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Develop and implement AER’s advocacy strategy to promote regional interests and influence European and international institutions;
Coordinate and facilitate the work of Bureau Task Forces;
Support AER’s involvement in European and global policy debates and processes and influence policymakers on key areas for local and regional authorities;
Promote AER’s advocacy messages across coalitions and networks at European and global levels;
Coordinate and prepare policy and advocacy materials, including briefings, speeches, position ...
AER EU Funding Digest series #2: Green Hydrogen




Chapter 2: Green hydrogen
Welcome back to our “EU Funding Digest” series, where we try to make more accessible the understanding of EU funding opportunities available for a specific topic!
We are mapping EU-funding opportunities, mainly calls for proposals, on the main EU funding Programmes under the EU Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027. We will investigate funds directly managed by the EU, such as Horizon Europe, LIFE, CERV, Erasmus+, the Single Market Programme, the InvestEU Programme and the Just Transition Fund, as well as shared or indirectly managed funds such as the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). The research and mapping of funds are targeted towards the specific topic addressed by each chapter.
The focus of this chapter is green hydrogen. As this ...
Highlights from the Europa Forum Wachau 2024




An article by Marsel Haka, YRN delegate at the Europa Forum Wachau 2024, and YRN Chair for Green & Sustainable Europe
From the 19th to the 22nd of June, the AER sent a youth delegation to the yearly Europa Forum Wachau, composed of two former AER interns, and two members of the Youth Regional Network. Marsel Haka, one of the youth delegates, shares his experience with us.
The 28th Europa Forum Wachau was convened under the motto “Rebooting Europe“. This yearly gathering brings together prominent figures from politics, business, culture, media and academia to discuss the critical developments needed within the European Union. The Forum aims to identify and illuminate key European visions for the future, fostering a unified way forward.
A vibrant ...
Internship: Communications, Events and Programmes
The Assembly of European Regions is looking for a Communications, Events, and Programmes Assistant to join the Brussels team in Autumn 2024 for at least 3 months. Starting and ending dates are flexible with a preference for early-mid October.
Deadline: 15.09.2024 COB. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.
Established in 1985, the AER is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. AER is a forum for interregional cooperation and a platform for regional interests on the European stage, being a key player in the regions’ dialogue with the European Union Institutions, the Council of Europe, and other international organisations. AER supports members to improve their policies by exchanging experiences and sharing practices. It also manages a series of ...
The AER welcomes Vania Freitas as Secretary General




Vania Freitas has been appointed by the Executive Board as Secretary General of the Assembly of European Regions (AER).
Previously in charge of institutional relations and advocacy for the AER, Vania Freitas brings to the network over fifteen years of experience in developing political priorities and strategies for membership-based organisations in international contexts. After a transition period as interim Secretary General, Ms. Freitas takes over from Christian Spahr, who led the daily work of AER from 2020 until 2024.
Vania Freitas has gained extensive experience in institutional relations, advocacy, and outreach, at European and global level. As Institutional Relations and Advocacy Coordinator for the AER since 2017, Ms. Freitas has been committed to driving policy influence for sustainable impact at pan-European level.
Announcing ...
A dense year for the Working Group on Mental Health




The Working Group on Mental Health, established in Autumn 2023, aims to facilitate knowledge sharing between regions in wider Europe. The group is chaired by Daniel Schützer County Councillor from Värmland (SE), who is supported in his engagement by Kaltum Hussein as the Seconded Officer for the Working Group.
The Working Group works closely with the Youth Regional Network, which has been invited to contribute and share their perspectives, findings and experiences from the inception of the Working Group. All members of the Working Group can suggest and take the lead on the organisation of an activity (conference, workshop, study visit, webinar…)
Below is a recap of the activities which were organised in the context of the Working group, between June ...
Working Group on Green Hydrogen: A year in activities




The working group on green hydrogen, established in Autumn 2022, facilitates knowledge sharing between regions in wider Europe. The group is chaired by Albert Castellanos, Catalonia (ES), who is supported in his work by two Seconded Officers: Albert Ballbé and Elena Herrero Pérez.
Below is a recap of the activities carried out in the context of the Working Group on Green Hydrogen between June 2023 and June 2024.
Current Work in Progress
Preparation of a peer learning event on green H2 ecosystems online, in autumn 2024
Publication content and resources on green H2 ecosystems for members of the Working Group ahead of the autumn 2024 event
Connection with Hydrogen Valleys and Hydrogen Ecosystems
The AER Secretariat is gathering intelligence, mapping partners and innovative practices from ...
New Chair for the Working Group on the Bioeconomy!




The working group on the bioeconomy, established in Spring 2022, facilitates knowledge sharing, experience, and best practices between regions in wider Europe. On June 12, 2024, Nataša Ritonija, representative from East Slovenia (SI) was nominated as the new chair of the group. She will be supported in her engagement by is Brina Lazar, as Seconded Officer for the Working Group.
The mandate of a Chair is of two years and is renewable. More information about Working Groups procedures.
Below is a recap of the activities carried out in the context of the Working Group between the AER General Assembly of June 2023 in Barcelona and the 2024 General Assembly in Batumi.
Organisation of a Workshop on “Changing Perspectives on Resources for a Sustainable ...
AER EU Funding Digest series #1: Urban renewal and revamping vacant properties



Chapter 1: Urban renewal and revamping vacant properties
Welcome to the first article of our “Funding Digest” series, where we try to make more accessible the understanding of EU funding opportunities available for a specific topic!
Looks complicated, but we’ll make it easier together.
The main scope of this series of articles is to bring closer the EU funding opportunities, which most often are not easy to spot especially when not familiar in navigating the EU Funding & Tenders portal. The EU funds will be explained in an easy language, with dedicated “quick zoom(s)” to break down the touched topics.
You can also express your interest in preparing or joining a project, if you’re interested in one of the calls identified. You will find ...
Highlights from the 2024 AER General Assembly & Spring Bureau meeting | 8th Black Sea Summit | Batumi, Ajara




The AER 2024 General Assembly, the Spring Bureau Meeting, the Bioeconomy Working Group meeting and the 8th Black Sea Summit took place from the 12 to 14 of June in the vibrant city of Batumi, in the Autonomous Republic of Ajara. The three-day event gathered regional representatives and stakeholders across all of Europe and represented an opportunity to foster interregional cooperation at the international level.
Changing perspectives for a sustainable future
On June 12, the three-day event kicked off with the workshop of Working Group on Bioeconomy “Changing perspectives on resources for a sustainable bioeconomy,” which provided a platform to explore diverse regional approaches to enhancing bioeconomy policies and practices. Participants shared examples of innovative strategies aimed at promoting sustainability in ...
AER Activity Report 2023 — ‘Regions Skilled for the Future’




The Assembly of European Regions is proud to present its annual Activity Report 2023.
The theme of this year’s report is “Regions Skilled for the Future“, an expression of AER’s commitment to supporting its member regions in localising and delivering upon 2023 as European Year of Skills, a flagship initiative launched by the European Commission in November 2022.
The cover page of the report, designed by Habile Studio, makes readers reflect on the urgent need to bridge the skill mismatch hampering European regions’ growth. It illustrates the impact of a permanent 10% reduction of the indicator of skills mismatch in regions whose level of mismatch is relatively high.
The period January 2023 – December 2023 was action-packed, and inspired by the AER’s longstanding commitment ...
Addressing Racial Injustice, Discrimination, and Bias in AI within Public Administration | Insights from the EU-Belong Skills webinar for better policymaking




On 28 May 2024, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and the Directorate General of Migration, Asylum, and Antiracism of Catalonia held a webinar titled “Addressing Racial Injustice, Discrimination, and Bias in AI within Public Administration.” Organised within the EU-Belong knowledge transfer clusters on Skills, this session centred on building skills and expanding education to equip public administration professionals with the knowledge needed to manage AI in ways that protect against racial bias and discrimination.
This webinar addressed the growing reliance of public administrations on AI for services ranging from recruitment to fraud prevention and public safety. While AI offers efficiencies, it also presents risks, especially for vulnerable populations who may face unintended biases in automated decision-making. Recent studies, including the ...
YRN Photo Contest for the EU elections 2024!




The Youth Regional Network has launched a photo contest for the EU elections!
If you have a right to vote at the European elections 2024, wants to raise awareness about these elections, and contribute to making young people’s vote visible, the YRN photo contest is something for you!
Take and send your picture from your voting station! When voting at the European elections, take a picture of yourself in front of or inside your local voting venue, and send it to the YRN Presidium.
How to send your picture? Send your picture to YRN Vice-President, Kassandra Petsa, at [email protected], publish your picture on social media and tag @yrn.aer
Deadline: 10th of June
Bioeconomy: resources for policymakers




The ambition of the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy is to facilitate exchanges among European regions to share challenges and opportunities and prepare for future partnerships and projects. In this context, the AER Secretariat mapped a series of resources to help policymakers navigate the abundance of online resources and information.
Knowledge for policymaking
Various types of knowledge may be useful at the different stages of policymaking, depending on needs and purpose. The below resources encompass policy briefs, reports, interactive tools and peer review services to tackle policy challenges.
The AER Working Group itself will organise a workshop on “Changing perspectives on resources for a sustainable bioeconomy” on the occasion of the AER General Assembly in Ajara.
Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform
The Interreg Europe Policy ...
Call for Graphic Designer




The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is looking for a graphic designer to work on the layout of the publication of the Intercultural Integration Strategy (approximately 30 pages), which will be largely distributed in its online and printed version in the context of the EU funded project EU-Belong.
Requested services The awarded designer will prepare the visual/graphic layout of the document of the EU- Belong Intercultural Integration Strategy according to the guidelines provided by the AER and Donegal County Council (DCC).
Timeline
1st week of June 2024: First call between AER – graphic designer
20 June 2024: submission first draft
10 July 2024: deadline final version
Application & evaluation
In the evaluation of the offers, AER will take into account all the information requested in the ...
Internship: Policy & Knowledge Transfer [CLOSED]
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![Internship: Policy & Knowledge Transfer [CLOSED]](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/vincent-nicolas-cZre_lSd2YU-unsplash-150x150.webp)
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![Internship: Policy & Knowledge Transfer [CLOSED]](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/vincent-nicolas-cZre_lSd2YU-unsplash-150x150.webp)
Dates: October 2024-March 2025
Duration: 6 months
Location: Strasbourg (FR)
The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. Bringing together regions from 35 countries, AER is the political voice of its members and a forum for interregional cooperation.
Profile
Candidates should have a general understanding of European policies, an interest in regional policymaking, analytical skills, be interested in what creates effective learning experiences, and have a strong capacity in organisation with the aptitude to work in a multinational team.
Good IT skills are needed: our team is spread in different locations and we use cloud-based applications for most of our work. You will need to be able to very quickly master the different tools.
The AER working language is ...
The Interreg Europe Programme: open opportunities for interregional cooperation




Interreg Europe is the Programme entirely dedicated to fostering interregional cooperation, co-financed by the EU. It facilitates the exchange of good practices and mutual policy learning among regions in 36 European countries – the EU27, Norway and Switzerland, and 7 new countries: Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Serbia and Ukraine. Read more about their involvement here! The core objective of Interreg Europe is the improvement of regional development policies through cooperation projects and its Policy Learning Platform.
The third call for Interreg Europe project proposals is open now for all 36 countries. The proposals can cover any of the six topics contributing to Europe becoming smarter, greener, more connected, more social, closer to citizens or with better policy governance. The call closes ...
Farewell message of AER Secretary General




Dear AER members, partners and friends,
In March, I have announced my intention to take on a new professional challenge. As agreed with the Board, I have passed the baton to our Institutional Relations & Advocacy Coordinator, Vania Freitas who is now managing the Secretariat as Interim Secretary General until my successor is chosen.
Definitely: It has been a highly inspiring experience to serve regional democracy across Europe, and the diversity of our continent. It has been a privilege to stand up for pan-European values, cross-border solutions, and sustainable innovation.
Politics must be made close to the people – our network proves this every day. Together, we are able to make the voice of regional governments clearly audible – be it in meetings ...
A moving study visit to Odesa




On 23 April 2024 the AER Working Group on Mental Health organised a study visit to Odesa.
The event which was moderated by Kaltum Hussein, International advisor in Värmland (SE), was organised in two main parts: First a part on mental and physical rehabilitation, and second, a part on education and addressing the needs of children in the context of the war in Ukraine.
Genuine connection despite circumstances and distance
During an online visit, which was organised to be feasible even in the event of an air strike, participants were guided through the current reality of Odesa region.
The war in Ukraine has led to mass displacement of people who were forced to leave their homes in search of safety and shelter. This resulted ...
“My LevelUP! experience” – Hear from YRN members following the European Youth Forum’s LevelUP! at the European Parliament




On the 12th and 13th of April, a dozen of members from the Youth Regional Network (YRN) had the chance to join LevelUP!, a large-scale youth event organised by the European Youth Forum (YFJ), and which gathered around 1,300 young people from across Europe at the European Parliament, ahead of the European elections. During two intense days, they had the opportunity to benefit from capacity-building activities, training and debates with politicians, institutional representatives, and youth organisations, to share their experience, and to exchange views and best practices with young people.
A few YRN members share their feedback on the experience in the present article:
Mathilde, 23 years old, Wallonia, Belgium
From 12 to 13 April, we attended LevelUP!, an event organized by ...
Youth pre-event of the Europa Forum Wachau – The AER/YRN delegation’s weekend in Bratislava




An article by Peter Guidikov, AER youth delegate at the Europa Forum Wachau
Every year, the Europa Forum Wachau brings together youth and politicians from all over Europe to discuss our common future. It takes place in scenic Göttweig Abbey, on the hills of Lower Austria. We wear dresses and ties to impress important people, and we chat about the economy and the historical significance of Taylor Swift. Once drinks are served and music starts playing, it begins to feel like summer camp for politically-minded young Europeans.
In anticipation of the 2024 edition of the EFW, the AER delegation composed of two former AER interns (Joël and Peter) and two members of the Youth Regional Network (Maylinda and Hugo) was invited alongside ...
The Role of Regions in Decarbonising Europe




Last month, Albert Ballbé, programme manager at the General Directorate of Industry at the Government of Catalonia, who is also leading the activities of the AER Working Group on Green Hydrogen, contributed to the European Backbone Talk “Why Regions Matter” organised by Hydrogen Metropole Ruhr.
An integrated hydrogen economy
Regions have a pivotal role in shaping the hydrogen economy. Hydrogen Metropole Ruhr, a German think tank that aims to support the Metropole Ruhr in becoming a climate-neutral and green industrial region, organised the European Backbone Talk “Why Regions Matter”. In this context infrastructure is crucial for the development of the hydrogen economy in the future, as it enables the distribution of hydrogen from the producing regions and ports to the industrial centers.
Albert ...
The YRN joined the EYCA Rural Youth Camp (Cazorla, Spain) in April 2024!




An article by Sigrun Myrvang, Vice-President of the Youth Regional Network
From the 11th to the 17th of April 2024, seven YRN members attended the Rural Youth Camp organised by the European Youth Card Association (EYCA) in Cazorla, Andalusia, Spain!
In the light of the unique challenges faced by rural youth, the EYCA Youth Panel has launched the Rural Youth Project. A project with the purpose of producing a roadmap on how to better engage with rural youth an their challenges and opportunities.
After a phase of information gathering, and a phase of awareness raising and idea generating, the EYCA Rural Youth Camp in Cazorla was held as means of defining the roadmap.
The event brought together 50 young people from rural areas across Europe. ...
Applications for Elections in AER – General Assembly 2024




The General Assembly is the highest authority of AER and convenes representatives of all its full members. The General Assembly charges the Executive Board to implement its decisions. All procedures on elections are overseen by the Election Committee.
At the AER General Assembly 2024 on 13 June in Batumi, the following positions are up for elections:
1 Vice President of the Executive Board
The Vice Presidents have a mandate of two years and may be re-elected three times.
3 members of the Monitoring and Evaluation Group
The positions in the Monitoring and Evaluation Group have a mandate of three years and may be re-elected twice.
Current members are Thomas Hartman (Västerbotten SE), Chair and Kenneth Backgård (Norrbotten, SE).
1-3 members of the AER Election Committee
The positions in ...
Mental health: Virtual visit to Odesa (UA)




Registrations are open for the virtual visit to Odesa on 23 April from 10:00-12:00 CET via Zoom, organised by the AER Working Group on Mental Health. The event will seek to explore measures implemented in the region to address mental health needs, and how these have changed in the current context of the war. A particular focus will be on measures for children.
Register Here
Peer learning for mental health policies
The AER Working Group on Mental Health, which kicked off activities in October 2023, is chaired by Daniel Schützer (Värmland, SE). The working group is collaborating closely with the AER Youth Regional Network.
On the occasion of the Winter Dialogues in Lower Austria (AU), the group held its first in-person workshop. Members exchanged ...
Interculturalism: A Strategy for Europe’s Future




On Wednesday, 27 March 2024, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities held the roundtable on “Intercultural Regions: Embracing Diversity”.
The session brought together experts and representatives from different European regions to share insights and good practices related to implementing interculturalism strategies and fostering a more sustainable and inclusive Europe at the regional level.
Voices from Three European Regions
During the session, speakers from Catalonia (Spain), Emilia-Romagna (Italy), and Västerbotten (Sweden) presented their unique intercultural approaches tailored to their specific regional contexts.
Eunice Romero, General Director on Migration and Anti-Racism in Catalonia, emphasised the need for international cooperation to combat discrimination and promote a person-centred approach, as part of the Intercultural Cities Programme and EU-Belong. They are executing 70 actions against racism and fostering ...
The MYFER Award is back! Be the next Most Youth-Friendly European Region




Send your project applications before the 21st of June and make your mark!
The MYFER Award (Most Youth-Friendly European Region) is back and ready to celebrate the incredible youth initiatives and projects taking place across the member regions of the Assembly of European Regions (AER)! As a biennial award, the MYFER Award offers regions the chance to showcase their innovative youth projects / initiatives and spread the positive impact they’ve had on young people in their communities.
Organised by the AER, following the proposal from Nordland County Council and the support from the Youth Regional Network (YRN), the MYFER Award aims to highlight the importance of youth policies at regional level, to improve the social inclusion and living conditions of young people, ...
EU-Belong Conference in Donegal | Intercultural Integration: A Shared Journey towards Equality and Belonging




From 19 to 21 March 2024, Donegal, Ireland, hosted the second EU-Belong Knowledge Sharing Event, an inspiring gathering focused on intercultural integration. Aligned with One Donegal Social Inclusion Week, the event showcased the region’s dedication to equality and belonging, while fostering collaboration and mutual learning among participants from across Europe.
One Donegal Social Inclusion Week, coordinated by Donegal County Council, celebrates the efforts of local authorities, community organisations, and statutory bodies in addressing social inclusion. Against this meaningful backdrop, the EU-Belong event brought together over 100 participants from Ireland and 10 European regions to discuss interculturalism, exchange knowledge, and explore regional policies for inclusion.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AkDkX0w_I5w
Day 1: Sharing Successes and Strategies
The first day, set the stage for deep discussions and meaningful exchanges. It ...
YRN Statement on Youth Participation and Governance: “Young People are the Future”
The Youth Regional Network (YRN) is a the AER’s cross-regional youth platform, promoting active youth participation at regional level. It provides young people with an opportunity to express policy recommendations, to foster debate and capacity-building, to exchange good practices, to reach out to decision-makers, and to influence policies. The YRN is a unique forum for young people from diverse regions to raise their voice collectively, while introducing a European dimension to youth policy in those regions.
The YRN activities and positions reflect the dedication, commitment, enthusiasm and ideas for the future, of driven young individuals seeking to enact positive change at both regional and European levels.
In this regard, the YRN Thematic Committee on Youth Participation and Governance has released a statement emphasising the significance of youth involvement in ...
The Youth Regional Network – First revival anniversary. Highlights from the YRN General Assembly 2024!




The Youth Regional Network (YRN) General Assembly 2024 took place between the 14th and the 17th of March in Zalău, Sălaj County, Romania. Marking the first revival anniversary of the YRN, the event featured numerous engaging activities for young people, study visits, YRN Presidium elections, and a MEET Debate on the Future of Europe.
The YRN General Assembly was a great success, gathering up to 80 diverse participants from all over Europe: young people (YRN members, local high school students, youth council representatives…) themselves of course, as well as politicians and civil servants from AER member regions in Sălaj, Nordland, Primorje-Gorski Kotar and Maramures Counties, dedicated to supporting the programme.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Edozn8Cri7Y&ab_channel=AER-AssemblyofEuropeanRegions
A Memorable Event
The much-anticipated event began with a warm welcome from the ...
Upcoming management change at the AER




The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is preparing for a change at the helm of its Secretariat: Secretary General Christian Spahr has announced his intention to take on a new professional challenge. Following consultation with the Executive Board, he will pass the baton at the end of April to the AER Institutional Relations & Advocacy Coordinator, Vania Freitas who will act as Interim Secretary General. The position of Secretary General is being re-advertised .
“It has always been an inspiring experience to serve regional democracy and diversity across Europe,” says Christian. “Politics must be made close to the people – our network proves this every day. It has been a privilege to stand up for decentralised decision-making and public participation, sustainable ...
The AER is hiring its new Secretary General (Applications CLOSED)




About the Assembly of European Regions
The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is not just the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe; we are a beacon for democracy, good governance, and regional innovation. Founded in 1985, our mission is to empower regions and foster a sustainable future through collaboration. With over 130 member regions from more than 25 countries, we are dedicated to making regions key players in the European project – from Norway to Turkey and from Portugal to Georgia.
To this end, the AER raises the concerns of regional governments in dialogue with the EU, international organisations, national governments and the public, to ensure that regions have a say in all issues affecting them. The AER offers its ...
The AER is hiring a Financial and Administrative Manager (Strasbourg/Brussels) (Applications CLOSED)




Do you have a strong background in financial management? Do you enjoy providing high-quality administrative support to a team? And do you have work experience e.g., in an association, with EU-funded projects, in an international environment or a small company? If this sounds like you, you might be our new Financial and Administrative Manager (full-time).
You will handle the financial administration in our association and a part of the finances of our EU-funded projects. To be successful in this role, you should have previous experience with bookkeeping.
The AER has its main offices in Strasbourg and Brussels. You will be based in either of them, with a preference for Strasbourg, together with a part of our dynamic team. You can work partly ...
EU-Belong at One Donegal Social Inclusion Week




EU-Belong will organise its second Knowledge Transfer event in Donegal (IE), “Intercultural Integration:A Shared Journey towards Equality and Belonging” on the occasion of the One Donegal Social Inclusion Week.
EU-Belong, an AMIF-funded project led by the AER and gathering 11 regions, is pioneering inclusion by using an intercultural approach to innovate policies and practices. The One Donegal Social Inclusion Week is an opportunity for this large international consortium of regions to dive deep into practices that foster a shared sense of belonging among people who live, work, create, and pay taxes in cities and regions.
A Countywide Initiative for Diversity and Inclusion
From March 17th to 24th, 2024, County Donegal will host its Social Inclusion Week, a series of countywide events aimed at ...
EU-Belong at High Level EU Event




On February 9, AER Secretary General Christian Spahr spoke at the plenary roundtable of the high-level policy forum and ministerial conference on “The Integration of Newcomers by EU Member States” organised by the Government of Flanders in the framework of the Belgian Presidency of the EU Council.
A High-Level Policy Forum and Ministerial Conference on the Integration of Newcomers
Ministers, heads of delegations, global policymakers and experts converged in Mechelen (Belgium) to chart the course for inclusive societies and shape the future of integration policies in Europe and beyond.
Addressing barriers such as language, social support, and prejudice, the conference explored strategies for labor market inclusion, leveraging language learning, and fostering social cohesion.
Emphasising integration as essential within the new Pact on ...
EU-Belong at Conference on Experimenting at Local Level to Improve Participation




On January 25th, EU-Belong Project Manager Emanuela Pisano spoke at the final event of the PISTE project, to share how EU-Belong is using the intercultural approach developed by the Council of Europe to innovate regional policymaking.
Experimenting Migrant Participation in Small and Medium-Sized Towns
The PISTE project, funded by the European Commission’s AMIF programme, set out to work on the quality of civic participation and integration policies. The project partners from Belgium, Greece, Germany and Italy focused their action, experimentations, and research on promoting the participation of migrants in the design of policies, their implementation, and evaluation. The project also facilitated peer assessment in Small and Medium-sized Towns (SMTs).
The shared vision and complementary approaches of the EU-Belong and PISTE projects provided ...
Access to Quality and Affordable Housing for all




Access to adequate and affordable housing is a crucial determinant of successful integration. Housing conditions have a substantial impact on employment and education opportunities and on the interactions between migrants and host communities. Poor housing conditions and segregation can exacerbate divisions, which undermine social cohesion.
Inclusive housing is, therefore, essential for thriving neighbourhoods.
EU-Belong: Interculturalism and Housing
In the framework of the AMIF-funded EU-Belong project, the AER is facilitating peer learning to foster resource sharing and promote continuous improvement of policies and practices. The EU-Belong project is pioneering the field of inclusion and integration by using an intercultural approach developed by the Council of Europe to innovate regional policymaking.
Interculturalism is a policy model for ensuring equality and cohesion in culturally diverse ...
The Interreg Europe programme is welcoming seven new countries!




Interreg Europe, one of the most known international cooperation programmes co-funded by the European Union, has now opened its doors to seven new countries:
Albania
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Moldova
Montenegro
North Macedonia
Serbia
Ukraine
Are you from one of these regions or you wish to build a partnership with one of these regions? Then this is the perfect occasion to join forces and build a solid project partnership!
The programme is organising an online welcoming event for these new countries to discover the opportunities offered by the programme and to learn how to engage with these new countries.
The event will be held on the 21 February 2024 from 10:00 to 11:30 CET. More information at this page.
About the Programme
The Interreg Europe programme is encased in the EU Multiannual Financial ...
Interreg NEXT MED Programme: The First Call for Proposals is OPEN!




The new Interreg NEXT ‘Mediterranean Sea Basin’ (NEXT MED) Programme launched its first call for proposals!
The Programme is a transnational cooperation initiative all about bridging the countries of the Mediterranean area to build partnerships in acting towards a more sustainable future. The novelty of the Programme lies within the broadened area of action: Algeria and Turkey are included in the eligible countries and are eligible to access project fundings!
Eager to join the challenge in creating a smarter, greener, more inclusive, and better governed Mediterranean region?
Eligible countries: geographical area of action
The cooperation area covers different regions among 15 countries:
Algeria | Tlemcen, Ain-Temouchent, Oran, Mostaganem, Chlef, Tipaza, Boumerdes, Tizi Ouzou, Bejaia, Jijel, Skikda, Annaba, El-Tarf, Alger
Cyprus | whole country
Egypt | Matruh, Al ...
AER Manifesto for the European Elections 2024: Trust in the Future Through Stronger Regions




In a world in turmoil, building trust in the future passes through fostering stronger local and regional democracies. The AER Manifesto for the European Elections 2024 underlines the importance of involving regional governments in European crisis management, and in creating a prosperous, sustainable, inclusive, and politically integrated Europe – especially in view of the next European legislative period.
Key recommendations
Reinvigorated subsidiarity
A citizen and solidarity-focused recovery
An innovative approach to sustainability
A more vital, participatory Europe
A complete, values-based Europe
Download the AER Manifesto for the European Elections here
MEET Project | Debating the role of the EU in the region & the 2024 EU elections in Krapina Zagorje, Croatia




On Friday November 10th, 2023, Zagorska razvojna agencija (Zagorje Development Agency) held the debate within the framework of the MEET- project. The debate was organised in Marija Bistrica, in Krapina Zagorje County and a total of 120 participants were actively involved in the debate. Participants were secondary school students, mayors of cities and municipalities from Krapina Zagorje County, the deputy county prefect and employees of Zagorska razvojna agencija.
The main topics of the debate were the European Parliament Elections 2024, the digitalisation and the impact that EU has on everyday lives in rural areas.
About the MEET Project
With Europe at a crossroads at the end of the Conference on the Future of Europe and in the middle of the implementation of the ...
YRN Policy Recommendations for a more Democratic, Inclusive, Green, and Digital Europe: “Speak less about the youth, and more with them”




On 30 November 2023, the AER Youth Regional Network organised a workshop for young people in Sankt Polten, Lower Austria, in light of the MEET Intergenerational Debate taking place on the same day. Here, the YRN was presented to the young participants, who discussed the key topics of the debate, touching on the European Elections, youth participation, inclusion the green transition, the stakes in rural and urban areas, and other relevant aspects.
The young participants were eager to exercise their rights as young European citizens and to contribute to this meaningful discussion. This workshop was a positive opportunity for them to share ideas and opinions on what can be done for a more Democratic, Inclusive, Green, and Digital Europe.
Resulting from the ...
Call for Nominations: Task Force AER Political Priorities 2025-2030



Photo by Brett Jordan on Unsplash
We are seeking nominations from AER Bureau Members to join the AER 2025-2030 Political Priorities Task Force by completing the online nomination form available HERE.
Following the decision by the Bureau to set up a Task Force to prepare the AER Political Priorities for the period 2025-2030 at the Bureau Meeting in Lower Austria (AT) on 30 November 2023, AER is forming a Task Force to carry out this work.
Due regard to gender and geographical balance will be given when considering appointments to the Task Force.
Deadline for nominations: 30 January 2024.
Background
AER Political Priorities are developed by the Bureau. They provide the priority areas for its mandate and general orientations for the work of the network. Every five years, at the ...
Highlights of the AER Winter Dialogues 2023 – Autumn Bureau Meeting & MEET Intergenerational Debate




The AER Winter Dialogues on 29 and 30 November 2023 in Sankt Pölten, Lower Austria were an opportunity to practice and showcase the different activities which build the AER’s pan-European network, from the Workshop on Mental Health chaired by Värmland to the Bureau session on the future Cohesion Policy.
Workshop on Mental Health and Study Trip to the Agrana Plant
The AER Winter Dialogues opened with an actively participated workshop on Mental Health chaired by Daniel Schützer from Värmland. Members exchanged about the challenges linked to social isolation, deep fake and changing relationships in an online world, as well as emergency situations such as natural disasters. The workshop was co-designed with the Youth Regional Network, and counted with the contribution of Jim Simonsen Jenssen, ...
Join our new AER Task Forces on Rural Development & Agriculture and Decarbonisation!




AER Task Force on Rural Development & Agriculture
Addressing the challenges facing rural regions and the opportunities which rural economies and communities can benefit from in the green and digital transition goes hand in hand with Europe’s ambition to make its economy more competitive, environmentally sustainable and inclusive.
The debate around the future EU common agricultural policy (CAP) post-2027 is also starting. The European Commission is set to open the discussions at the EU Agricultural Outlook Conference in December 2023 which will be followed by a public consultation on the upcoming CAP proposal in the first quarter of 2024, culminating in the release of a legislative proposal in July 2025.
It is therefore crucial that AER members engage in these discussions and collaborate ...
[Partner Search] Region Jönköping is looking for partners in Smart Specialisation Strategies
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![[Partner Search] Region Jönköping is looking for partners in Smart Specialisation Strategies](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jonkoping-150x150.png)
![[Partner Search] Region Jönköping is looking for partners in Smart Specialisation Strategies](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Jonkoping-150x150.png)
Has your region developed a Smart Specialisation Strategy? Region Jönköping in Sweden is searching for other regions in Europe—preferably with comparable challenges—to collaborate, learn and exchange experiences relating to Smart Specialisation (S3) strategies.
Jönköping County is starting work on their the smart specialisation strategy, both in the region itself, and together with other regions in the NUTS-areas in Småland and the island (south east of Sweden).
Specific interest areas for collaboration:
Jönköping are interested in improving innovation and building knowledge though networks for a Smart specialisation strategy on:
smart industry – manufacturing
forestry and the wood Industry
foodstuffs
tourism
e-commerce and logistics
creating a network to exchange ideas on S3 strategies
What Jönköping County offers as a parnter:
Situated in a strategic position at the centre of Northern Europe, the ...
Addressing racial discrimination in housing: a multi-stakeholder approach | A Recap of the First EU-Belong Webinar




On 23 November, the EU-Belong project hosted its first webinar, focusing on racial discrimination in access to housing through the experience of the Municipality of Olot, a mid-sized city in Catalonia, Spain. This session, held from 10:00 to 11:00 CET, invited participants from regions all over Europe to examine Olot’s approach and assess how intercultural strategies can help address these issues. The event provided a 30-minute interactive segment, allowing the almost 100 attendees to explore the challenges, enabling factors, and transferability of Olot’s model for addressing housing discrimination.
Professor Quim Brugué, a Political Science professor from the University of Girona, led the presentation, sharing Olot’s multi-faceted strategy to address racial discrimination against third-country nationals in the housing market. Olot’s approach focused ...
YRN Youth Participation Toolkit




The YRN Thematic Committee on Youth Participation and Governance has developed a Youth Participation Toolkit!
The aim of the toolkit is to inform young people about European opportunities that can empower and encourage them to become active citizens.
Comprising practical tools tailored for the everyday tasks of youth politicians and activists, the toolkit also offers a comprehensive understanding of participatory concepts in relevant contexts. Furthermore, it serves as a source of inspiration for initiating and advancing initiatives at regional and local levels.
Contact us
For any questions or feedback, please contact the Chair of the Thematic Committee: [email protected]
AER Working Groups at Winter Dialogues




The AER Working Groups on Mental Health and the Bioeconomy will gather on 29 November, on the occasion of the Winter Dialogues. This event brings together the policy and knowledge transfer activities of the AER Working Groups with the advocacy work carried out in the Task Forces and the Bureau.
A study visit on the Bioeconomy
Discover a major bioeconomy activity in Lower Austria, with the visit of the AGRANA Plant:
One of the objectives of the Working Group on the Bioeconomy, is to learn more about regional policies and practices on the bioeconomy, learn about challenges and enablers and exchange in order to identify elements of transferability. In this context, the region of Lower Austria, a founding member of the working group ...
Call for YRN members! Join a growing inter-regional and international youth network!




The Youth Regional Network (YRN) is launching a call for committed and motivated young peoplefrom all across Europe.
Created by the Assembly of European Regions in 2008, the Youth Regional Network (YRN) is across-regional youth platform, promoting active youth participation at regional level. Composed ofregional-level youth councils, parliaments and organizations in AER’s network and membership, itprovides young people with an opportunity to express policy recommendations, to foster debate andcapacity-building, to exchange good practices, to reach out to decision-makers and to influencepolicies. The YRN is a unique forum for young people from diverse regions to raise their voicecollectively, while introducing a European dimension to youth policy in those regions.
The YRN has its own Presidium, structured with: a President, two Vice Presidents and ...
Regions empowering & upskilling youth – Highlights from the Eurodyssey Forum 2023 in Ponta Delgada, Azores




Eurodyssey, the AER’s flagship youth mobility programme, has been facilitating opportunities for young individuals across the participating regions since 1985. The programme offers remunerated traineeships, completed with accommodation and language training, along with a range of cultural and social activities. Every year, the Eurodyssey Forum, the programme’s flagship event, is hosted and co-organised by one of the participating regions. There, Eurodyssey correspondents, coordinators, trainees and alumni from all over Europe come together to discuss and assess the programme’s implementation, achievements, challenges, and the developments they wish to see for its future. The Forum also offers the opportunity for regions interested in joining the programme to attend, to provide them with an opportunity to meet in person with the participating regions, ...
MEET Project | Debating Europe, the EU elections & digitalisation in the Azores, Portugal




The Eurodyssey Forum 2023, held in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal, 6-9 November, was host of the first MEET Intergenerational Debate on the Future of Europe.
The First MEET Intergenerational Debate
The first Intergenerational Debate of the MEET project took place on the 8th of November in Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal. Here, approximately 100 participants from across Europe gathered to deliberate on the Future of Europe and the forthcoming 2024 EU elections.
Prior to the debate, participants had the opportunity to prepare for the discussion by addressing general questions related to the main topics. In order for the questions to be as engaging as possible, a unique, interactive method was used: Participants were given 2 coloured cards representing options “A” and “B”. Then, they ...
The YRN is back among the Congress Youth Delegates! Highlights from the 45th session, October 2023




By Sigrun Myrvang, Chair of the YRN Committee on Youth Participation and Governance
With the Youth Regional Network (YRN) being revived in March this year, so are partnerships, such as the long-standing one between the AER and the Youth Delegates’ programme of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. Sigrun Myrvang, Chair of the YRN Committee on Youth Participation and Governance, from Innlandet County (Norway), took part in the Congress’ 45th session and youth training, from the 21st to the 26th of October.
An exciting educational week at the 45th session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, as an observer from the AER Youth Regional Network, has come ...
Inclusion café: Co-design for temporary housing solutions




The first online EU-Belong Inclusion Café took place on 16 October to discuss how to address temporary housing needs in a sustainable and collaborative way. The inclusion cafés aim to become a regular space for exchanges with peers mutual learning and exchanges.
One challenge, one solution, and where to begin
For each inclusion café, one particular challenge is examined, and a practice is explored. Regional stakeholders working on inclusion exchange experiences, receive and provide advice on how to address similar situations in different places in Europe.
Giulia Boldrini, from ANCI Toscana, opened this series of structured informal peer meetings by sharing how her organisation supported the region of Tuscany in addressing temporary housing needs by:
1/ co-designing a methodology for the development and implementation ...
Working Group on Mental Health kicks-off activities




The AER Working Group on Mental Health organised its kick-off meeting on 27 October to define priorities and develop activities for the coming months.
In particular, the group decided to organise a workshop on mental health on the occasion of the AER Winter Dialogues in Sankt Pöllten (AT) (registrations until 15/11/2023).
Getting to know each other
The working group aims to be a space for targeted experience sharing, finding resources, and strategic intelligence, as well as developing joint activities. For this to be possible it is essential to get to know each other and hear why mental health is an important topic at the moment in different regions across Europe.
Politicians from Värmland (SE), and Jönköping (SE), a whole team of mental health professionals ...
Real Cohesion is (not a) YOUTHopia – Highlights from the YOUTHopia project




Cohesion Policy is the net that holds EU regions together. As pan-European communication campaign, YOUTHopia’s aim has been highlighting the threads that create this net. Managed by the AER and ereb.eu (former Cafebabel) as media partner, YOUTHopia brought to light Cohesion Policy-funded opportunities which enable regions to work for a greener, more inclusive and cohesive EU.
For one year, five regions across Europe worked together to bring YOUTHopia to life. Donegal County, Eastern and Western Slovenia, Košice Self-Governing region and Union of Cyprus Municipalities collaborated to create a community-based communication campaign spreading awareness about the benefits of Cohesion Policy.
3..2…1..: Action! AER shoots #HotlineCohesion
Throughout one year, YOUTHopia generated communications about the benefits of Cohesion Policy in different formats. First released in February ...
A successful YRN capacity-building weekend in Koppang, Innlandet, Norway!




From the 22nd to the 24th of September, the Youth Regional Network organised a successful capacity-building weekend in Koppang, Innlandet County! The programme included workshops, thematic committees’ meetings, collaborative work on a YRN action plan, social and cultural activities, and a great opportunity for YRN members to get together in person! Read more about the event’s highlights from Sigrun Myrvang, Chair of the YRN Committee on Youth Participation and Governance.
https://youtu.be/L98dwNbj0rY?si=LxmcFhpL9kqnrXpC
The first day of the capacity-building weekend, a YRN Presidium meeting was held with the primary purpose of coordinating the weekend as well as preparing a proposal for an action plan for the network based on responses collected from our members. The meeting was followed by some exciting sightseeing in Stor-Elvdal ...
The Alpine Region’s Model for youth empowerment | Cohesion Policy | YOUTHopia




The EU-Strategy for the Alpine Region brings young people from the Alpine region in their summer camps, youth council events and workshops.
The Alpine Space stands out in Europe for its natural beauty and rich multicultural diversity. Covering an area of 450,000 km², it is home to over 80 million people across 7 countries and 48 regions. Even if these regions have different governance systems and traditions, they share key priorities and face similar challenges.
How to empower the Youth in the Alpine Region
The EU-Strategy for the Alpine Region (Support EUSALP) addresses common challenges across regions. The regions form a macro-regional governance aiming to enhance cooperation and coordination of actions with the support of European Union investment tools, such as Cohesion Policy.
‘Among ...
EU Regions Week: Empowering Outermost Regions – Harnessing Eurodyssey to Up-Skill Youth




The European Week of Regions and Cities offered many opportunities to discuss topics relevant to the future of Europe and its development to representatives and professionals engaged in EU regional affairs. Several events took place throughout the week consisting of presentations, debates, speech panel discussions and tasting booths.
One of the many matters addressed was the promotion of skills and mobility in the outermost regions and how it can benefit their development. The “Promoting skills and learning mobility as an opportunity for the development of outermost regions” event featured an in-depth discussion on the importance of up-skilling, not only in Europe as a whole but also specifically in more disadvantaged regions that are in need of better-trained professionals to facilitate their development. ...
OPEN CALL FOR YOUNG PARTICIPANTS! Winter Dialogues and MEET Intergenerational Debate (Lower Austria 29-30 November)




In a world full of noise, we want to make your voice heard. Take part in the MEET Intergenerational Debate at the AER Winter Dialogues in Sankt Pölten, Lower Austria!
APPLY HERE
What are the AER Winter Dialogues and how can I be involved as a young European citizen?
Hosted in the Lower Austrian capital of Sankt Pölten on 29 and 30 November 2023, the two-day event will include a number of activities, culminating in the third MEET Intergenerational Debate on the Future of Europe. This debate will explore the role of active citizenship and youth participation in shaping a more democratic, inclusive and sustainable future for our continent, with a focus on the opportunities coming from the New Green Deal and its ...
AER Statement on the European Day of Languages 2023




The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is committed to the cultural development of all our member regions. Culture, and cultural diversity are key elements of regional sustainability, and language is a fundamental element of Europe’s shared cultural heritage.
Read the full AER statement on the occasion of the European Day of Languages by AER President, Albert Castellanos Maduell and AER Vice-President for Youth, Culture and Tourism, Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh.
NEW PUBLICATION! Multi-stakeholder model framework and Toolkit for Regional Intercultural Integration Strategies
Co-financed by the EU Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (AMIF), the EU-Belong project wants to improve the socio-economic inclusion and migrants’ sense of belonging through innovative regional integration strategies. By utilising both intercultural and multi-stakeholder approaches, this groundbreaking initiative aims to set a new standard for inclusion.
The Multi-stakeholder Model Framework and Toolkit describe the methodology used by EU-Belong partners in the establishment of their regional intercultural integration strategies. It provides not only the key elements that should be embedded, but also a practical guidance for policymakers to develop such policies. The document facilitates collaborative approaches essential for addressing the broader challenges of work and inclusion emphasised in the Knowledge Transfer Cluster “How People Work and Create”.
Publication
The process
Intercultural strategies are designed ...
AER President and Vice-Presidents highlight Value of Diversity at Includ-EU Final Conference




AER President Albert Castellanos and Vice Presidents Nina Bjørby and Jean-Luc Vanraes underlined the importance of interregional collaboration and whole-of-society approaches at the Includ-EU final event on 6-7 September 2023 in Brussels. This major event culminated in a process initiated in early 2020 to set up an informal network of peers across Europe who would exchange on integration policies and practices.
In the world of regional integration policies, the Includ-EU project spearheaded an exceptional initiative to foster collaboration among European regional and local authorities, and various stakeholders dedicated to integration practices. This endeavour, led by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) in partnership with the International Organization for Migration (IOM), aimed to facilitate transnational knowledge exchange and enhance the inclusion ...
Join AER at the #EURegionsWeek 2023




The #EURegionsWeek, the largest event about Cohesion Policy in Brussels, is coming back from 9 to 12 October 2023.
The #EURegionsWeek in a nutshell
The European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) is an opportunity to generate and circulate ideas about the present and future of regions in Europe. Counting on a wide participation from policy stakeholders, representatives of regional and local governments, as well as EU institutions, the EWRC is a key platform for establishing and reinforcing connections that make regions to thrive.
The AER is official partner of the #EURegionsWeek
As one of the official partners of the EWRC, AER is co-hosting three workshops giving visibility and discussing different and relevant issues and topics, with a focus on the benefits of Cohesion ...
Regional Innovation Valleys — join AER to put regional priorities on the EU Innovation Agenda




AER calls on members to strengthen regional perspectives on EU innovation policy, and build partnerships for future funding opportunities
The European Commission has launched a call for expression of interest for Regional Innovation Valleys (RIVs), to strengthen and advance European innovation ecosystems. Under the New European Innovation Agenda, RIVs will aim to “harness the potential of deep-tech innovation across the different EU territories, and addresses the innovation divide.”
The Commission hopes to identify up to 100 regions committed to enhance the coordination and direction of their research and innovation investment and policies at regional level, and to collaborate on inter-regional innovation projects linked to key EU priorities.
Why this is important — reason one: to set an agenda that meet’s territorial needs
Given the strategic importance ...
The Forum of Polish and Ukrainian Cities takes place in Kryvyi Rih




Polish and Ukrainian cities, with the participation of the AER, held a Forum in Kryvyi Rih (Ukraine) regarding ongoing cooperation and post-war support.
The largest industrial centre of Ukraine – Kryvyi Rih city – hosted the Forum of Polish and Ukrainian Cities in cooperation with the Association of Polish Cities, the Union of Polish Metropolises and the Assembly of European Regions. Representatives of Polish cities and businesses, as well as Ukrainian cities (Kryvyi Rih, Zaporizhzhia, Mariupol, Kherson, Kropyvnytskyi, Kramatorsk and Pokrovsk) participated in the event.
Vice-President of the Assembly of European Regions, Deputy Mayor of Kryvyi Rih Sergii Miliutin noted: “One of the tasks of the AER is to deepen the cooperation between European regions to attract best experience and help in ...
(Closed) AER IS HIRING AN EU PROJECT MANAGER




AER IS HIRING AN EU PROJECT MANAGER
We are looking for a colleague to help us in managing the implementation of EU funded projects, joining the AER Project Unit and being able to collaborate closely with colleagues in other workstreams of the AER Secretariat, member regions, and project partners. If you like to work for liveable, prosperous regions and a sustainable European future and you wish to be part of an international and motivated team, apply now!
You must have the right to live and work in Belgium. This position is to be based in Brussels.
This is who we are
We’re a small team, so everybody is really important
We’re also a great, proactive and imaginative team, with awesome people on board
The aim we work for ...
AER is looking for a Communications & Events Assistant (Erasmus+)




About the Assembly of European Regions
The Assembly of European Regions is looking for a Communications and Events intern to join the Brussels team in Autumn 2023 for at least 3 months. Starting and ending dates are flexible with a preference for late September/early October.
Deadline: 15.09.2023 COB. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis.
Established in 1985, the AER is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. AER is a forum for interregional cooperation and a platform for regional interests on the European stage, being a key player in the regions’ dialogue with the European Union Institutions, the Council of Europe, and other international organisations. AER supports members to improve their policies by exchanging experiences and sharing practices. It ...
AER Ukraine Focus Group—Regional Partners for Reconstruction




AER’s unique community of regional stakeholders is focusing minds to support Ukraine’s recovery
AER’s Focus Group on Ukraine has continued work in earnest in the three months since its first meeting in Cluj-Napoca, Romania in late March.
https://twitter.com/europeanregions/status/1674070105905397760?s=20
At the second meeting in Barcelona on 28 June, co-organised with the Government of Catalonia, the Focus Group was proud to welcome delegations from Dnipropetrovsk, Kharkiv, Kryvyi Rih, Odesa, Poltava and Transcarpathia.
The Government of Catalonia, shared the extensive work being undertaken in the region itself to support Ukrainians in the region. Equally important were presentations on enterprise partnership opportunities for Ukrainian regions, and insights on the work of the Foreign Ministry to support Ukrainian regions during the reconstruction.
From the EU perspective, Focus Group ...
2022 Summer Academy wins European Citizens’ Prize




The 2022 AER Summer Academy is one of two Irish projects selected as winners of the prestigious ‘European Citizens’ Prize’ for 2023.
Awarded every year by the European Parliament, the European Citizens’ Prize goes to projects “organised by people or organisations that encourage mutual understanding and closer integration between people in the EU, cross-border cooperation that builds a stronger European spirit, and EU values and fundamental rights.” The 2022 Summer Academy was selected alongside ‘The Shona Project’, social enterprise for womens’ empowerment, as winners of the award for Ireland.
Youth delegates enjoy gteic@Gaothdobhair remote working hub in the Irish-speaking region of Donegal
Maria Walsh MEP opens the 2022 Summer Academy event in Letterkenny
Organised as part of the European Year of Youth, ...
Wrap-up: Highlights from AER 2023 Summer Symposium | General Assembly, Bureau Meeting and YOUTHopia Transnational Event




150 participants from 50 European regions attended the AER Summer Symposium 2023 In Barcelona.
EU-Belong Conference in Gdańsk: addressing the housing crisis




The EU- Belong conference that took place in Gdańsk from 14 – 15 June 2023 gathered several stakeholders and civil servants from Poland and various countries in Europe. The aim was to exchange good practices on housing policies as a key component for intercultural societies, as well as understanding current challenges faced by the region of Pomerania when it comes to the war in Ukraine and the accommodation of refugees.
Regions across Europe are currently facing a widespread housing crisis, which touches upon several aspects of human rights, dignity, and equality. In this context, vulnerable groups, including people with a migratory background, are especially hit by the crisis facing difficulties in accessing housing. Moreover, beyond it being a human right, access to affordable housing is an essential parameter for other aspects related to inclusion (for instance labour market integration) and it increases the ...
AER Activity Report 2022 — ‘Regions for the Next Generation’ is out now!




The Assembly of European Regions is proud to present our annual Activity Report for 2021 – 2022.
As 2022 was the designated the European Year of Youth by the European Commission, the theme of this year’s report is fittingly titled ‘Regions for the Next Generation‘. In keeping with this theme, Habile Studio‘s cover visual shows the tertiary education rate among young people in Europe; a key marker of economic participation over time.
The 2022 Activity Report was officially released on 30 June at the 2023 General Assembly and Summer Symposium by AER President, Albert Castellanos Maduell, Honorary President, Magnus Berntsson, and Secretary General, Christian Spahr.
So what’s inside this year’s Activity Report?
The period from 2021 to 2022 was a ...
Join our new AER Task Forces!




AER Task Force on Cohesion Policy
The discussion about the future of the EU’s cohesion policy is gaining momentum. In just a few years, the European Commission will unveil its proposals for the next EU programming period. Key institutional actors and stakeholders are already thinking about how cohesion policy has worked in the past and present, and they’re exploring ways to make it better after 2027.
This debate is a central one for regional authorities and a major opportunity for them to have a say in how cohesion policy is designed and implemented in the future. Therefore, it’s crucial for regions to engage in these discussions and push for a renewed policy that effectively addresses key challenges and opportunities, enabling them to ...
[PARTNER SEARCH] – Regional Innovation Valleys (RIVs)
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Are You The Next Innlandet Partner?
The Innlandet Region, home to several champions within the bio-economy sector and Norway’s cleanest industry, is looking to partner up with regions to create a strong innovation ecosystem across Europe in the field of bio-based circular economy, i.e. mainland industry driven by circular and sustainable solutions and the creation of green circular hubs.
What Drives Innovation In Your Region?
To address the issue of fragmentation in Europe’s Innovation and Excellence, the European Commission launched the Regional Innovation Valleys to bring together less and more innovative regions with a view to addressing the most burning challenges facing the EU, namely reducing the reliance on fossil fuels, increasing global food security, mastering the digital transformation (including cybersecurity), improving healthcare and achieving ...
NEW PUBLICATION! Building Intercultural Competences: A handbook for Regions and Stakeholders
Co-financed by the EU Asylum, Migration, and Integration Fund (AMIF), the EU-Belong project wants to improve the socio-economic inclusion and migrants’ sense of belonging through innovative regional integration strategies. By utilising both intercultural and multi-stakeholder approaches, this groundbreaking initiative aims to set a new standard for inclusion.
The first step to achieve the project goals requires a significant investment in education and awareness programs, able to demonstrate the benefits of interculturality among multiple sectors, advancing the Skills for the Future. This Handbook wants to facilitate this learning process, by collecting practical guidelines to organise and run capacity-building activities, based on the experiences of EU-Belong partners.
Publication
The process
Intercultural competences, as defined by the Council of Europe, encompass the ability to mobilise and implement ...
Empowering Youth Through Cohesion – Dive into YOUTHopia Virtual Exhibition




The Future Fairs, the flagship events of YOUTHopia campaign, bring together young individuals in each of the five regions partners of the DG-Regio funded project, bearing the same name.
These fairs serve as platforms for beneficiaries of Cohesion Policy to share their stories, inspire the next generation, and foster personal and professional networks. By organizing the fairs in conjunction with popular local events, the campaign maximizes impact and enlarge its network of supporters.
Through engaging discussions, networking opportunities with local stakeholders and encounters with representatives from the regions, attendees discover new opportunities available to them thanks to Cohesion Policy and other EU-funded programmes, gain inspiration, and build connections.
The Future Fairs empower young citizens to shape their destinies, fostering personal and ...
Open Call for Young Participants -Be part of the YOUTHopia Workshop: Unboxing EU Cohesion Policy




27 July – 3 August – 10 August (3-5 pm CET)
Hear hear young people! If you are either from a youth organisation, a young regional representative from our Youth Regional Network (YRN), or just a young enthusiast curious about EU and regional policy and politics, then mark your calendar!
AER’s YOUTHopia project is on a mission to uncover all you need to know about the biggest EU investment plan that covers one-third of the total EU Budget: the Cohesion Policy. They are all sealed in a mystery box prepared to be unboxed!
Unlike the infamous Pandora Box, once you discover its content you will get all the knowledge you need to empower yourselves, transform your region and city.
Don’t let the Cohesion ...
PEACE TWENTY-FIVE: The role of “everyday peacemakers” in nurturing peace and reconciliation in Ireland and across Europe




On the 7th of June, the International Fund for Ireland (IFI) and the Irish College of Leuven organised a study trip in Messines, Flanders, to commemorate the fallen Irish soldiers in the Flanders fields, during World War I.
The following day opening the Conference, AER’s Vice-President for Interregional and Global Cooperation Jean-Luc Vanraes, originally from Ypres, Flanders, joined IFI Chair Paddy Harte to reflect on the collective trauma of war in Europe and the creation of the European Economic Community thereafter.
The catastrophic legacy of war in Europe was a catalyst for a European idea of democracy and the Peace Process in Ireland; where human rights and dignity, social justice, the rule of law and active citizenship at all levels of ...
AER Youth Regional Network present at the European Youth Event 2023 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg




Maylinda Bajrami, Chair of the Thematic Committee on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment of AER’s Youth Regional Network (YRN), shares her experience participating in the European Youth Event 2023. Since 2014, the European Parliament has organised this international event to bring young Europeans closer to each other and to gain insights into young people’s ideas, expectations, and concerns about Europe.
Thousands of people attend this event every year to interact, inspire one another, and exchange their views. Our YRN representative had the opportunity to network with many young people from different organisations, as well as share information about the progress of the YRN.
She handed out flyers advertising the upcoming YOUTHopia opportunities to many interested young people. In particular, she informed young participants ...
AER is hiring a Financial and Administrative Manager! (deadline EXTENDED: 30 July 2023)




Do you have a strong background in financial management? Do you enjoy providing high-quality administrative support to a team? And do you have work experience e.g., in an association, with EU-funded projects, in a small company or an international environment? If this sounds like you, you might be our new Financial and Administrative Manager (full-time, 39 hours/week).
Our new colleague will handle financial administration in our association and a part of the AER’s project finances. To be successful in this role, you should have previous experience with bookkeeping and a flair for spotting numerical mistakes. Ultimately, you will be responsible for the financial reporting and administrative tasks. The AER has its main offices in Strasbourg and Brussels.
You will be based in ...
YRN Presidium member Sigrun Myrvang participated in JEF Europe’s REVIVE training in Lublin, Poland



Participants in JEF Europe’s REVIVE training in Lublin, Poland, 26 May – 1 June 2023.
Sigrun Myrvang, Chair of the Thematic Committee on Youth Participation and Governance of AER’s Youth Regional Network, shares her experience participating in a capacity-building training in the framework of JEF Europe’s REVIVE project. JEF Europe has been a project partner of the AER for several years, and the training took place in Lublin, Poland, this year’s European Youth Capital.
Creative, rich and intensive days in Lublin as a participant in JEF Europe’s REVIVE project – Revitalizing Voices of Youth in Europe! A week with workshops revolving youth civic spaces, youth participation,activism and mental health, exploration of Lublin, being the “European Youth Capital 2023“,sightseeing and cultural experiences.
The ...
#HotlineCohesion – Girls Go Circular: how the EU Turns Pink & Digital




Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
https://youtu.be/mPu8IOOgrtE
Digital and Entrepreneurial Skills for the Circular Economy
2023 kicked off with the European Union’s commitment to address skills gaps in the European countries and boost the EU strategy to help re-skill workers and young professionals.
Within the framework and action plans of the 2023 European Year of Skills, the European Union is giving special attention to boost digital learning while closing the digital gender gap. According to the European Commission’s Women in Digital Scoreboard 2021, only 33% of STEM graduates and 19% of ICT specialists are women, highlighting a significant gender gap in specialist digital skills.
Addressing the digital gender gap implements the European ...
Bureau Debate – Next Generation Skills: Regions shaping the Future of Work



Barcelona, Catalonia – 29 June 2023 10.00 – 12.00
The Fourth Industrial Revolution along with the digital transformation driven by the COVID-19 pandemic, the demographic change and the digital and green transition, are profoundly changing the nature of work, leading to new ways of working and creating new jobs.
Maximising the opportunities these trends offer will be paramount to boost economic growth, employment and productivity, encourage economic, social and territorial cohesion and improve quality of life across Europe.
This debate, organised in the framework of the European Year of Skills by the AER Task Force on the Future of Work, chaired by AER by Vice-President Lilijana Madjar (Zahodna Slovenija (SI), and hosted by the Government of Catalonia, will bring together representatives of local and ...
CLOSED [Call for facilitators] YOUTHopia Workshop Series: Unboxing EU Cohesion Policy
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Are you a youth facilitator/trainer with experience in either EU legislation processes, Europe’s story-telling or youth advocacy and political participation?
The Assembly of European Regions and the project YOUTHopia are looking for three motivated youth facilitators to plan and conduct three online sessions to inform and engage young people about EU Cohesion Policy, from its legislation, passing through the different programmes and opportunities that are being funded in Europe, to its communication.
These are the indicative dates for the sessions (dates can be changed):
Session #1: 27th July
Session #2: 3rd August
Session #3: 10th August (15:00 – 17:00 CEST)
Does this sound interesting to you? Read our terms of reference and apply by contacting [email protected] and [email protected].
Click here to download the Terms of Reference
EU-Funded Projects: Find Your Perfect Match!




You’d like to develop a project with other regions around the bioeconomy but don’t know where to start? We have you covered: the AER Secretariat gathered close to 100 opportunities for you and is willing to help you, be it for the development of a project, helping you find reliable partners, or to organise information sessions on specific tools or calls!
Interregional collaboration made easy
The AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy was created to facilitate the sharing of knowledge, experience and best practices between regions in wider Europe.
Members of the working group expressed interest in collaborating via EU-funded projects. In order to encourage and support such collaboration, the working group suggested the organisation of a matchmaking activity between regions working ...
#HotlineCohesion – YOUTH4ORS: Empowering Youth in Remote Outermost Regions




Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=prRKYMnRdZo
How far does Europe go?
The Outermost Regions (OMR) may be geographically distant from mainland Europe, but they are no less a part of the European Union. With a population of 4.8 million citizens, these territories include islands, archipelagos, and one land territory (French Guiana), each with unique potential and distinctive assets that can benefit the EU as a whole. Despite the thousands of kilometres separating them from the European continent, these regions are an integral part of the EU.
To address this issue, the EU has launched the “Empowering Youth in the Outermost Regions” initiative, which aims to empower young people in these ...
#NEWWEBSITE – Youth and Five AER Regions at the Heart of the YOUTHopia Campaign




Check out the newly launched page of the YOUTHopia Project, a pan-European campaign aimed at promoting the benefits of Cohesion Policy across Europe.
The project.
YOUTHopia is an Action initiated by two partners (AER and Babel International) with the same ambition to help reconnect the EU with its local citizens, and in particular the youth, by putting them at the centre of the new European political priorities.
This effort translates into a major communication campaign, from Europe’s western-most (County Donegal, Ireland) to its south-easternmost (Cyprus) point, passing through Košice, Slovakia and East/West Slovenia, and echoing throughout all Europe, to make young people aware of the tangible benefits and concrete opportunities made available by Cohesion policy, with the ultimate goal of empowering them ...
A Whole-of-Society Approach to Inclusion




The Includ-EU Workshop “Whole-of-Society Approach: Cross-sectoral and Multistakeholder collaboration for inclusion” in Cluj-Napoca gathered around 70 representatives from the Netherlands, France, Spain, Belgium, Ireland, Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Romania to explore shared challenges, enabling factors for change, and the transferability of experiences. It was also an opportunity for the AER to reconnect with its Romanian members and hear about current stakes.
Includ-EU: learn, build, share… repeat
Includ-EU is an EU-funded project which facilitates capacity building and mutual learning. It also supports the implementation of actions that impact local and regional stakeholders directly, such as:
psycho-social mentoring between young girls migrating alone and female university students in Catalonia
innovative social housing solutions in Tuscany
the implementation of inclusive health services in Crete
digital skills, practical knowledge and language ...
#HotlineCohesion – Coal:Not Cool! But We Need A Just Transition (Fund).




Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
https://youtu.be/7EhT0mhSlSU
The Just Transition Fund (JTF) is a unique fund within the EU’s cohesion policy that provides targeted support, both geographically and thematically, to regions that are most affected by the green transition. Compared to other more general cohesion policy funds then, the JTF offers more specialized assistance to specific regions in need. Romania, Poland, and Germany are the top three member states that will benefit from this funding.
For example, Romania’s Territorial Just Transition Plans have been approved, covering six counties, and will receive EUR 2.14 billion for reskilling and economic diversification measures. In Slovakia, the approved plans come from the regions of ...
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS – AER Presidency, Executive Board, Monitoring and Evaluation Group, Election Committee




The General Assembly is the highest authority of AER and convenes representatives of all its full members. The General Assembly charges the Executive Board to implement its decisions. All procedures on elections are overseen by the Election Committee.
At the AER General Assembly 2023 on 30 June in Barcelona, the following positions are up for elections:
The President
The Vice President – Treasurer
7-12 Vice Presidents, with thematic portfolios defined by the Executive Board following the General Assembly (currently, the AER has 10 Vice Presidents next to the Treasurer)
1 Member of the Monitoring and Evaluation Group (vacancy)
3-5 Members of the AER Election Committee
HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR APPLICATION?
Nominations for each position can be submitted by full members of the AER. The deadline for nominations is 2 June ...
We’re looking for a coach for a one-off online group coaching session in June 2023!




In the context of the Includ-EU project, the Assembly of European Regions is planning an online one-off group coaching session in June 2023 to help partners of the consortium build in the sustainability of what the project generated. For this one-off online group coaching session, we are looking for a co-coach to partner with our internal coach.
The project
Includ-EU aims to build a more inclusive and cohesive Europe via transnational knowledge and experience sharing. The project facilitates cooperation and partnerships between local and regional authorities from Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia and Spain. Launched at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the project facilitated peer learning via a series of webinars and workshops, training sessions, and supported the implementation of ...
#HotlineCohesion – Harnessing Talents in Europe’s regions




Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
https://youtube.com/shorts/7S1JkLuh_go?feature=share
Escape the Talent Development trap in Europe’s regions
The EU is witnessing an alarming demographic transition that is threatening young talents’ employability across several European regions.
Lack of job opportunities and digital skills are obstacles to talent development and digital transition. More and more young people leave their home countries to find more favourable working conditions abroad and gain the skills they need to succeed in their professional career.
Skilled workers in their home regions contribute to sustainable growth, economic development, businesses competitiveness and enjoy better job opportunities.
Under the framework of EU funding instruments, Cohesion Policy funds play a crucial role in steering skills development, ...
[Partner Search] Catalonia is looking to join Interreg Europe Projects on Green Hydrogen!
![[Partner Search] Catalonia is looking to join Interreg Europe Projects on Green Hydrogen!](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Launch-of-AER-Working-Group-on-Green-Hydrogen-2-150x150.jpg)
![[Partner Search] Catalonia is looking to join Interreg Europe Projects on Green Hydrogen!](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Launch-of-AER-Working-Group-on-Green-Hydrogen-2-150x150.jpg)
![[Partner Search] Catalonia is looking to join Interreg Europe Projects on Green Hydrogen!](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Launch-of-AER-Working-Group-on-Green-Hydrogen-2-150x150.jpg)
![[Partner Search] Catalonia is looking to join Interreg Europe Projects on Green Hydrogen!](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Launch-of-AER-Working-Group-on-Green-Hydrogen-2-150x150.jpg)
Is any organisation in your region looking for project partners in the field of green hydrogen?
The Region of Catalonia (Generalitat de Catalunya) is looking to join a consortium within Interreg Europe with a project on Green Hydrogen. In particular, the region is interested in launching pilot projects or sharing best practices on decarbonisation of industry and governance of hydrogen valleys.
What they are looking for
The Region of Catalonia, leader in the green transition and emission reduction in Southern Europe, is looking for reliable partners and relevant project ideas to join an Interreg Europe project on 3 topics:
Decarbonising intensive energy consumer industry, such as ceramics, glass, concrete of steel.
Use of hydrogen by industrial SMEs in production processes, using fuel cells or burners ...
AER is hiring an Advocacy and Institutional Relations Manager! (APPLICATIONS CLOSED)




Role Description
Reporting directly to the Secretary General and under the guidance of the Institutional Relations & Advocacy Coordinator, the Institutional Relations & Advocacy Manager will play a central role in implementing the AER’s advocacy strategy, in collaboration with the AER’s members. The holder of this position will develop and maintain strong relationships with institutional stakeholders in order to maximise influence and deliver strategic objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Implement AER’s advocacy strategy in order to promote regional interests and influence European and international institutions;
● Coordinate and facilitate the work of Bureau Task Forces;
● Support AER’s involvement in European and global policy debates and processes and influence policy makers on key areas for local and regional authorities;
● Promote AER’s advocacy messages across coalitions and networks ...
#HotlineCohesion – Youth4RevivingTerritories: the EU needs you(th)!




Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
https://youtu.be/NME-q9m827I
Should I stay or should I go? Tell the EU!
Leaving home is always a tough decision. If you are younger than 29, and you are considering leaving your home region, the EU wants to hear what it is pushing or holding this decision with Youth4RevivingTerritories.
With Youth4RevivingTerritories, a 5-minute survey, you can express your point of view about the advantages and disadvantages linked to staying and working in your home region. Your answers will contribute to developing a toolkit with policy recommendations to reverse the trend of shrinking the youth population in EU regions.
FILL IN THE SURVEY!
Why Youth4RevivingTerritories is important?
According to the ...
#HotlineCohesion – “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs: Retaining Talents and Igniting Innovation in Europe”




Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
https://youtube.com/shorts/I8fMe6ZJidU?feature=share
FACILITATING GREAT IDEAS.
The European exchange programme for Entrepreneurs, aka “Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs,” plays a crucial role in retaining talented individuals within European regions. By offering a unique opportunity for aspiring entrepreneurs to develop their skills and knowledge through collaboration with experienced entrepreneurs, the programme provides an attractive alternative to emigrating in search of better opportunities. In this way, the programme supports the development of a strong and dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystem within Europe, which in turn helps to promote economic growth, create jobs, and stimulate innovation.
“Erasmus for Young Entrepreneurs” offers an invaluable opportunity for aspiring European entrepreneurs to acquire the skills and ...
AER Working Group on Green Hydrogen launches




The working group is a space for targeted experience sharing, finding resources, and strategic intelligence, as well as developing initiatives and projects on green hydrogen
EU-Belong: Diversity for Better Inclusion is a Shared Responsibility




On Tuesday 28th March, the EU Committee of the Regions was the setting for an exchange among public authorities and other stakeholders on the topic of migrants’ inclusion. In particular, the development of multi-level strategies promoting diversity as the backbone of thriving societies was showcased. The intercultural approach and its development within the EU-Belong project offer good practices to be replicated across European regions.
An opportunity for cooperation among public authorities and stakeholders
Last Tuesday, the AER and the EU Committee of the Regions co-hosted the conference ‘Empowering regions and cities in migrant integration governance’. The event gathered stakeholders from several regions and backgrounds, from research institutions to regional authorities, from EU decision-makers to civil society organisations.
In the morning, two debates provided ...
#HotlineCohesion – European Solidarity Corps: the difference that matters.




https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_YFa8kxKZ4&list=PLPd5ls7GTAxj1uJRhtdGUMOw3rmYltHz7&index=1
Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
Opportunities for youth employment and green transition offered by Cohesion Policy require appropriate visibility, especially amongst the youth. Widespread information makes sure that opportunities reach their target, and that the future is shaped to the needs of those who will live in it.
Every week the AER will publish its series #HOTLINECOHESION with information concerning new funding opportunities and participatory processes open to youth in your regions!
A Union of Solidarity
The European Solidarity Corps for Youth (ESC4) aggregates solidarity from all Europe, bringing it where it matters the most. From social inclusion to environmental protection to humanitarian aid, the European Solidarity Corps creates a Union of ...
#HotlineCohesion – Get back on track with ALMA!




Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
Opportunities for youth employment and green transition offered by Cohesion Policy require appropriate visibility, especially amongst the youth. Widespread information makes sure that opportunities reach their target, and that the future is shaped to the needs of those who will live in it.
Every week the AER will publish its series #HOTLINE COHESION with information concerning new funding opportunities and participatory processes open to youth in your regions!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yan_B-O1rO8
With ALMA, no young person is left behind
Social inequalities and unemployment stop young people from achieving good standard of living and healthy lifestyle. After the pandemic excluded them from the labour market, the cost of living crisis worsened ...
AER’s Youth Regional Network is back! Highlights from the YRN General Assembly 2023




It’s official: AER’s Youth Regional Network is back! After a couple of years of YRN inactivity, the Assembly of European Regions started a revival process after the Summer Academy 2022, building from the feedback and willingness to be involved from the event’s youth delegates, and from our members’ eagerness to see the YRN coming back.
A successful YRN General Assembly
After a few months of preparations, statutory work, communication and outreach to young people in our member regions (and beyond!) and in youth organisations, we could convene the YRN General Assembly on the 10th of March 2023.
The event gathered around 50 participants, in person in AER’s Brussels office, and online. Most participants were young people joining the new YRN, and we also ...
#HotlineCohesion: EUTeens4Green – Youth Ways for a Just Transition




Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
https://youtube.com/shorts/99RkaZWxKvs?feature=share
HOW TO MITIGATE THE SOCIAL IMPACT OF THE TRANSITION
It is no secret that the very needed green transition will lead to profound changes in the labour market – ‘new jobs will be created, while some jobs will be replaced and other refined’. Ensuring a fair and just transition becomes therefore a crucial point of action for regions and its youth.
In the Zasavska region in Western Slovenia for instance, since 2013 almost 5.000 jobs have been lost and the GDP has been dropping to 53% of the Slovenian average due to the closure of the Zasavaje coal mine and the region’s coal-fuelled power ...
‘Elevating Citizens’ Voices’ – AER-ENoP Publication on Participatory Democracy at National, Regional and Local Levels



#Democracy is solid because it is not static: it constantly develops new forms of #citizenengagement. The AER is proud of the joint publication with ENoP- European Network of Political Foundations, which illustrates new forms of participatory democracy. It was presented last Thursday, 9.03.2023, at the European Parliament with opening remarks from AER Vice-President and MEP Lukas Mandl, the publication’s author, Maja Cimerman and editors Christian Spahr and Denis Schrey.
AER is proud of the joint publication with ENoP- European Network of Political Foundations, which illustrates new forms of #participatorydemocracy, and it was presented last Thursday at the European Parliament with VP Lukas Mandl.
The publication offers a close look at the opportunities and benefits of deliberative democracy in Europe and beyond. It ...
#HotlineCohesion: The IVY League of Volunteering




Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/uNh8ihnqSxY
The IVY League of Volunteering
Borders are theoretical, cooperation is practical. This is the spirit of The Interreg Volunteer Youth (IVY), an initiative funded by Cohesion Policy that connects the values of European cooperation and the matters of local and regional communities.
Since 2017, IVY fosters a community of young volunteers and host organisations committed to implementing European projects across Europe. Funded through the EU Interreg programme, IVY has the dual goal to support cooperation thanks to the involvement of motivated young people and empower them professionally, while making the benefits of cooperation more visible among local communities and beyond.
IF YOU WANT TO BECOME A ...
10 years of Eurodyssey- Discover the stories of Cinta, trainee in 2022, and her tutor Gaëlle, trainee in 2012



The Eurodyssey programme has benefited many young people since 1985, not only by providing quality traineeship opportunities, but also by creating a supportive environment and fostering sense of belonging, where young people are empowered and supported.
Our two interviewees, Gaëlle and Cinta, represent Eurodyssey’s past and present, and their testimonies are interlinked: Gaëlle was a Eurodyssey trainee in the Valencian Community back in 2012, and is now Cinta’s tutor, working together for the Surfrider Foundation in Brussels.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kRdnJLvgFQ4
Full interview with Cinta & Gaëlle
What is the Surfrider Foundation?
The Surfrider Foundation is an environmental organisation that has been fighting to protect the world’s oceans for more than 30 years. It is a grassroots community that brings together people from very different backgrounds, including volunteers ...
#HotlineCohesion: Call from Interreg Europe – Sharing Solutions for Better Regional Policies




Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
Are you looking to team up with similar regions across Europe as a way to boost the development of your own region? The next Interreg Europe call, open from 15 March to 9 June 2023, could be the answer you are looking for!
Cooperation Strengthens Cohesion
The Interreg Europe programme, financed by the Cohesion policy’s European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), is designed to support interregional learning among regions across Europe.
The aim of this programme is to facilitate knowledge-sharing between public authorities and learn from positive existing practices of other regions. By joining a project, for four years regions learn from each other and work ...
AER Focus Group on Ukraine – tell us how your region can support!




AER’s peer-to-peer Focus Group coordinates support for Ukraine
On the one year anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against of Ukraine, the Assembly of European Regions created a new platform bringing regions across Europe together to coordinate support of our fifteen members Ukrainian in Ukraine.
On 7 February 2023, the AER’s Executive Board adopted a proposal to create a dedicated Ukraine Focus Group, for tailored, region-to-region cooperation to support Ukraine in the short and and longer-term.
AER Secretary General, Christian Spahr, welcomed the adoption of the proposal as a focal point for support initiatives within AER, saying “Multi-stakeholder platforms of regions, institutions and NGOs are an effective instrument of support and capacity-building. Through this Focus Group, the AER, our regions and partners ...
#HotlineCohesion: Youth4Regions, the programme for young journalists – Make Europe, do journalism.




Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
The many opportunities for youth employment and green transition offered by Cohesion Policy require appropriate visibility, especially amongst the youth. Widespread information makes sure that opportunities reach their target, and that the future is shaped to the needs of those who will live in it.
Every week the AER will publish its series #HOTLINE COHESION with information concerning new funding opportunities and participatory processes open to youth in your regions!
https://youtube.com/shorts/bpo5HSaqg_Q
Write about Europe to make it real
EU Cohesion Policy is abstract until citizens understand it. One of the ways to make it real is to write about it. Youth4Regions is the programme by ...
#HotlineCohesion: Cohesion Policy for a Young and Green Future




Local, but European. Practical, but inspiring. #HotlineCohesion brings you the most interesting youth opportunities linked to EU Cohesion Policy.
The many opportunities for youth employment and green transition offered by Cohesion Policy require appropriate visibility, especially amongst the youth. Widespread information makes sure that opportunities reach their target, and that the future is shaped to the needs of those who will live in it.
Every week the AER will publish its series #HOTLINE COHESION with information concerning new funding opportunities and participatory processes open to youth in your regions!
https://www.youtube.com/shorts/Q3WyYo0kYoQ
Youth unemployment is a longstanding challenge for Europe
High youth unemployment in Europe has been a persistent issue for the last decades. Post-pandemic figures show that, as of October 2021, 2.905 million youth (under ...
“Get out of your comfort zone and join Eurodyssey”- How Eurodyssey traineeships benefit young people, hosting organisations and regions



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wdjh9QjM-w
AER’s youth mobility exchange programme, Eurodyssey, involves around 300 young trainees per year. It gives young people the opportunity to undertake an internship of three to seven months in another European member region.
The benefits of enrolling in Eurodyssey are concrete and visible. The testimonials of former trainees and regional correspondents prove that Eurodyssey provides relevant professional opportunities to young people at the beginning of their professional career.
Eurodyssey helps young professionals explore their professional vocation
On average, 300 young people complete a Eurodyssey traineeship every year in one of the 19 participating regions in Europe. The programme contributes to training and upskilling young trainees, and it supports them in entering the labour market. For some beneficiaries, Eurodyssey represents their first professional or ...
Wrap-up: Highlights of the AER Autumn Bureau 2022




On 6 and 7 December 2022, AER convened its Autumn Bureau at the Abruzzo EU Regional Office in partnership with the Autonomous Government of Sardinia. It was an opportunity to highlight the 2022 achievements and discuss AER political priorities for 2023.
On 6 December, the AER Autumn Bureau opened with a welcome reception celebrating the tradition and heritage of Abruzzo and Sardinia, the Italian regions co-hosting the Bureau. Participants could taste Sardinian wines and food while enjoying a permanent art exhibition of artists from Abruzzo.
Later in the evening, regional heritage had an actual voice with the live classical music performance of Italian artists who sang about local legends of Abruzzo and Sardinia and recited poems in regional dialects. The artists were ...
NEW AER Taskforces 2023-2025 set for launch




During the 2022 Autumn Bureau Meeting, the AER members decided to establish two new Taskforces which will address the political priorities of the Bureau for the period of 2023-2025.
Taskforce on Active Citizenship
Why?
The year 2022 has been key in setting a precedent for strengthening our democracies by enabling new participatory processes and putting citizens’ interests at the centre of decisions. Capitalising on the work of the Taskforce on Democracy, and with the end of the Conference on the Future of Europe, the AER recognises the need for continuing the path towards activating citizens’ participation through deliberative democracy mechanisms in place.
The Conference on the Future of Europe has offered the opportunity to enhance deliberative democracy at the European level by bringing the ...
[CLOSED] CALL for Web Developer and Designer for EU-Belong Project
![[CLOSED] CALL for Web Developer and Designer for EU-Belong Project](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Screenshot-2022-12-02-at-16.53.35-150x150.png)
![[CLOSED] CALL for Web Developer and Designer for EU-Belong Project](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Screenshot-2022-12-02-at-16.53.35-150x150.png)
![[CLOSED] CALL for Web Developer and Designer for EU-Belong Project](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Screenshot-2022-12-02-at-16.53.35-150x150.png)
![[CLOSED] CALL for Web Developer and Designer for EU-Belong Project](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/Screenshot-2022-12-02-at-16.53.35-150x150.png)
The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is looking to engage a web developer experienced in graphic development to build a website section in the current AER website that should serve as an online repository for all project’s resources and tools.
Check out the Terms of Reference below and apply with your ideas before the 4th of January!
Interested parties are required to submit the application as requested in the Terms of Reference to [email protected] and [email protected] on or before the 4th of January 2023 with the subject line “EU-Belong: online repository”.
Background
EU-Belong is a 3-year project run by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and 13 partners and co-funded by the AMIF Programme (AMIF-2020-AG-CALL) of the European Union. The general objective of ...
YOUTHopia is Real: Discover how a pan-European communication campaign is built




YOUTHopia is a pan-European communication campaign that will engage five EU regions in bringing Cohesion Policy closer to their young citizens.
AER Secretary General Christian Spahr and YOUTHopia regions officially inaugurating YOUTHopia!
Cohesion Policy is a matter for and of citizens. Co-funded by DG REGIO, the YOUTHopia project aims to make sure that young people across Europe become aware of it and seize the opportunities it offers.
As pan-European communication campaign, YOUTHopia has the goal of raising awareness of Cohesion Policy while empowering beneficiaries to communicate about its benefits. At the same time, YOUTHopia aims to encourage open dialogue between young people, stakeholders and policy-makers about the future of Cohesion Policy, a discussion that aims to put youth at the forefront of ...
[CLOSED] AER is hiring a Project and Communication Manager
![[CLOSED] AER is hiring a Project and Communication Manager](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/migration-g9353907c0_1920.jpg)
![[CLOSED] AER is hiring a Project and Communication Manager](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/migration-g9353907c0_1920.jpg)
![[CLOSED] AER is hiring a Project and Communication Manager](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/migration-g9353907c0_1920.jpg)
Are you our next colleague?
We are looking for a colleague to support our Project team in the implementation of EU-funded projects, and the delivery of project activities, related in particular to communication and advocacy.You must have the right to live and work in Belgium. This position is to be based in Brussels.
Our new colleague should have:
University degree (MA or higher; or BA with additional academic qualification) in relevant subjects (e.g. Political Science, European Studies, International Relations, Cultural Studies, Communications, Management or similar);
Proven experience in EU project management;
a minimum of two years, full-time professional experience in project work, combined with advocacy and/or communication tasks. Additional relevant experience in the field of migrants integration and/or social inclusion will be an asset;
Excellent English. Editorial/copy editing experience in English, as ...
SMEs and regions meet at the 5th Regional Business Forum



The 5th edition of the Regional Business Forum (RBF) started on the 15th of November in Novi Sad, in the Serbian AER member region of Vojvodina. A networking opportunity for regional businesses co-organized by AER and the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, RBF brings together more than 200 participants from 20 countries.
The opening ceremony was an opportunity to highlight different components of successful regional cooperation. Opening speeches were held remotely by Olivér Várhelyi, EU Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement, AER President Magnus Berntsson, and on-site by Bosko Vucurevic, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Vojvodina, and Damir Zobenica, Vice-President of the Assembly of the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina and AER Vice-President for Regional Development & Investment.
“Building physical connections ...
Bio-based Innovation to Decarbonise the Construction Sector




On 6 December, the day before the AER Bureau, the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy is organising a workshop on “The Bioeconomy & the New European Bauhaus“, which will look at bio-based innovation in the construction sector.
Bio-based innovation: a catalyst for change
The bio-based sector or bioeconomy, is a catalyst for systemic change. Indeed it opens new ways of producing and consuming resources while respecting our planetary boundaries. It contributes therefore directly to achieving the economic, social and environmental goals of the European Union’s Green Deal.
Massive impact in the construction sector
The construction sector has a considerable environmental impact, during the whole life cycle of buildings (construction, use, demolition) as well as the life cycle of construction materials.
In this context, bio-sourced ...
AER at the European Week of Regions and Cities: “Youth is not our future. It is our present.”




Picture: AER Summer Academy 2022 – Panel discussion – Youth and regional Government: young people (re)shaping their regions – 30/08/2022, Letterkenny, Donegal, Ireland.
In early October, the Assembly of European Regions participated in the 2022 edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities. The European Year of Youth inspired numerous workshops on the links between Cohesion Policy and youth policy, and AER seized the opportunity to show its commitment to empower youth.
“Youth is not our future, but our present”
COVID-19 prevented active participation of younger generations in youth policy-making. The European Week of the Regions and Cities highlighted the need of young people for the right platform to make their voice heard, to react and to raise awareness about youth ...
Proposal for a Working Group on Green Hydrogen Adopted




The Executive Board which took place on 13 October 2022 in Brussels (BE) adopted the proposal for the creation of an AER working group on Green Hydrogen.
The proposal for this working group is led by Catalonia (ES). It is supported by Burgenland (AU), Lower Austria (AU), Valle D’Aosta (IT), Flevoland (NL), Maramures (RO), Värmland (SE), Västra-Götaland (SE), Fribourg (CH), and Denizli (TR).
Policy Exchanges to Accelerate the Green Transition
On May 17th, the AER co-organised with Catalonia the event “Green (H)ydrogen: Powering Our Regions’ Future” at the AER premises in Brussels (BE), under the impulse of the Vice President for Sustainability, Environment & Climate, Albert Castellanos.
The event was an opportunity to:
Hear from EU policymakers about opportunities for regions to develop the ...
The 2023 DG Regio Call on Communicating Cohesion Policy is out!




EU Cohesion Policy is THE European Union’s tool to address economic and social inequalities between European regions and cities. It supports projects and initiatives that have a direct impact on people’s daily lives and foster their wellbeing. AER can help you to be part of it.
EU Cohesion Policy is in the DNA of AER. Through DG REGIO funding opportunities, we have been working on projects that communicated and raised awareness of Cohesion Policy, such as Together for Cohesion or YOUTHopia, our new project.
Have you read the news?
If you are also working on this topic and looking for funding opportunities, we invite you to check out the latest call from DG REGIO. Also, if you need help building a project ...
AER’s Youth Regional Network (YRN) is back!




Spread the word among your youth regional councils: the Assembly of European Regions is reviving its Youth Regional Network (YRN)!
Are you interested in joining the new YRN and taking part in its rebuilding process?
In addition, are you interested in attending the YRN General Assembly (10 March 2023) and/or in applying to a position on the YRN Presidium?
Then click on the buttons below to fill in the two dedicated forms:
Join the new YRN!
APPLY TO JOIN THE YRN GENERAL ASSEMBLY // YRN PRESIDIUM
*Only eligible young people who register through these forms will be contacted to take part in the new YRN.
About AER Youth Regional Network
Created by the Assembly of European Regions in 2008, the Youth Regional Network (YRN) is a cross-regional ...
Wrap-Up: highlights from AER General Assembly 2022




The 2022 General Assembly took place on 14 October at the Lower Austria representation in Brussels and online.
The General Assembly was chaired by AER President, Magnus Berntsson and AER Vice President Jean-Luc Vanraes, supported by AER Secretary General Christian Spahr. Jenny Evjen, acting President of the AER Summer Academy, joined on-site.
From new memberships in Ukraine, to the return of the Summer Academy and the ratification of new members of the AER’s political Bureau, the General Assembly welcomed more than 100 members in Brussels and online to set out how our network continues to make a positive impact on the ground in our regions across Europe.
Eight Ukrainian regions join AER
This was the first General Assembly since the Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. ...
Interculturalism for Intercultural Regions to be!




Are you interested in knowing more about how a region can become intercultural and inclusive, yet you missed our first online capacity-building session on interculturalism for regions and local stakeholders?
Also, are you keen to know more about who is the EU-BELONG team and how you can work together with us in the coming years?
Dive into this quick article and rewatch the recording of the training below!
A Warm Welcome in the EU-BELONG Team to the Local Stakeholders
Last Thursday, the AER and all EU-BELONG partners were glad to meet and welcome an enlarged EU-BELONG team. Over a hundred regional representatives and local stakeholders working on the implementation of EU-BELONG gathered to attend the first online capacity-building session on interculturalism. ...
AER Position on Youth – Call for Amendments




AER is inviting members to offer their amendment proposals to the Draft Position on Youth. This includes the regional youth councils in our member regions: the AER is very much attached to including youth voices in the process, make sure to spread the word among youth councils and youth organisations in your regions!
The closing date for submitting amendments is the 14th of November 2022. Amendment proposals can be submitted using the online form below:
Submit amendments HERE
About this Amending Process
This consultation aims to invite all AER members to offer their amendment proposals to the Draft Position on Youth.
At the Bureau meeting in December 2021, Bureau Members made Youth a priority topic for its political work in 2022, designated European Year of Youth by the ...
[Partner Search] Erasmus+ VET & Learning Mobility Grants
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Is your region or are organisations in your region looking to upscale exchanges and mobility schemes to foster upskilling, employability prospects and internationalisation?
The Public Service of Employment of Catalonia (SOC) is looking to establish reciprocity-based, long-term cooperation schemes, as well as explore other cooperation agreements, with the aim to send and host students and teachers carrying out a learning mobility experience.
SOC has been accredited by the Spanish Erasmus+ National Agency (SEPIE) as coordinator of an Erasmus+ VET consortium to promote mobility among teachers and students of professional employment courses – targeted at both unemployed and employed citizens.
Under this framework, SOC coordinates the ITER mobility project, a partnership of 28 Catalan VET centres which has been granted over 150 students’ mobility grants in ...
Don’t Miss The Projects Info-Stand On 14 October!




You have a project idea? You are trying to build a consortium? Or you have no clue where to begin with EU projects? Come and see us at the Projects Info-stand on 14 October 2022 during the AER General Assembly in Brussels. More info about the event right here!
Let’s meet on 14 October!
The Project Unit is very much looking forward to meeting you in person on the occasion of our General Assembly taking place in Brussels at the office of the Representation of the Government of Lower Austria to the EU and online on Friday, 14 October. The team will be available before, after and in-between the different sessions to discuss with AER members about the latest EU funding opportunities, ...
Skills for the Bioeconomy @AER Summer Academy in Donegal




The ambition of the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy is to create a community amongst European regions to share challenges, and opportunities, and create the ground for future partnerships and projects.
Youth at the heart of the shift to green gold
On the occasion of the AER Summer Academy in Ireland, the AER working group on the Bioeconomy facilitated a workshop with young people, to challenge the current situation and ask how the bioeconomy can become the green gold for a sustainable future.
Getting the opportunity to increase knowledge and awareness around the challenges in the field of agriculture, especially for youth, was a wonderful and rewarding experience. The discussions and conversations we had during as well as after the workshop ...
Second wave of EU4Health calls 2022




The European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) published three calls for proposals under the EU4Health 2022 Annual Work Programme on:
diabetes and cardiovascular diseases
cancer and non-communicable diseases
cancer training programmes
The actions will support Europe’s Beating Cancer Plan and the EU Cancer Mission
The deadline of these calls is 21 February 2023
More information is available on the call webpage
Background
The European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) implements European programmes and initiatives for health, food safety, digital, industry and space.
It works closely together with five Directorates-General (DG CNECT, DEFIS, GROW, RTD and SANTE which is the lead DG for the HaDEA) and with the Commission’s European Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Authority (HERA), which are focused on legislative and strategic tasks in policy ...
Connecting Europe Facility: New call open




The European Climate, Infrastructure and Environment Executive Agency (CINEA) launched a grant call under the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF) on 13 September 2022. The call for proposals makes EUR 5.12 billion available for projects targeting new upgraded and improved European transport infrastructure.
The deadline for this call is 18 January 2023.
Projects funded under this call will help to increase the sustainability of the transport network, putting the EU on track to meet the European Green Deal objective of cutting transport emissions by 90% by 2050.
Sustainable, smart and resilient infrastructure
The call supports the European Commission’s vision of sustainable, smart and resilient mobility. As the transport sector recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now the time to further develop sustainable transport modes ...
2022 AER General Assembly–online registrations close Monday, 10 October!




The Assembly of European Regions has announced the date and venue for its biggest statutory event, the annual General Assembly. The General Assembly is the highest authority of AER and convenes representatives of all its full members across Europe.
The 2022 General Assembly will take place in Brussels, Belgium and online on 14 October, and AER is proud to announce it will be hosted by the Government of Lower Austria Liason Office. It will also be possible to join via Zoom.
Members joining on-site are also invited to a welcome reception at 18:30 on Thursday, 13 October. All onsite events will take place at the Lower Austria Liason Office, Rue Montoyer 40, B-1000 Brussels.
Register via the EVENT PAGE HERE. The deadline to register for online ...
Eurodyssey Forum 2022: Bouncing back on the European Year of Youth




The Eurodyssey Forum is back! This year’s edition will be a fully in-person event and will take place in Limassol, Cyprus, from the 7th to the 9th of November. The Forum will be hosted by the Union of Cyprus Municipalities and the Department of Labour of the Republic of Cyprus. An opportunity not to be missed!
REGISTER HERE
*Registrations are open until the 30th of September on a “first come first served basis”, with priority being given to the Eurodyssey participating regions. After this date, registrations will be possible only based on the number of spots still available.
What is Eurodyssey?
Eurodyssey is the flagship youth regional mobility programme of the Assembly of European Regions, entirely managed at regional level. Together with our participating ...
Let’s Get DIGITAL!




Mapping direct funding opportunities to advance the digital transition in schools and public administrations in Europe.
In line with one of the European Commission’s main priorities for the decade, namely “A Europe fit for the Digital Age“, the NextGenerationEU and the Digital Education Action Plan (2021-2017), the AER promotes its regions’ digitalisation and exchange of knowledge to allow for more inclusive and accessible digital education and transformation.
The lockdown has exacerbated the need for inclusive and accessible services, connections and learning opportunities, thus highlighting inequalities in different countries and in regard to vulnerable groups.
Digital technology, when deployed skilfully, equitably and effectively by educators, can fully support the agenda of high-quality and inclusive education and training for all learners. It can facilitate ...
Interview with Aud Hove, Chair of the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy




How exchanging experiences with other regions leverages knowledge and the ability to create impact: the Chair of the newly created working group on the bioeconomy & skills, Aud Hove, Innlandet (NO), shares about her motivation for setting up a working group within the AER network.
Can you please introduce yourself?
My name is Aud Hove, I serve as the deputy county mayor in Innlandet county, Norway. I come from a small mountainous village and municipality, named Skjåk, but due to my occupation, I currently live in Lillehammer. I have always been interested in bio-based business and nature management.
In Norway we have a saying “from the earth to the table” not different from EU new initiative Farm to Fork, emphasizing that value ...
AER’s Regions stand with Ukraine – European solidarity in action




Last February, Ukraine suffered the full force of Russian aggression. Russia’s military invasion of the country marked the beginning of an escalation of violence that has led to thousands of Ukrainians losing their lives, millions more becoming refugees, and has thrown Europe into a military conflict on a scale not seen in decades.
In the six months since the invasion, European regions have mobilised to provide humanitarian, financial and psychological support to Ukrainians fleeing the conflict, and on the ground in Ukraine itself. On the political level, regional authorities have joined forces to reaffirm the European values of peace, rule of law and defending democracy in Ukraine.
In this article, we share stories of solidarity with Ukraine from our member regions ...
SOLD OUT: 2022 AER Summer Academy, County Donegal, Ireland




Co-hosted by Donegal County Council and Údarás na Gaeltachta at the Atlantic Technological University (ATU) Campus in Letterkenny, and the Gteic Gaoth Dobhair, “The AER Summer Academy—a Europe for the Next Generation” will bring together more than 100 politicians, youth delegates and civil society activists from across Europe for a week of debate on how to shape a more democratic, peaceful and sustainable future through real civic engagement of young people, starting in Europe’s regions.
This edition of the Summer Academy is the first one since the pandemic, and it will be the first time this event comes to Ireland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=csTo8UeYAKA&t=4s
A Special Year for Ireland and Europe
The Summer Academy takes place in a year of important milestones for Ireland’s relationship with its ...
Call for Nominations – AER Bureau Members 2022-2024




What?
Per AER Statute and Procedures, ratification of the members of the Bureau will occur at the General Assembly in Brussels (BE) on 14 October 2022.
We are inviting AER members to nominate four representatives per country represented within the AER (two Bureau members plus two substitutes) by completing the online nomination form available here.
The nominations submitted must reflect the consensus reached by member regions from the same country.
Current list of Bureau Members 2020-2022:
How to submit your nomination?
We are inviting AER members to nominate four representatives per country represented within the AER (two Bureau members plus two substitutes) by completing the online nomination form available below:
Submit your Bureau nominations HERE
All completed nomination forms must be submitted before the 23rd of September 2022.
Useful documents
Call Bureau ...
AER Position on Jobs, Growth & Investment – Call for Amendments




AER is inviting members to offer their amendment proposals to the Draft Position on Jobs, Growth & Investment.
The closing date for submitting amendments is 14 November 2022. Amendment proposals can be submitted using the online form below:
Submit amendments HERE
About this Amending Process
This consultation aims to invite all AER members to offer their amendment proposals to the Draft Position on Jobs, Growth & Investment.
The Task Force on Jobs, Growth & Investment is co-chaired by AER Vice Presidents Alessandra Zedda (Sardinia, IT) and Damir Zobenica (Vojvodina, RS).
This draft position suggests a set of recommendations on how to recover the economy and boost growth, jobs and investments in order to build a competitive, resilient and inclusive Europe, highlighting the vital role of regional governments ...
[CLOSED] We’re hiring a Communications & Events Manager!
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![[CLOSED] We're hiring a Communications & Events Manager!](https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Hiring-2022-CommunicationEvents-Manager-2-150x150.jpg)
We are looking for a colleague to build on a renewed brand identity and to continue innovating our communications, taking AER to the next level.
Are you our next colleague?
We need someone who is creative, results-oriented and driven. In this position, you will be expected to constantly strive to improve AER’s visibility, recognition and image, to use your insights in a proactive manner, delivering results in a smart, politically sensitive way.
Our new colleague should have:
native-level English: editorial/copy editing experience in English will be considered an asset;
a minimum of a Bachelor’s degree in a relevant discipline (communications, journalism, EU public affairs, or similar). Additional relevant qualifications such as, but not limited to PR or journalism training will be an asset;
a minimum of ...
Summer Academy Bureau Debate – Recovering together: youth policy in Europe
REGISTER HERE
PRACTICAL INFORMATION
According to the OECD, the COVID-19 crisis has taken a toll on the education, employment, mental health and disposable income of youth all across Europe, most notably due to public health restrictions. As this report from the European Parliament show, lower and unequal access to education and training, higher unemployment and a reversal of many positive social and economic trends for young people in Europe and beyond.
These new difficulties must be addressed to ensure a brighter future for all. One, in particular, stands out: the rise of mental health afflictions like depression and anxiety among the youth. For instance, almost two-thirds of people (64%) in the age group 18–34 years were at risk of depression in spring 2021. ...
How To Foster An Intercultural Approach To Education & Training- Highlights From Includ-EU Webinar



On 24 May 2022, AER organised, within the framework of the Includ-EU project and in cooperation with IOM (International Organisation for Migration), the 5th and last webinar on the series that looked into the 4 areas tackled by the Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion (2021-2027), namely Education and Training, Employment, Access to Health, and adequate and affordable housing.
It is by no chance that Education and Training are on top of the list, as they are considered as a pre-condition and the key enabler of social inclusion and empowerment encompassing all other areas of Inclusion (together with housing, the most tangible and thus need and also very high on the European agenda).
That is why a firm commitment of IOM, as ...
AER working groups: it’s simple




The long-awaited guide for members willing to set up a new working group is finally there!
Working groups are for all AER members
All AER members can participate in working groups. Any AER member can submit a proposal for setting up a working group on a new topic.
It is possible to contribute to the work by:
Sharing needs and topics your region would be interested to work on
Offering expertise, flagging good practices you would like to share with AER members, proposing speakers
Participating in events organised by the Chairs of the Working Groups
Representing AER at thematic events: all AER members can be AER ambassadors!
To do this, contact AER Coordinator for Policy & Knowledge Transfer Johanna Pacevicius with ideas, proposals, requests.
How to propose a new ...
Bioeconomy & skills: first meeting of working group




On 22 June 2022, the AER working group on the bioeconomy and skills held its first meeting to define priorities and develop activities for the coming months
Getting to know each other
The working group aims to be a space for targetted experience sharing, finding resources and strategic intelligence, as well as developing initiatives and projects. For this to be possible it is essential to get to know each other and hear what makes the topic of the bioeconomy a current one in different regions across Europe.
The meeting therefore started with a presentation of each members and a pitch on the situation in each region.
Defining priority areas for exchanges
Members of the group discussed what they hoped to find in this group, and ...
Inclusion, Creativity & Human Potential




Labour participation is an essential building block for inclusion. It has a direct impact on access to housing, wellbeing and the ability of individuals to contribute.
A Holistic Approach to Labour Market Inclusion
The Includ-EU workshop “Inclusion, Creativity and Human Potential” on 14-15 June 2022 in Venice, highlighted regional policies and practices, that support stakeholders to build on their ideas, motivation, competences and experiences.
Speakers included:
Rossella Celmi, IOM Coordination Office for the Mediterranean, Lead Partner of the Includ-EU project
Gloria Bondi, The Human Safety Net
Angelique Petrits, DG HOME
Rabab Ahmad, IOM’s Regional Office for the EEA, the European Union and NATO
Alan Barbieri, The Human Safety Net
Mónica Oltra Jarque, Vice President of and Minister for Equality and Inclusive Policies of Generalitat Valenciana, Member of Intercultural Regions ...
The AER Summer Academy Is Back!




With the European Year of Youth in full-swing, the AER is delighted to announce that our flagship youth event, the AER Summer Academy is returning in 2022 after a two-year hiatus.
In partnership with Donegal County Council and Údarás na Gaeltachta, this year’s Summer Academy will take place from 29 August until 1 September in the stunning surroundings of County Donegal, in Ireland’s Atlantic North-West.
***NOTE: Members of the Summer Academy Organising Committee should contact Communications & Events Manager, Justin Sammon directly before booking tickets on Eventbrite. All other members and partners can register below.
Why Ireland?
2022 marks fifty years since Irish citizens voted by referendum to join the European Community, precursor the European Union in 1972. 2022 also celebrates the Irish language ...
Inclusive Housing: Why And How?




Access to adequate and affordable housing is a key determinant of successful integration. Housing conditions have a strong impact on employment and education opportunities and on the interactions between migrants and host communities. Poor housing conditions and segregation can exacerbate divisions, which undermine social cohesion. Inclusive housing is therefore essential for thriving neighbourghoods.
The need for cross-sectoral approaches
In the framework of the Includ-EU project AER organised a webinar on cross-sectoral approaches to inclusive housing. The 4th Includ-EU webinar looked at practices that promote the benefits of intercultural identities of neighbourhoods. Encouraging social interactions via holistic housing policies and reinventing public spaces is of utmost importance to foster integration.
Setting the framework
Rossella Celmi, Project Manager at the IOM Coordination Office for the Mediterranean, ...
The Regional Dimension in Albania: Conclusions from our Conference in Tirana on March 28-30




At the Rogner Hotel in Tirana, the AER was joined by the Albanian regional representatives to discuss common challenges the Albanian regions are facing and what the international state of play is for regional cooperation. 3 Days of debates, presentations and exchanges led to some new insights that we are delighted to share with you here.
The challenges for the newly born regions of Albania
On March 28-30, representatives from Berat, Diber, Durres, Elbasan, Gjirokaster, Korca, Kukes, Lezhe, Shkoder, Tirana and Vlore joined the Assembly of European Regions and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung at the Rogner hotel to share their impressions of their young administrations and the challenges they are facing. As the regions in Albania have a relatively young history, ...
The Knowledge Transfer Toolkit is out!




Are you aware of an innovative practice and would like to test in your region or would you like to strengthen cooperation with other peers across Europe and beyond to foster innovation within your regional ecosystem? The AER developed a Knowledge Transfer Toolkit gathering its long-lasting expertise in the field and its recent application in the context of the SCIROCCO Exchange project as to support regional and local authorities and other organisation in the design and implementation of effective knowledge transfer programmes and activities.
A tailor-made knowledge transfer programme
In the context of the SCIROCCO Exchange project on health systems innovation, the AER developed a knowledge transfer programme, which was personalised for nine health and social care authorities with the aim ...
1st AER-ENoP Forum on New Forms of Democratic Engagement




How to actively involve citizens in policy development in order to regain political trust and add legitimacy to political decisions?
The Assembly of European Regions, in cooperation with the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP), is delighted to invite you to the first joint forum on new forms of democratic engagement, taking place in Comet Meeting-Louise and online on 1 June 09:30 to 2 June 16:45.
During this occasion, key representatives from all levels of governance –European, national, regional, and local–will gather together to discuss the tools and mechanisms in place to enhance deliberative democracy and the opportunities and challenges of direct involvement of citizens in decision-making processes. Moreover, the conclusions of these discussions will aim at fostering and supporting the design of deliberative ...
Journey towards the Future of Europe – AER takes part in the Conference on the Future of Europe




Today on Europe Day, the Conference on the Future of Europe ends.
This Conference was a citizen-led series of debates and discussions to enable people from across Europe to share their ideas and help shape our common future. The Conference, as a major pan-European democratic exercise, was the first of its kind and gave European citizens the great opportunity to debate Europe’s challenges and priorities for the years to come. In other words: how to make the Union fit for the 21st century’s next challenges?
The current situation at Europe’s doorstep shows us once again the importance of European cohesion and solidarity between all levels of government. Since 2021, hand-in-hand with other associations and civil society organisations working on ...
OUT NOW: AER Booklet on “Unboxing the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027”




FINAL-Unboxing-the-Multiannual-Financial-Framework_compressedDownload
Following the successful training sessions organised by the Assembly of the European Regions on “Unboxing the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027”, the content presented on direct and indirect EU funds as well as EU tools to foster the administrative capacity building of beneficiaries is summarised in a user-friendly booklet, aimed at guiding regions and their stakeholders in getting oriented throughout the resources available and how to access them.
The training sessions – structured in a series of three webinars on “Cohesion and Rural Development Funds (Session I), “Accessing Direct Funding Programmes” (Session II), “Making EU funds working for your region” (Session III) – were attended by more than 300 participants representing mainly regional authorities and regional stakeholders and they will receive for ...
Wrapping Up The Skillnet Project And Defining The Future Of The TVET Alliance



Creating new learning, training and job opportunities for everyone across Europe will be crucial to recovering from the impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and building more sustainable, fair and resilient communities as we transition to a digital and green economy and society.
The TVET Alliance summit, organized in the context of the Skillnet Project (IVETA, AER, ENNI, and EAPRIL), and in collaboration with the European Training Foundation took place on 5 and 6 April 2022 in Florence, Italy.
The main purpose of the event was to bring together Skillnet project partners and high-level stakeholders operating in the field of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) to share a strong commitment to co-design of an inclusive, resilient and sustainable society, and reshaping the TVET of the future.
The ...
EU4Health Programme: new calls for proposals open




EU4Health, with a budget of €5.3 billion, is the fourth and largest of the EU health programmes that provides funding to national authorities, health organisations and other bodies through grants and public procurement, contributing to a healthier Europe.
The European Health and Digital Executive Agency (HaDEA) implements the EU4Health programme by managing calls for proposals and tenders from 2021 to 2027 and recently launched eight calls for proposals under the EU4Health 2022 Annual Work Programme.
The total budget amounts to €107.3 million and the deadline to apply is 24 May 2022.
The open calls are the following:
EU4H-2022-PJ-01 – Call for proposals to monitor and strengthen the implementation of innovative approaches to prostate, lung and gastric cancer screening at Union level
EU4H-2022-PJ-02 – Call for proposals on prevention of ...
The World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels, Austria 2022: a great success! A review and a call for papers for the WSED 2023




Over 650 experts from 55 countries participated in the World Sustainable Energy Days 2022 from 5-8 April – more than 60 % of them on-site! The energy transition community met in Wels/Austria and presented opportunities, solutions and strategies to make global climate neutrality reality.
©OOe Energiesparverband
The World Sustainable Energy Days 2022, titled “Energy transition – full speed ahead!”, were a great success! Now we are on the road towards the World Sustainable Energy Days 2023! Save the date for the next edition of this international conference and tradeshow on renewable energy and climate neutrality, which will be held from 1-3 March 2023. Calls for Papers & Speakers close on 10 October 2022.
The WSED 2022 showed how to increase acceptance, trigger investments and ...
Capacity-building for Integrated Care: Join the SCIROCCO EXCHANGE Partners at its Final Conference!




Interested in knowing more about how your region can strengthen its health and social care system and improve the design and delivery of healthcare services? Join the Scottish Government and all the partners of the SCIROCCO Exchange project at its closing event ‘Capacity-building for Integrated Care: From the Maturity Assessment to Improvement Planning‘! The conference will be held on Thursday 5 May 2022 from 9 am to 4:30 pm CET and will be open online to all AER members and healthcare professionals in their region.
REGISTER HERE!
Throughout the past years, SCIROCCO Exchange has contributed to foster capacity-building among regional healthcare authorities through tailored evidence-based support for the adoption and scale-up of integrated care. As a result of this process, ...
Making TVET more attractive for Women!




Technical vocational education and training provide concrete opportunities for inclusion by developing innovative curricula matching rapidly changing societal needs and fostering life-long learning opportunities. Yet, the sector has been for long time predominately male centred making the need to counter the gender-bias and gender-stereotypes in the sector a foremost priority for a renewed TVET system as urged by the European Parliament in the resolution of 17 December 2020 and promoted by the SKILLNET Alliance.
This is why the Assembly of European Regions in cooperation with its member regions and leading experts of the TVET sector organised a mutual-learning session aimed at sharing good practices for improving the attractiveness of technical vocational education and training for women. The event was part ...
Partner search: innovating communication targeting SMEs




The AER member region Umbria, together with its Regional Development Agency Sviluppumbria, has developed a project idea to improve the communication with SMEs in order to facilitate their understanding and access to funding opportunities. This new project is designed in the framework of the EU funding programme Interreg Europe (first call for project proposal, having its deadline on 31 May 2022).
About the project idea
Technical language used by public bodies can be an obstacle to understanding their contents and therefore approaching opportunities. This is particularly true for SMEs, especially during the COVID emergency, when a larger amount of funds was released across Europe, driving SMEs to seek professional help to navigate the bureaucracy. Indeed, during the COVID period, Umbria region tested innovative ways to communicate to SMEs, based ...
Institutional Relations & Advocacy Officer (Maternity Cover)




Role Description
Under the direct supervision of the Secretary General, the Institutional Relations & Advocacy Officer will play a central role in implementing the AER’s advocacy strategy, in collaboration with the AER’s members. The holder of this position will develop and maintain strong relationships with institutional stakeholders in order to maximise influence and deliver strategic objectives.
Key Responsibilities
Implement AER’s advocacy strategy in order to promote regional interests and influence European and international institutions;
Coordinate and facilitate the work of Bureau Task Forces;
Support AER’s involvement in European and global policy debates and processes and influence policy makers on key areas for local and regional authorities;
Promote AER’s advocacy messages across coalitions and networks at European and global level;
Prepare policy and advocacy materials, including briefings, speeches, ...
Skillnet Training Session III- Making EU funds work for your region




Implementing European programmes is often complex. The current programming period contains new rules, instruments and processes that might result difficult for the beneficiaries to fully understand and consequently to put in place the right actions to access them. Additionally, the management and the proper reporting of the use of these funds might be an additional challenge for them that leads to some gaps in how the funds are used.
The implementation and the management of significant projects for the regions, especially after the effects of the pandemic on many sectors, are more necessary than ever. This is why accessing this knowledge will enable many regions in our network to bounce back from the pandemic.
This is a sensitive matter that also ...
DG REGIO Opportunities: Fund Your Regional Innovative Practice On Citizens’ Participation in Cohesion Policy



EU Commission DG REGIO is seeking proposals by public authorities and civil society organizations, interested to strengthen citizen participation in cohesion policy through collaborative innovative solutions.
Job Vacancy: Financial and Administrative Officer




Do you have a strong background in financial administration? Do you enjoy providing high-quality administrative support to a team? And do you have work experience e.g. in an association, small company or an international environment? If this sounds like you, you might be our new Financial and Administrative Officer (part-time, 19,5 hours/week).
Our new colleague will handle financial administration in our association. To be successful in this role, you should have previous experience with bookkeeping and a flair for spotting numerical mistakes. Ultimately, you will be responsible for the financial reporting and administrative tasks. The AER has its main offices in Strasbourg and Brussels. You will be based in Strasbourg, together with a part of the dynamic team of our Secretariat. ...
Proposal for a Working Group on Bioeconomy adopted




The Executive Board which took place on 23 March 2022 adopted the proposal for the creation of an AER working group on the Bioeconomy.
The proposal is led by Innlandet (NO) and is supported by Lower Austria (AU), Gelderland (NL), Värmland (SE).
Skills & knowledge at the heart of the development of the Bioeconomy
It is estimated that the bioeconomy contributes to almost 9% of the EU-27 labour force and 4.7% of the EU-27 GDP1. As a concrete operationalisation of the bioeconomy, more than 2,300 bio-based plants have been mapped by the Joint Research Centre across Europe.
To fully reap the economic, social and environmental benefits of the bioeconomy, dedicated bioeconomy strategies, investments and innovation are required at all levels in the EU. That ...
Job Vacancy: Programmes Coordinator




Do you have experience in a member-based organisation? Do you have work experience in a European/international environment, interested in the European regional dimension and youth policies? If this sounds like you, you might be our new Programmes Coordinator.
We are looking for an experienced colleague who is pro-active, collaborative, organised and with a problem-solving attitude to manage three regional networks covering youth mobility, youth participation, and intergenerational programmes.
You will be reporting directly to the Secretary-General and will be based in Brussels.
You must have the right to live and work in Belgium.
Key Responsibilities
Programme Management – 50%
Acting as the main point of contact for the AER programmes: Eurodyssey, Summer Academy and the Youth Regional Network.
Building and maintaining close relations with the member regions of the AER ...
The AER Spring Meetings—Shaping our Common Future




Last week, the AER held its virtual Spring meetings. From sharing ideas for collaboration in our working groups, to reaffirming our political priorities in our Bureau, these meetings showed the value of bringing members together to meet new challenges and shape our common future.
The day began with an energetic and fruitful brainstorming session on the AER action plan led by Policy & Knowledge Transfer Coordinator, Johanna Pacevicius. This was a chance for members to share perspectives on the priorities for their regions and find areas of common interest for the work of AER. Members from Innlandet to Ireland shared approaches to addressing common challenges, for example, reversing brain-drain from rural areas through setting up remote-working hubs to draw ...
NEW AER Task Force on Youth!




On the occasion of the AER Spring Bureau Meetings 2022, members decided to establish a new Taskforce focused on youth.
Background
Following the announcement made by President von der Leyen in her 2021 State of the Union address, the Commission adopted in October 2021 its formal proposal to make 2022 the European Year of Youth (EYY). The objectives of the EYY are to support the generation that has sacrificed the most during the pandemic with renewed perspectives and opportunities arising from the green and digital transitions; to empower all young people, especially those from disadvantaged backgrounds, to become active citizens and actors of positive change; to promote opportunities provided by EU policies for young people to support their development and autonomy, mainly through the NextGenerationEU; and to draw inspiration from ...
“Europe starts in its regions, cities and villages” – AER joins 9th European Summit of Regions & Cities




On 3-4 March 2022, The Assembly of European Regions took part in the 9th European Summit of Regions and Cities in Marseille, France.
The European Summit of Regions and Cities is a gathering of local representatives organised every two years by the European Committee of the Regions to discuss the EU’s future challenges. The 9th European Summit took place in the context of the French Presidency of the Council of the European Union. This edition aimed to engage local and regional politicians across the EU in debates on the future of Europe, and to show how Europe’s regions and cities play a vital role in placing citizens at the heart of Europe.
The AER featured prominently in this year’s edition, with ...
Cross-sectoral Approaches To Inclusive Housing




On 7 April 2022 AER is organising a webinar on cross-sectoral approaches to inclusive housing from 15:00-16:30 CET in the framework of the Includ-EU project.
Access to adequate and affordable housing is a key determinant of successful integration. Housing conditions have a strong impact on employment and education opportunities and on the interactions between migrants and host communities. Poor housing conditions and segregation can exacerbate divisions, which undermine social cohesion.
Building inclusive societies for all
The EU action plan on integration and inclusion states that:
Inclusion for all is about ensuring that all policies are accessible to and work for everyone, including migrants and EU citizens with migrant background. This means adapting and transforming mainstream policies to the needs of a diverse society, taking ...
Co-developing the AER Action Plan




AER members have the possibility to propose activities in the context of the different AER bodies. The AER Secretariat will facilitate a co-development session on March 24th. Members will be able to share inputs and define activities they would like to carry out together.
The co-development session will be organised along three topics:
Youth
the Bioeconomy & Skills
Culture & Tourism
Youth: policies to help young people to bounce back
The aim of this session is to hear from members what are the policies they have been implementing to help young people bounce back after the pandemic. This will, in particular, provide content for the preparation of the AER Summer Academy, which will take place from 27 to 30 June 2022 in Donegal (IE)
Members will ...
“Making Culture a Strategic Resource for Europe and its Regions”




There is a great risk in neglecting culture as part of recovery policies. Culture is not a luxury for the few, it contributes to collective wellbeing and human values, as well as to generate jobs and growth. The unprecedented outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard the cultural and creative sector, affecting millions of jobs, in a sector that contributes to 4.2 % of the EU GDP.
At the initiative of the Assembly of European Regions Chair of Working Group on Culture, Feresteh Jalayer Hess, a statement on the importance of culture for social cohesion and recovery has been issued by the AER Executive Board with recommendations for Europe and its regions to put culture at the heart of the ...
How will an Intercultural Approach to Migrant Integration help Europe’s Regions- The EU-BELONG Project takes off!




On 23-24 February, the Assembly of European Regions, together with 14 partners from 8 countries, kicked off EU-Belong, an ambitious project selected among 300 proposals, of which only 10% were approved by DG Home in its 2020 AMIF call: transnational actions on asylum, migration and integration. We are proud of this great achievement and conscious of the great responsibility that follows, in that we are called to develop and implement targeted integration strategies at local level while contributing to bringing integration policy in Europe forward, thanks to the consortium’s consolidated expertise, knowledge and ability to mobilise its relevant network.
This article is a snap journey through the key moments that led to this project, the principles and needs that helped shape ...
Call for Expression of Interest – Regional Good Practices on Migrant Integration




The Assembly of European Regions within the framework of the project EU-Belong: An Intercultural Approach to Migrant Integration in Europe’s Regions will carry out a preliminary peer review of good practices to collect, analyse and present innovative and successful experiences from European Regions on the topic of the participatory design, implementation and evaluation of intercultural integration strategies at the regional level.
The review will provide practical examples in 4 thematic areas key for the integration of migrants at the regional level: housing, integration in the labour market, exchanges between newcomers and the local population, sport and culture.
At least 8 experiences will be selected, analysed and presented. The selected good practices will be published inapposite user-friendly and visually attractive factsheets, in order ...
AER releases statement on Invasion of Ukraine




Ahead of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, on 22 February, AER President, Magnus Berntsson and Secretary General, Christian Spahr issued a statement of solidarity with the people of Ukraine on behalf of the Assembly of European Regions.
In line with the values of democracy, mutual respect and dialogue that underpin the Statutes of the Assembly of European Regions, the President condemned in the strongest possible terms the use of “military threats and escalations to achieve political aims, and underlined that “Ukraine’s internationally recognised borders must be respected based on international law.”
Soon after, AER Secretary General Christian Spahr stated: “The aggression against Ukraine is a disgrace and an attack on the whole European political order. Our compassion and solidarity in ...
Conference on “Strong counties serving their citizens – the future of regional governance in Albania” 28-30 March in Tirana




It is our pleasure to invite you to the Conference on “Strong counties serving their citizens – the future of regional governance in Albania”, held on 28-30 of March in Tirana, Albania.
The Assembly of European Regions is proud to welcome you to our Conference on the Future of Regional Governance in Albania. Our aim is to bring together regional leaders within Albania and to bring about a debate on the future of regional cooperation and citizen-centered policy making at the regional level. During our 3-day Conference, we will look to answer questions concerning the key challenges for regional governance, trends and challenges to citizen-centered policy making and best practices. The event promises to bring together Albanian and international stakeholders to ...
2022 Spring Bureau & Member Engagement Meetings




We are delighted to invite our members to join our AER Spring Bureau, taking place fully online on Thursday, 24 March. We will give an overview presentation of the activities carried out by the AER task forces and other institutional related issues, as well as identify potential key priority topics for political discussion and advocacy action in 2022.
Furthermore, we will host a debate on growth, jobs and investment where we will explore the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead for local and regional authorities. Members are also invited to join the discussion and vote on the adoption of two position papers on Sustainable Mobility and on Democracy.
You can view the overview of the programme below:
Overview Programme
14.00-14:10
Welcome & Introductions Magnus Berntsson, AER ...
AER Position on Democracy – Call for Amendments




AER is inviting members to offer their amendment proposals to the Draft Position on Democracy.
The closing date for submitting amendments is 8 March 2022. Amendment proposals can be submitted using the online form below:
Submit your amendments HERE
About this Amending Process
This consultation aims to invite all AER members to offer their amendment proposals to the Draft Position on Democracy.
The Task Force on Democracy is chaired by the Region of Örebro (SE). This position paper addresses the main aspects for fostering good democratic governance and strengthening democracy in AER member regions.
To make these proposals stronger, the Task Force is inviting AER member regions to share their proposed changes to the Draft Position.
The amendment proposals can be submitted until 8 March 2022.
Suggested amendments ...
The Includ-EU Project Launches Its Own Newsletter!



Stay up-to-date with innovative practices on migrants inclusion in Europe, from access to housing, health care and education, by subscribing to the Includ-EU quarterly bulletin!
We are glad to share with you the first issue of the Includ-EU newsletter, a project of which we are partners and promoters.
Includ-EU aims to contribute to building more inclusive and cohesive European societies by enhancing transnational knowledge and experience sharing, cooperation and partnerships between local and regional authorities from Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Romania, Slovenia and Spain.
Funded by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund of the European Union, it is structured around key thematic areas consistent with the EU Action plan on integration and inclusion: labour inclusion, health care, education, active citizenship and housing.
The project website, designed as a platform where local expertise on inclusion can match migrants needs for ...
AER Position on Sustainable Mobility and Connectivity – Call for Amendments / Deadline: 8 March



AER is inviting members to offer their amendment proposals to the Draft Position – Sustainable Mobility & Connectivity.
Amendment proposals can be submitted using the online form HERE.
The closing date for submitting amendments is 8 March.
About this Amending Process
This consultation aims to invite all AER members to offer their amendment proposals to the Draft Position on Sustainable Mobility & Connectivity.
At the Bureau meeting in December 2019, Bureau Members decided to set up a Task Force on Sustainable Mobility & Connectivity. Chaired by Vice President Alessandra Zedda (Sardinia, IT), the Task Force produced a common Position with a set of recommendations on how to develop the mobility and connectivity sector we need to build a greener, more inclusive and resilient Europe, highlighting the ...
Partner Search: resilient ecosystems for circular tourism




Are you interested in joining a project within the new Single Market Programme (SMP)? The Chamber of Commerce of Umbria, a key stakeholder of Regione Umbria (member region of AER), is looking for partners to join their new project on COVID-19 recovery through sustainable tourism and SME support.
About the project proposal
With reference to the SMP call “COVID-19 Recovery Through Sustainable Tourism Growth and SME Support (SMP-COSME-2021-TOURSME)”, the Chamber of Commerce of Umbria (IT) is leading a proposal on resilient ecosystems for circular tourism.
The general objective of the call is to monitor the sustainability performance of SMEs in the tourism sector, whilst boosting their awareness, development and capacity in the area of sustainable innovations. To this extent, the project aims to ...
Call for participants – CoE Study session: Climbing the ladder | Deadline: 20 Feb




The AER is happy to announce a new partnership with the DYPALL Network and the Youth Department of the Council of Europe to host the study session Climbing the ladder – Capacitating youth leaders to facilitate youth participation in decision-making processes at the local level. This event will take place from 24 to 30 April 2022 in the European Youth Centre Strasbourg (EYCS), France.
AER is looking for youth leaders coming from member regions to benefit from a one-week training module to acquire key competencies in the field of youth participation.
Interested? Then keep reading below!
A training session made by youth and for youth
The study session “Climbing the ladder – Capacitating youth leaders to facilitate youth participation in decision-making processes at the local level” focuses on two of the five strategic priorities of the ...
Connecting Europe Facility – Digital Programme: new calls & info day




The Commission has launched the first calls for proposals under the digital part of the Connecting Europe Facility programme after recently adopting the first Work Programme, which defines the scope and objectives of the EU-supported actions needed to improve Europe’s digital connectivity infrastructures for 3 years. With the launch of the new calls, an Info Day will be held on 19 January!
Connecting Europe Facility – Digital
The digital part of the Connecting Europe Facility (CEF Digital) will contribute to the development of projects of common interest relating to the deployment of safe, secure and sustainable high-performance infrastructure, including Gigabit and 5G networks. CEF Digital will also contribute to the increased capacity and resilience of digital backbone infrastructures in all EU territories ...
Partner Search: Town Twinning for Environmental Action




The Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, a member region of AER, is searching for project partners to join their project proposal related to climate and environmental issues in the framework of the Town Twinning Action between Turkey and EU-II Grant Scheme (TTGS-II). Working with the vision of offering a cleaner and more sustainable environment to future generations, it aims to enhance dialogue between Turkish and EU local authorities and strengthen the capacity of local authorities for the purposes of climate and environment based actions.
The grant scheme provides support for projects aiming at developing town twinning relationships between local administrations/authorities in Turkey and EU Member States and strengthening their roles in the EU accession process.
About Izmir and the project proposal
Local authorities in Turkey ...
Catalonia is calling for partner regions for its Hydrogen Valley!




Our member region Catalonia is looking to partner up with interested regions in renewable hydrogen ecosystems for its Hydrogen Valley. Driving towards the implementation of green hydrogen as the key component of the energy transition, this project is the Catalan regional response to the strategy launched by the European Commission to reduce polluting emissions and strive for a climatically neutral Europe by 2050.
About Catalonia’s Hydrogen Valley
The Hydrogen Valley of Catalonia is based on previous work done by the Green Hydrogen Platform Southern Catalonia, created in October 2020 with the foundational purpose of bringing together all the agents that make up the value chain of green hydrogen and driving forward the understanding, production and implementation of this alternative source of ...
MIT’s ‘Innovators Under 35’ Festival returns to Europe — submit your nominations




In partnership with Údarás na Gaeltachta, the prestigious “Innovators Under 35” Festival Europe comes to Gaoth Dobhair in County Donegal (IE) on 19-21 May 2022.
What is IU35?
Selected by MIT’s Technology Review, Innovators Under 35 is an annual list that recognises outstanding young pioneers from across the globe. Each year, brilliant men and women under 35 are recognised for their advancements in diverse technical fields such as biotechnology and medicine, computer and electronics, hardware, software, internet, artificial intelligence, robotics, telecommunications, nanotechnology and materials, energy and transportation.
https://twitter.com/UdarasnaG/status/1373991648116490243?s=20
35 entrepreneurs, inventors, visionaries, pioneers and humanitarians will be selected for their outstanding technological achievements. A committee of judges, made up of experts from leading universities and companies will select the 35 best profiles of candidates. ...
World Sustainable Energy Days 2022 | Energy Transition – Full Speed Ahead!




We are delighted to announce that our member region, Upper Austria, will again host its long awaited and well-renowned World Sustainable Energy Days (WSED) on 5-8 April 2022! Organized by the energy agency of Upper Austria, OÖ Energiesparverband, the WSED is a leading annual conference on energy transition and climate neutrality, with more than 650 participants from over 60 countries.
As in previous editions, in 2022 the event will take place in Wels, Austria.
Interested in attending?
REGISTER HERE
What is it all about?
In her 2020 State of the Union address, President of the European Commission Ursula von den Leyen proposed the emissions’ reduction target to be set at 55%, alongside a revision of the EU’s climate and energy legislation. The Commission adopted the communication ‘Stepping ...
‘Better Together’ — How Intercultural integration is making cities and regions more equal and inclusive




What makes a society sustainable?
While shifting to a circular economy and saving the environment are obvious requirements, they do not paint the full picture when it comes to a truly inclusive and equal recovery from the Covid-19 pandemic.
Real social change demands better multicultural awareness and integration among citizens. This is is why a number of goals in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development aim to guarantee gender and educational equality, build resilient communities, and implement participatory urban planning.
SDG 11: a new way to imagine our cities
In 2018, 55% of the world population was living in urban areas; by 2050 this figure is expected to rise to 6.5 billion people. It is clear that migration is playing a key role ...
Skillnet Training Session II – Making the Most of Direct Grant Funding Programmes




“Accessing European funding is often complex. We want to help our nearly 140 members in 30 countries make the best of these possibilities.“
This is how Christian Spahr, AER Secretary General opened our second webinar on EU funding opportunities for regions, “Unboxing the MFF – Accessing Direct Grant Funding Programmes”.
The programmes under discussion: Erasmus Plus, Creative Europe, LIFE, Horizon and Digital Europe are core building blocks of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), the EU’s €2.018 trillion long-term budget.
These programmes will be a crucial source of source of funding for regions in areas as diverse as skill development, technological innovation, the green transition and promoting our cultural heritage into the future. As Christian Spahr put it, “These programmes are essential ...
Partnership in Focus n.18: CAPACITY BUILDING IN HIGHER EDUCATION II – A European Strategy for Universities



The higher education sector is key for finding solutions towards a sustainable and more digital Europe, as well as for equipping students (and professors) with the competences that our fast-changing society and economy need. In May 2021 the Council of the EU adopted conclusions on the European Universities initiative with “the aim of bridging higher education, research, innovation and society: paving the way for a new dimension in European higher education.” European Universities transnational alliances will become the universities of the future, promoting European values and identity, and revolutionising the quality and competitiveness of European higher education, in an optic of international cooperation, peer-learning and exchange of best practices between European higher education institutions and those from non-EU priority regions ...
Eurodyssey’s website launch – Behind the scenes




The new Eurodyssey’s website launch marks an important milestone in our programme’s journey. It has been a result of three years of close collaboration between our member regions and the AER Secretariat, from meetings to seminars and trainings.
Featuring stunning new looks and a better user experience, its new functionalities will significantly improve the day-to-day management of the programme.
eurodyssey.aer.eu
Three years in the making
This collaborative process kicked off in February 2019, at the 2-day Website and Communications Training hosted by Catalonia’s Employment Agency, where AER Programmes Coordinator, Andrés Muñoz Rojo, together with WordPress Developer Audric Delcour run a full demonstration and set out the main features of the new website.
Following such training, the AER Secretariat opened in Autumn 2020 a testing site ...
Eurodyssey Youth Programme -Information Session




Is your region looking for an opportunity to foster young people’s transition into the labour market, to provide your youth with as many opportunities as possible and, at the same time, be ambassadors of their own region? Then, the Assembly of European Regions would like to welcome you on 15 December 2021 (10.00 AM, CET), for an exclusive ‘Information Session’ about its Eurodyssey Youth Programme.
Promoting youth development by youth exchange
Promoting a Europe of Regions, encouraging local and regional business to train young professionals.
Since its establishment in 1985, the AER Eurodyssey Programme has contributed to push youth development by enhancing young people’s professional experience and employability. Eurodyssey programme has enabled young people to grow professionally, widen their cultural horizon and ...
AER Activity Report 2021 — ‘Regions Bouncing Back’




The Assembly of European Regions is proud to present its annual Activity Report for 2020 – 2021.
As Europe looks beyond the Covid-19 pandemic and towards recovery, the theme of this year’s report is ‘Regions Bouncing Back‘. With a fresh new look courtesy of graphic designers, Habile Studio, this year’s cover visual shows the evolution of employment figures in Europe over the course of the pandemic. Hard copies are available upon request by contacting AER Communications & Events Manager, Justin Sammon. An online pdf copy is available for download HERE.
Welcoming the publication of ‘Regions Bouncing Back‘, AER President Magnus Berntsson pointed to the many successes of the AER network since June last year, despite the pandemic, “It has been a ...
Eurodyssey Forum 2021 — Let’s get Youth Moving Again!




Over two days on 2 and 3 December, the Eurodyssey Forum took place online for the second year in a row. This was an opportunity for correspondents from Eurodyssey regions to get together and share perspectives on the running of the programme, and chart a course for 2022 and beyond. Check out our highlights below!
https://twitter.com/eurodyssey/status/1466424977008300040?s=20
Despite the second year of the pandemic putting the brakes on mobility programmes, 2021 has seen the Eurodyssey programme start to bounce back from the pandemic.
Indeed, this year’s Forum was very much an optimistic, future focused get-together, with participants electing a new President and Steering Committee, learning how to use the long-awaited new website, and sharing ideas on how to make the programme more ...
Setting our Political Agenda — the 2021 AER Autumn Bureau Meeting




On 2 December 2021, members of the AER Bureau gathered together online to discuss the work carried out by the Task forces, and decide on our political priorities for 2022.
But what does the AER Bureau do, you ask? The role of the AER Bureau is to act as the primary political voice of the AER. From democracy and citizens participation, to sustainable transport and tourism, the Bureau engages in issues of a pan-European and global nature that are important to our members, and sets out the political basis for the AER’s advocacy work.
So what is in the political pipeline for next year? Check out the outcomes below and read conclusions from our debate on Sustainable Mobility and Connectivity!
Adoption of ...
Partnership in focus n.17: EDUPRENEURSHIP – Fostering Entrepreneurship in Education and Training



The global pandemic has left many freelancers and entrepreneurs without income for months, which imposes an incoming challenge to stimulating entrepreneurship. If we want Europe to continue to nurture talent, create great startups, and compete on a global scale, we need to teach entrepreneurship. This will require joint efforts from the public and private sectors, as well as regional, national governments and European Institutions. This webinar gave us a glimpse of different actions needed at different levels to foster an inclusive entrepreneurial mindset and discussed local challenges for their implementation and replicability.
The AER launched this dedicated webinar within the 2021 edition of the Skillman International Forum which took place from 15-18 November 2021. The forum aimed to redefine the future ...
The New Guide on EU Funding for Tourism is Out!




Is Tourism, – be it cultural, rural, sustainable, or all of the above – on your region’s list of priorities? If the answer is yes, then this brief article may be the starting point for a great journey, destination EU projects funding opportunities!
The online guide recently published by DG Grow (Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs) highlights the wide range of funding programmes financed by the new budget (the Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 and Next-Generation EU) which are directly or indirectly related to tourism and thus can be of interest and of inspiration to your region and organisation to develop a project to promote inclusive, smart and sustainable tourism in your region or city.
While some programmes (such as the ...
Includ-EU and the Agenda 2030- Two Days of Exchange at the Heart of Europe



On 28-29 October, the INCLUD-EU Project held its Second Regional Workshop in a series of 5 thematic sessions facilitating knowledge sharing and discussing the design of Includ-EU pilot projects, as well as other integration policies and projects carried out across Europe.
The Workshop happened in a hybrid format within the framework of the Agenda 2030 Conference, which took place in Strasbourg and online, and in partnership with Region Grand Est and the City of Strasbourg.
On the morning of the 29, after the opening of Ms Rabab Ahmad, Policy and Programme Analyst (IOM), participants were welcomed by our facilitator, Mr Abram el-Sabagh (Design for Impact) and encouraged to share a picture telling the story of why they got into migration and integration, ...
Lead experience exchange: propose a new working group!




An AER working group provides a space for experience and knowledge exchange. The ground for mutual learning is the community the AER creates between member regions that have very diverse contexts and shared objectives. The AER community is one of its main added values when joining projects or developing advocacy activities.
As the mandates of current Working Groups have all come to an end, AER is offering the possibility to all members to propose to lead knowledge and experience exchange on a regional policy area that is important for them.
So… how to start a working group?
Contact the AER Secretariat and tell us what you are looking for!
If you’re not yet sure exactly about the activities or the specific focus of ...
Strengthening our joint commitment: the AER Manifesto on the 2030 Agenda




The year 2020 marked the start of the Decade of Action and Delivery, which was shaken by the outbreak of a global pandemic. The COVID-19 crisis has reiterated, now more than ever, the urgency for accelerating the actions towards the achievement of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations and the need to safeguard public services.
A crucial lesson learned from COVID-19 is that the common challenges we face do not respect borders. The environmental, social, and economic consequences of the pandemic have awakened a fresh impetus for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals.
The only way to successfully navigate this journey is by working together. Multi-stakeholder and multi-level partnerships are a critical dimension of the 2030 Agenda and we ...
Join our Campfire Event on AER’s EU Projects & Funding Services




The Multiannual Financial Framework 2021-2027 provides wide opportunities for funding addressed to the regions and their stakeholders, which is boosted by a unique instrument as the NextGenerationEU. The AER is following closely this process by providing to members regions ad-hoc services as the ongoing series of webinars on “Unboxing the Multiannual Financial Framework” and the funding digest on specific EU funding programmes and call for proposals accessible for EU and non-EU member regions.
In order to make the most of these opportunities, the AER Project Unit wishes to meet regions and their local stakeholders with the objective to get in touch, both virtually and online, and foster a stronger collaboration in terms of project development, capacity building actions and sharing of ...
Social Inclusion in TVET and Skills Development




Education and training play a crucial role in fostering social inclusion providing concrete opportunities for skills development that lead to individuals’ self-affirmation and the creation of diversified learning environments. Yet, rapid and increasing societal changes – as demographic trends, globalisation, and climate change – are bringing about an in-depth transformation of the economy and the labour market that often results in further constraints to inclusion and the societal wellbeing. This becomes even more relevant in the context of the pandemic, which has called for an increasing adoption of digital solutions.
In the context of the Skillnet project co-founded by the Erasmus+ Programme, the Assembly of European Regions organised a webinar to address this key issue. The event was held on ...
Join our Bureau Debate on Sustainable Mobility & Connectivity — the Road to Recovery and the Green Transition




Want to join online?*
***UPDATE*** — we are delighted to announce that completing our panel will be Mr Ciarán Cuffe, Member of the European Parliament’s Committees on Transport and Tourism and Industry, Research and Energy!
According to the European Parliament, transport accounts for 30% of the EU’s total emissions. If we are to keep global temperatures below 1.5C and achieve the 17 Sustainable Development Goals, a change of gears is required to make our transport systems more efficient, less polluting and better value for money.
Local and regional authorities have a clear and important role in making mobility more sustainable and inclusive through their strategic planning, provision of transport infrastructure and services, support to technological innovation and incentives for green transport options. Yet, there ...
UPDATED – Online Info Day on Erasmus+ Calls 2022: Civil Society Cooperation



What is this Online Info Day about?
The European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA) is organising an information session on the application procedure of the Civil Society Cooperation (CSC) 2022 Calls for operating grants under the Erasmus+: Key Action 3.
The opportunities that will be presented are the CSC-EDU and CSC-Youth 2022 calls for proposals for EU operating grants in the fields of education, training and youth under the Erasmus+ Programme.
During this session, the calls and the policy context will be presented briefly and participants will have the opportunity to ask related questions and receive some clarifications directly from EACEA.
More information about the Erasmus+ CSC calls and the action are available here (Youth call) and here (Education & Training)
Practical Information
The online information ...
Agenda 2030 Conference: Transforming Regions, Changing the World




On 28-29 October, the Assembly of European Regions held our long-awaited Agenda 2030 Conference in Strasbourg, in partnership with Region Grand Est and the City of Strasbourg.
Against the backdrop of the hugely consequential COP26 Conference in Glasgow and the IPCC’s recent “Code red” report on global emissions, ‘Transforming Regions, Changing the World’ came at a crucial time where difficult decisions need to be made to save our planet for future generations. Now more than ever, regions, alongside cities, must have a key role in implementing and achieving the 17 Sustainable Development Goals set out in the 2030 Agenda.
Having entered the decade of action, this conference represented an opportunity to set out how regions can deliver on the commitments that ...
Autumn Digest 2021: Funding Opportunities for EU and Non-EU Member Regions




Are you in pursuit of some new EU project funding opportunities? Here are some openings worth looking into!
In line with the new Multiannual Financial Framework programme 2021-2027 which aims for more inclusivity and to support green and digital transitions, the AER Project Unit has mapped EU funding opportunities and calls for project proposals that are linked to green issues, digitalisation, and democracy & citizens participation.
Green Transition
Climate change and environmental degradation are an existential threat to Europe and the world. Among the 6 priorities the European Commission proposed for the years 2019-2024 Climate Action is at their top concern. According to the Commission, “EU policy protects the environment and seeks to minimise risks to climate, human health and biodiversity. The European ...
Regional Business Forum in Novi Sad, 25th of November, 2021




On the 25th of November, the Regional Business Forum (RBF) in Novi Sad will be taking place again. This time, it will be held in the form of a hybrid event. Participants are most welcome to join us online and in Novi Sad, Vojvodina on 25 November 2021, with special B2B 1-on-1 online session possibilities until 10 December, 2021.
The Regional Business Forum is an annual international forum to exchange ideas on support for SMEs, promote business and commerce, incentive the possibility to collaborate and share best practices between regions.
Following the success of the previous events, this year’s Regional Business Forum will again be organised in partnership with the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, Enterprise Europe Network, Chamber of Commerce and Industry ...
2021 Eurodyssey call for elections: Steering Committee Chair and Members




At the 2021 Eurodyssey Assembly, which will take place online and in Brussels (BE) on 2 December 2021, the incumbent Steering Committee members and President are expected to be re-elected. However, there is a vacancy available to be filled by a new member region!
When?
The elections will be celebrated on the 2nd of December within the 2021 AER Eurodyssey Forum. The deadline to submit your application to the Eurodyssey Steering Committee is the 26th of November 2021!
What?
If you think this might be of interest to your region, please consult the available vacancies of the Eurodyssey Steering Committee. You will find the list of current vacancies HERE.
For further specificities on the roles and expectations for all the members taking part in the Steering Committee, please refer ...
Knowledge Transfer for Integrated Care – Sharing the Results with the International Healthcare Community




After almost a year of knowledge exchange and capacity-building support to healthcare authorities willing to adopt or scale-up integrated care, the AER and the project partners were eager to share the experience and the results of the SCIROCCO Exchange Knowledge Transfer Programme with a great variety of international healthcare professionals and practitioners.
The SCIROCCO Exchange is a project co-founded by the third Health Programme of the European Union and lead by the Scottish Government. It provides evidence-based capacity-building support to health and social care authorities across Europe for the adoption or scaling-up of integrated care within their local healthcare systems. In this context, the AER in cooperation with the Scottish Government have worked with nine healthcare authorities for the co-development and ...
New AER survey sheds light on expectations of citizens, trust in governments, and gender equality




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 approximately 60% of the EU’s population: Germany, France, Italy, Poland, Sweden and Romania. Conducted in June in collaboration with Savanta as part of the Y-FED Project, this representative survey sheds light on the shifting social, economic and political priorities of Europeans as they look beyond the COVID-19 pandemic.
So what did we learn? Below are a selection ...
AER Position on Climate – Call For Amendments




AER is inviting members to offer their amendment proposals to the Draft Position on Climate.
Amendment proposals can be submitted using the online form HERE.
The closing date for submitting amendments is 8 November.
About this Amending Process
This consultation aims to invite all AER members to offer their amendment proposals to the Draft Position on Climate.
At the online Bureau meeting in November 2020, Bureau Members decided to set up a Task Force on Climate. Chaired by the Region of Västra Götaland, the Task Force produced a common Position with a set of recommendations on how to produce a carbon-neutral Europe by 2050, highlighting the vital role of local and regional governments in accelerating climate action and delivering the climate targets.
To make these proposals ...
Technical Vocational Education & Training and Civic Participation




Civic participation is a process in which people take collective action to address issues of public concern and can adopt many forms: from individual volunteering, community engagement efforts and organisational involvement to governmental support. With regard to governments, effectively engaging with stakeholders translates into better services, source ideas and knowledge, co-creation solutions and seizing new opportunities.
In the context of its participation in the Skillnet project, AER organised a webinar on the ways in which societies can improve civic participation in a qualitative way, by involving young people from more diverse backgrounds
High-quality civic participation is inclusive by design
To achieve high-quality civic participation, it is crucial to make sure to involve all regional stakeholders. Research shows there is a large participation gap ...
Register Now: AER General Assembly & Agenda 2030 Conference




Joining the AER GA & SDG Conference online?
AER General Assembly
The General Assembly is organised in tandem with the Agenda 2030 Conference, hosted by the Region of Grand Est (France).
The General Assembly will take place on 28 October from 10:15 to 12:30 CET online and on-site at Maison de la Région, 1 place Adrien Zeller, F 67000, Strasbourg.
Members are invited to join on-site or online by registering via the relevant links above. Registration for on-site participants will close on Friday, 8 October, online registrations will remain open until Monday, 18 October.
Overview Agenda:
Direct Links:
Invitation Letter
Draft Agenda
Practical Information (transport, accommodation, etc)
Wherever you are, we hope you can join us. You can find more information on the Agenda 2030 Conference below and on the dedicated website HERE.
Online ...
PRESS RELEASE: Innovating Cultural Heritage, a Workshop by AER and CUBES



Cultural heritage has an inspiring and creative role in present European societies and communities. It has a positive impact on social cohesion as well as regional development and sustainable tourism. In the context of cultural heritage, innovation has a key role to play in the field of technology, social impact, policymaking, administration, and entrepreneurship.
The workshop “Innovating Cultural Heritage”, jointly organised by the AER working group on culture and the CUBES Project, brings together practitioners, policymakers and experts. It will discuss current challenges and opportunities for European regions to invest in cultural heritage innovation and learn about sustainable and participatory cultural management practices. The workshop will be an opportunity to showcase and guide participants through the new digital platform produced by ...
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” towards a gender-equal Europe by 2025 is a key objective of the European Union, while ‘achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls’ is enshrined as goal number five of the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Yet, at the current rate of progress, the World Economic Forum estimates that it will take 107 years to achieve equal ...
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 instrument, the MFF represents an unprecedented €1.8 trillion of funding to support Europe’s recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and the EU’s long-term priorities across different policy areas. It is therefore essential that Europe’s regions get training with these instruments to ensure a robust and sustainable recovery.
That is why as part of the Skillnet Project, the AER has put together 3 information sessions to help regions make the most of the MFF and NextGenerationEU Package. Featuring insights ...
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 positions
the position of Chair of the Monitoring and Evaluation Group (MEG) is open for election
new members of the Election Committee will need to be elected
Please note that any potential changes in the thematic portfolios of the Executive Board members will be decided after the election. Our General Assembly is due to take place on 28 October in Strasbourg and online, according to current planning.
Nomination Process
We would like to encourage you to put forward nominations for these positions as explained ...
AER is piloting the CUBES Platform: An E-tool for Cultural Administration and Management




Within the CUBES Project, co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Union, AER has had the great opportunity to work and gain knowledge around the preservation and innovation of Cultural Heritage and resources.After intense months of work, we are excited to announce that AER together with 8 cultural and educational organisations across Europe, has created a free e-training opportunity for all of you out there involved or interested in the cultural sector and cultural sustainability.The e-course is ideal to get you started and improve your skills in sustainable management and administration of cultural resources, and will equip you with all the indispensable knowledge in 4 main critical areas, assessed by peers as the top 4 training priorities lacking in the field, namely:1. ...
Internship Opportunities: European Projects Assistant




Ready to train with the EU projects team of the largest independent network of regions in Europe?
We are looking for motivated interns (STUDENTS ONLY) to join the Project Unit at the AER’s Brussels Office, under the supervision of our European Projects Coordinator. We are currently offering 2 EU Projects Assistant positions:
EU Projects Assistant – Autumn 2021: The intern will join the AER Project Unit team starting from September 2021 until end of January 2022
EU Projects Assistant – Spring 2022: The intern will join the AER Project Unit team starting from February/March 2022 until end of August/September 2022.
Your main tasks will be:
Mapping calls for proposals and collecting information on funding (based on desk research and by attending relevant events/webinars and meetings ...
Looking back to the 2019 Eurodyssey outcomes




The AER Secretariat elaborates yearly statistical reports to assess the developments of the Eurodyssey programme. The data is collected directly from the inputs given by the Eurodyssey correspondents who, year after year, keep the record of the mobility exchanges. Significant improvement has been made in the data processing and the production of statistical reports carried out by the AER Secretariat in partnership with member regions.
A comprehensive Eurodyssey statistical analysis
In 2019, the programme greatly recovered the gap of 2018 on many indices, strengthened and consolidated, and today offers a better perspective for the future. Furthermore, the AER Secretariat launched by February 2020 a new employment survey to the 2018 participants with the aim of assessing more accurately the impact ...
Not Just Another Workshop: Looking Back at the Includ-EU First Regional Peer-2-Peer Learning




The project in a nutshell: The Includ-EU Project is funded by the European Union’s AMIF– Asylum Migration and Integration Fund Programme and aims at enhancing regional and local expertise with engagement of social cohesion in Europe. In this workshop, we brought together representatives from all the different countries involved in the project: Italy, Greece, Spain, Romania, Slovenia and the Netherlands.
Setting the Scene.
We live in an increasingly complex society. There are no easy solutions or easy answers to the many challenges we are facing today, and the ones presented by migration, integration and inclusion are no exception. Policies and service designers must make sure these mirror the complexity of realities around us.
That is why our first Includ-EU Regional Workshop focused not ...
A New Horizon for Europe: Navigating into the European Horizon for Research and Innovation




The launch of the new Horizon Europe funding programme worth 95.5 billion EUR and its first round of calls have being sparking enthusiasm and interest among the multiple actors that were long awaiting for initiating and testing their innovative actions for the green and digital transition, as well as an inclusive economy. Yet, while the scope of the funding programme meets widespread societal demands, it may not be that easy to navigate within one of the world’s largest research and innovation programmes. What do you need to know? The article provides an overview of the main opportunities under this programme as well as the links to the recordings from the informative sessions held by the European Commission.
The new HORIZON ...
AER scales up its Project Unit! What’s in it for our Member Regions? Our Services at a Glance



You might have noticed that in the past months, despite the ongoing restrictions, your mailbox was still actively populated by AER project’s activities updates, invitation to workshops and webinars organised within the framework of some EU co-funded project with and for our members.
This is because we haven’t stopped! On the contrary, the Project Unit from the AER Secretariat is now bigger than ever -with 5 colleagues ready to support AER’s work and bring additional capacity and fresh ideas to the network.
We believe it is high time to remind our members what we can offer and how in turn they can engage with us in the framework of transnational projects funded by the EU 7-year programmes.
In a nutshell, we are operative ...
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 to:
Assist in the event and communication management of the AER General Assembly & Conference related to the Sustainable Development Goals, 28-29 October 2021;
Assist in the event and communication management of AER statutory and partner events in Q4 2021
About the Conference “Agenda 2030: Transforming Regions, Changing the World”
“This conference, jointly organised by AER and the Grand Est region together with partners such as United ...
Partner Search: New Project on Health Promotion for non-sporting Citizens




We are happy to share a partner search for a new project dealing with health promotion for non-sporting citizens in the aftermath of the pandemic.
Lunda sports arena in Östervåla, one hour north of Stockholm Arlanda airport, is a municipal sports centre for school sports, football, tennis, ice hockey & cross-country skiing. They also run health promotion initiatives for the general public.
If before the pandemic, motivating people to embrace healthier lifestyles was important, it has now become urgent. With that in mind, Lunda sports arena is looking to develop a project that will promote health and well-being for citizens, and are looking for other organisations who want to collaborate on this topic.
The profile of the partners sought are European ...
Public consultation on Education for Environmental Sustainability




The European Commission has opened up an open public consultation to feed into a proposal for a Council Recommendation on Education for Environmental Sustainability later this year. The Recommendation will deal with all types and levels of education, including vocational education and training (VET) and Adult Learning (AL).
Education to support the goals of the Green Deal
Through the Green Deal, the EU is taking action to fight climate change and encourage all citizens to work towards a greener and more sustainable Europe. Education and training are key, helping citizens and local communities to develop the knowledge, skills and attitudes needed for this transition. This survey aims at gathering ideas and views from individuals and organisations on this initiative, which is ...
Rethinking Inclusive Societies in Light of Crises



“Migrants are ‘us’, not ‘them’. Everyone has a role to play in making sure our societies are cohesive and prosperous.”
Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson
Within the Includ-EU Project, AER continues its long-standing commitment to making the voice of its member regions heard, in both matters of migration and asylum and otherwise. In this context, we are proud the share their success stories developments and practices, in the upcoming workshop, organised with the involvement of Intercultural Regions Network.
Integration and inclusion of people with a migrant background is a process that involves a whole of society, that includes migrant and local communities, employers, civil society and all levels of government.
Regions, above all, have always had a paramount role to play and extensive experience in implementing innovative ideas and projects. They have the contextual knowledge and resources can be activated quickly.
In light of this, AER’s role in the ...
Job Vacancy: Member Relations Coordinator




Do you have experience in a member-based organisation? Do you have work experience in a European/international environment, interested in the European regional dimension, ready to travel across the continent? If this sounds like you, you might be our new Member Relations Coordinator.
We are looking for an experienced colleague who is proactive, diplomatic, collaborative, and organised to help with the management of the network, accompany our member regions in their AER experience and expand our membership base.
You will be working directly with the Secretary General and will be based in Brussels.
You must have the right to live and work in Belgium.
Key Responsibilities
Account Management – 50%
Acting as the main point of contact for the regions, and provide assistance to meet their needs
Building ...
Partner Search: New Project on Cultural Planning & Rural Development




The region of Örebro County and the Coompanion Mälardalen in Sweden are looking for partners for a new project they are preparing within the Creative Europe programme, call for proposals CREA-CULT-2021-COOP-2 “European Cooperation projects (medium scale)”.
The project will focus on cultural planning and rural development. Cultural planning is a broad, interdisciplinary approach that weaves cultural perspectives into community planning. It is a geographical rather than sectoral concept that includes both tangible and intangible cultural resources, and is becoming increasingly important in sustainably society planning.
Cultural planning will form the starting point of this project. It takes the view that culture should not be treated solely as a sectoral theme, but as a cross-cutting/transversal dimension of all high-level EU policy initiatives, ...
First calls under the Creative Europe 2021-27 have been launched!




The new Creative Europe Programme for 2021-27 was launched with the adoption of its first Annual Work Programme and the opening of the first calls under the ‘Culture’ strand! The programme will finance actions in the cultural and creative sectors with a total budget of EUR 2.4 billion for the next 7 years (63% higher than the previous programme).
About the new Creative Europe Programme
Creative Europe is the programme through which the European Commission provides support to the culture and audiovisual sectors across and beyond Europe. The programme will promote the competitiveness of these sectors, while supporting them in becoming greener, more digital, and more inclusive. Moreover, special attention will be addressed to reinforce the resilience and recovery of the ...
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 with our climate targets, another global pandemic will be a matter of ‘when’ not ‘if’. The need to make up for lost time to meet these targets – all while ensuring a resilient recovery from the pandemic – presents a once-in-a-generation political challenge.
The scale of the task at hand has not been lost on Europe’s leaders, who are determined for ...
Skills for Effective Innovation Ecosystems




Article by Sandra Evans, Project Coordinator at Universität Tübingen.
It is not a secret anymore that open innovation ecosystems provide optimal conditions for creating new value. But what makes innovation ecosystems effective, or how are effective innovation ecosystems created? This important question was the topic of a panel discussion organised by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) as part of a set of very topical webinars organised within the Erasmus+ Skillnet project on enabling multi-stakeholder approaches to help build more innovative societies.
As we all have witnessed in the past year, a crisis can be an incredible driver for innovation by honing in on the most pressing issues. With the COVID-19 pandemic the overall mission was to reduce the number of infected ...
REGISTRATION OPEN: Social Inclusion in TVET and Skill Development – Leaving No-one Behind




TVET policies and programmes are of core importance to ensure that all people can enjoy inclusive skill development leading to both individuals’ affirmation and the creation of diversified learning environments. As reported by Srinvas Reddy, Chief of the ILO Skills and Employability Branch, “inclusive skills development and lifelong learning opportunities are vital to prevent people from being left behind, to maintain people’s employability, and to ensure that economies and enterprises recover promptly from the crisis”. (Guide on making TVET and skills development inclusive for all, ILO Skills and Employability Branch, 2020).
Yet, as a result of rapid and increasing societal changes – as the digital transformation, climate change, globalisation and demographic trends – in-depth transformation have been taking place in the ...
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 face when it comes to accessing EU funding. That’s why on 26 May, as part of our Skillnet Project on European funding opportunities, the AER held a training session for regions and their stakeholders looking to make the best of new EU funding opportunities.
Featuring presentations and an extended Q & A with experts from the European ...
The AER needs YOU!




The United Nations’ 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development has become an integral part of European citizens’ lives, as sustainability is the key to a brighter future. That’s why the AER and our partners are organising a high-level regional conference dedicated to the Sustainable Development Goals, taking place in October 2021.
Regions are leading the way when it comes to delivering the SDGs on the ground, and we want to hear how your region is making a difference and shaping our sustainable future.
From local initiatives to policy and legislative proposals, we invite you to send us short, concise video messages and/or articles on what the SDGs mean to your region. All videos/articles should underline the importance of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable ...
COVID-19 – Mental Health & Well-being of Healthcare Professionals




The Chair of the AER Digital Health Network, Donna Hendersson, Scotland (UK) is pleased to invite AER members and partners on 16 June 2021 from 11:00-12:30 CET for a webinar on supporting the psychological wellbeing of healthcare professionals. The event will highlight the potential of digital solutions and the importance of digital (technological) literacy in providing mental health support.
Knowledge exchange to accelerate change
Capacity-building and knowledge exchange is both the foundation and aspiration of SCIROCCO Exchange EU Health Programme funded project (www.sciroccoexchange.com). The ultimate objective of this project is to support health and social care authorities in their transformation towards sustainable integrated and more efficient health and social care systems through better understanding of local needs, mutual learning, access to tailored ...
Mobility as a Service: registrations are open!




On 17 June 2021 the Chair of the AER Working Group on Transports and Mobility, Martin Tollén, Östergötland (SE) is organising a webinar on Mobility as a Service, also known as MaaS.
MaaS… I beg your pardon?
There is an increasing demand for innovative services supporting seamless mobility combining on-demand transport modes in conjunction with public transport, leading to the Mobility-as-a-Service (MaaS) concept:
MaaS is a user-centric, intelligent mobility distribution model, in which users’ needs are met via a single platform and are offered by a service provider, the mobility operator.
Source: http://www.maas4eu.eu/project/
This user-centricity shifts the focus from providers to users, which also means re-evaluating the role of the public sector, defining what matters, what stakeholders want to achieve, who needs to be involved ...
COVID-19: How to effectively communicate the need for change?


