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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

AER played an active role at the #EUlocal Summit in Bucharest on 14-15 March.

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 ...

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 by the 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 regional authorities, Institutions and other stakeholders to discuss the challenges ...

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

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

#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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 coordinates support for Ukraine On the one year anniversary of Russia’s unprovoked war of aggression against of Ukraine, the Assembly of European Regions is bringing our members together to coordinate support towards our twelve Ukrainian members. On 7 February, 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 will collaborate directly with our Ukrainian members, laying ...

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 ...

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 ...

The Assembly of European Regions is looking for a Communications and Events intern to join the Brussels team in Spring 2023 for at least 3 months. Starting and ending dates are flexible. Deadline: 15.03.2023 COB. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis. This is the position for you if:  You are a motivated student or young graduate eligible for an Erasmus+  grant / scholarship or similar scholarships. AER will consider the applications of students looking for mandatory curricular internships, amongst others. You studied or you are studying Communications, PR, Journalism, Political Science, International Relations, or similar subjects. You have some experience in social media communication and event organisation; this is appreciated but not compulsory. Volunteering and experience in student organisations are valued. You are interested ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

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 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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, 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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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.

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. ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 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 ...

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 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 ...

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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 ...

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 ...

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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 ...

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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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

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 ...

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 ...

“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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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. ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

“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 ...

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 ...

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, ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

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 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 ...

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 ...

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 ...

The Chair of the AER Digital Health Network Donna Hendersson, Scotland (UK) is pleased to invite AER members and partners on 26 May 10:00 – 11:00 CET to participate in a webinar focused on communication and awareness raising strategies for the wider public in the time of COVID-19 as well as training of healthcare professionals remotely. Change & greater demand for coordinated & integrated care The COVID-19 pandemic has proven to be a catalyst of change and of greater demand for coordinated and integrated health and social care services, with healthcare professionals and citizens at the centre of this change. This includes the need for effective communication strategies, including both top down and informal strategies via social media, in order to ...

Rising populism, widespread misinformation, and a loss of trust in governments and institutions. Add a global pandemic to that list of ailments, and it’s clear that democracy in Europe is not in the best shape. But what is the best course of treatment to restore Europe’s democratic health? The answer is a wholesale ‘lifestyle change’ for our democratic system, starting at local level.  On 12 May, the AER Task Force on Democracy, chaired by Örebro (SE), brought together representatives from member regions, EU policymakers and youth organisations to debate how to reform Europe’s democratic system from the bottom-up. This Bureau Debate, organised in collaboration with the EU Project ‘Y-FED: Europe is what we make of it’, and moderated by AER’s Vice President for ...

The AER together with our partners in the CUBES consortium are keeping busy providing reviews, initiatives and tools to address the lack of know-how regarding sustainable administration of cultural resources. We are fully committed to empowering all members of society to take ownership of their cultural resources, and administer them in more sustainable ways. That is why we are launching a new activity that will align the main project outputs and policy making elements to address ongoing challenges at local, regional and European level: the development of a Policy Paper. This Policy Paper will combine theory and practice, academic knowledge and policy drafting, as well as set out policy recommendations and scenarios for EU policy makers. More broadly, it will present ...

Ready to train with the EU projects team of the largest independent network of regions in Europe? We are looking for a motivated intern (STUDENTS ONLY) to join the Project Unit at the AER’s Brussels Office, under the supervision of our European Projects Coordinator. The placement would be for 6 months, starting as soon as possible. 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 at the European level). Supporting the AER’s projects team in its partner searches and follow-ups with its members. Contributing to the implementation of all activities related to ongoing projects, including financial elements. Providing input and assistance in drafting documents for new project proposals. Writing articles on ...

On March 26, the European Commission announced the entry into force of the new EU4Health Programme to support the resilience and innovation of health systems across Europe throughout the period 2021-2027. With a budget of EUR 5.1 billion for investments in the health sector, the EU4Health 2021-2027 programme is financially the largest health programme ever launched! The adoption of the new EU4Health programme comes at a time when health systems and industries across the world have faced unparalleled threats, and it embodies the EU’s long-term response to the COVID-19 pandemic. As stated by the European Commission Commissioner for Health and Food Safety, Stella Kyriakides: “The entry into force of our EU4Health Programme will give us the tools at hand to make long-standing ...

The European Commission is offering a detailed explanation on how to access information on funding and use the Funding & tenders Portal on 27 May 2021 10:00-12:30 CEST (Brussels time), via its “Webinar session: The Funding & tenders Portal for beginners“ As from 2021, all Commission Services shall be using the Funding & Tenders opportunities portal. It will replace individual systems that were used by the DGs (i.e. SWIM for DG EMPL). In order to facilitate the transition, the European Commission is organising a webinar for (potential) new users of the Portal. It will explain and demonstrate: the search for funding opportunities and partners registration of your organisation submission of proposals managing your profile exploring funded projects and statistics and many more features. The participation does not require ...

On 25 March, the Assembly of European Regions hosted the “Ambitious Skills and Innovation Strategies: A Territorial Approach” webinar. The event was part of the series of webinars on EU funding opportunities organised within the Skillnet project (co-founded by the Erasmus+ Programme) to bring together experts in Technical Vocational Education and Training (TVET) and to establish collaborations for future EU project proposals. We are now living in the age of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, where machines and artificial intelligence play a significant role in enhancing productivity and wealth. These changes have given rise to new skills requirements and a growing skills shortage among businesses and especially SMEs, which often struggle to find the talent they require. The new skills requirements are ...

Eva Hallström, Chair of the AER Working Group on Energy and Climate Change invites all AER members and friends to join an event on the role of regions in improving energy efficiency. Regions will share their experience, challenges, and enablers. This event is co-organised by Värmland (SE) and Viken (NO) Energy Efficiency: how to achieve the transition in the industry? This webinar aims to build a platform for discussions regarding the EU’s work on energy efficiency, focusing on the green transition within the industry. It will be an opportunity to share ideas, experiences, and best practices. Experiences from the Bioeconomy Region Värmland and Viken are both members of the “Bioeconomy Region”, a leading region of the forest bioeconomy. To achieve climate goals while making use ...

The EU Commission has adopted the first annual work programme of Erasmus+ 2021-2027, with a budget of €26.2 billion complemented by about €2.2 billion from the EU’s external instruments. The budget allocated to the new programme shows the high importance that the EU gives to education, youth and lifelong learning, as it is almost double compared to the amount earmarked for the 2014-2020 period. The new Erasmus+, which covers 33 countries, will fund learning mobility and cross-border cooperation projects. It will seek to be even more inclusive and to support the green and digital transitions, and it will also support the resilience of education and training systems in the face of the pandemic. The main elements of the new Erasmus+ programme are: Inclusive ...

We are looking for a motivated student to join the AER Team at our Brussels Office for six months from early to mid June 2021. Working closely with the AER Institutional Relations & Advocacy Officer,  Member Relations Coordinator and Communications & Events Officer, your main task will be to: Assist in the event and communication management of the AER SDG Conference & General Assembly About the Conference “Agenda 2030: Transforming Regions, Changing the World” “Entering the year 2020, we will see a comprehensive review of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) making this a year of symbolic importance to the global agenda.  This conference, jointly organised by AER, United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), the Global Taskforce, Regions4, Strasbourg Eurometropole and the Grand Est region will ...

In the context of its activities around skills and the future of work, AER has been organising a series of webinar together with partners of the Skillnet project since Spring 2020. We are very pleased to invite you to join a webinar on improving the attractiveness of TVET for women. Important: The event has been postponed and will be held on 13 July 2021 at 10:00 CET. The change will not impact on the registrations already submitted for the initial date (19th of May) and no further action is needed by the registrants. Yet, for all those that have not registered, registrations are already open! What about gender? AER has been working on mainstreaming gender and equal opportunities in AER activities. This ...

The agri-food sector is facing a revolutionary transformation within a complex operating environment characterised by technological and economic change, consumer concerns, climate change, and global value chains. The so-called Digital Farms, which combine precision farming techniques with the use of digital and high-tech tools, have been promoted by the EU Agenda to help farmers work more precisely, efficiently, sustainably, and in turn, make rural communities more attractive. Yet, the use of advanced digital and technological solutions in the agri-food sector requires workers to develop new knowledge and skills. To support regional policy-makers, VET and agri-food experts in this process, on March 26th, the AER held a mutual-learning webinar, ‘Innovation and Farming: Applications of Advanced Manufacturing in the Food Value Chain‘. The ...

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) has adopted its Recommendations on the Conference on the Future of Europe. The Conference on the Future of Europe aims to give citizens the chance to shape the European Union’s priorities. Through a series of open dialogues and debates across EU Member States, the Conference aims to give voice to ‘the silent majority’ of Europeans, and put people back at the centre of policymaking. At the Assembly of European Regions, we want to make sure that citizens feel their feedback counts. This demands a citizen-led approach starting in Europe’s towns, villages and cities, with a strong role for local and regional authorities as a channel for citizens’ ideas and aspirations. This is why on ...

The Assembly of European Regions is delighted to share a unique peer-learning opportunity aimed at regional representatives responsible for cultural tourism offered by the European Regions Research and Innovation Network (ERRIN) In the framework of the recently launched Horizon 2020 funded project “Beyond Cultural Tourism (Be.CulTour)”, ERRIN is opening a call for regional representatives to join the Be.CulTour Community. Cultural tourism, including heritage assets, will be at the heart of the peer-learning programme. Innovation Ecosystems & Circular Cultural Tourism 12 selected applicants representing their local and regional innovation ecosystems will have the opportunity to benefit from a fully funded peer-learning scheme which will follow a pilot / mirror approach. Via quarterly community conversations, dedicated interviews, tailored webinars, and offline learning labs ...

The CUBES project, co-financed by the Erasmus+ programme, aims to empower all societal sectors to own and administer their heritage and cultural resources in a sustainable way, thus leading to both cultural democracy and sustainability. To this purpose, the project developed a training programme, Cultural Administration & Sustainability Boosters Curriculum, that will be offered on an inclusive, interactive and user-friendly digital platform. The curriculum is designed by all project partners based on the best practices, funding tools, local challenges, training needs and results identified during the development of the Review Paper on Parameters Mapping. More specifically, the programme is addressed to public bodies and authorities, NGOs and foundations at regional and national level working in the cultural sector for the promotion and ...

We are pleased to invite you on 20 April 2021 at 10:00 CET to a webinar on how to encourage citizen participation of stakeholders in Vocational Education & Training What is active citizenship? 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. To achieve high-quality civic participation, it is however crucial to make sure to involve all regional stakeholders. Research shows there is a large participation gap between college students and other young people. Thus, this ...

We are pleased to invite you to the webinar “Creating Effective Innovative Ecosystems” which will take place on 19 April 2021 at 10:00 CET. Innovation ecosystems: a complex set of relationships The term innovation ecosystem derives from the analogy with biological ecosystems. These are a complex set of relationships among the living resources, habitats, and residents of an area. Their functional goal is to reach sustained equilibrium. An innovation ecosystem describes the complex set of relationships among very diverse actors and entities, which work for technology development and innovation in a territory. Amongst others, this includes the material resources and human capital of universities, colleges of engineering, business schools, business firms, venture capitalists, industry-university research institutes, state or regional economic development agencies ...

The Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform offers a free on-demand peer review service, where a two-day knowledge-exchange experience can be designed to advise on a region’s policy frameworks. This service will be presented in detail on 25 March at the webinar “Ambitious Skills and Innovation Strategies: A territorial Approach” as one of the opportunities regions can use to implement bold regional development strategies. Peer feedback & insights for regional policymaking Policymakers and practitioners of regional development policies can face a number of challenges related to the design, implementation, and monitoring of the regional policies that they oversee. When faced with such challenges, one of the best solutions is to reach out for help to those who have relevant experience to share. This ...

Do you want to learn more about the European Youth Goals and its Youth Strategy, the opportunities and challenges for youth participation at local and regional level, and how to develop and effective advocacy plan? Read the Y-FED Training Handbook! In 2018, as a result of a Structured Dialogue with young people, decision-makers, and other stakeholders, the European Union developed the EU Youth Strategy 2019-2027. This youth strategy set out to achieve eleven European Youth Goals. These aim to overcome main challenges that young people face in their daily lives, and present a vision of Europe that empowers young people to reach their full potential.  Promoting the active participation of young people in decisions and actions at local and regional level is ...

Are you a motivated professional who is passionate about European policy? Do you have experience in the management of EU funded projects? Are you enthusiastic about knowledge sharing activities? If this sounds like you, and you are eager to reinforce an enthusiastic, international team with a wide range of responsibilities, you might be our new Project & Policy Officer. Apply now! We are looking for a colleague to support our Project and Policy teams in the implementation of EU-funded projects, and the delivery of related activities. We want this to be combined with a knack for supporting our team in mutual learning activities, policy analysis, as well as contributing to our advocacy work. We offer an initial 6-month, full-time Belgian employment contract, ...

Ready to train with the EU projects team of the largest independent network of regions in Europe? We are looking for a motivated intern (STUDENTS ONLY) to join the Project Unit at the AER’s Brussels Office, under the supervision of our European Projects Coordinator. The placement would be for 6 months, starting as soon as possible. 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 at the European level). Supporting the AER’s projects team in its partner searches and follow-ups with its members. Contributing to the implementation of all activities related to ongoing projects, including financial elements. Providing input and assistance in drafting documents for new project proposals. Writing articles on ...

The AER encourages its member regions to take an active part in “Learning in the Age of Industry 4.0.” This annual conference is organised by the European Association for Practitioner Research on Improving Learning (EAPRIL). Submit your proposal by 1st April! As part of the Skillnet project, AER members have the opportunity to share innovative practices from their region at “Learning in the Age of Industry 4.0” that will take place from 23-26 November in Kufstein (Tyrol, AT). About the Conference The conference will provide a space for dialogue “on the opportunities provided through learning in the age of industry 4.0 and digitalisation in education.” Experts will discuss: How digitalisation and new digital technologies can be applied to education and learning; How ...

Technology has brought many improvements to the lives of people across the globe. Life expectancy has been trending upward, and many diseases can now be successfully treated, contained, or even completely cured. A big part of this improvement is due to the advances made in the domain of food production and supply. However, recent events such as the COVID-19 pandemic have shown us that challenging times lay ahead and that we need to continue improving technology to rise to the challenge. But how can regions lead the way towards more sustainable food systems, while ensuring our citizens are not left behind? The Innovation Show 2021 – How can we make food our most trusted ally? On 3 March 2021, the AER and ...

The AER, in cooperation with JEF Europe, are looking for 8 mentors to guide and support 8 groups of young activists from across Europe in the implementation of local and regional advocacy actions! Apply by March 24th! As part of the “Y-FED: Europe is what we make of it” project co-funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the EU, the AER, in cooperation with JEF Europe, has engaged in empowering youth in the European and regional political dialogues and, in turn, building a Europe that is closer to its young citizens. To this aim, the AER has recently held a three-days online training on advocacy. 24 young activists have enhanced their knowledge of the European  Youth Goals and the European Youth Strategy ...

Are you a numbers guru, with experience in project management? Are you also 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 & Administration Officer. Apply now! We are looking for a colleague to support our Project Unit in the financial management of EU-funded projects. We want this to be combined with a knack for supporting the AER team in administrative matters, internal planning, and coordination tasks. We offer an initial 8-month, full-time French or Belgian employment contract, with the possibility of extension if our project activities continue to grow. You must have the right to live and work in the EU. This position is ...

Europe’s local and regional authorities have been on the frontline of the pandemic; working tirelessly on the ground in villages, towns and cities across the continent to shield citizens from the worst impacts of the crisis. Yet, as member states prepare their national plans to access funding from the EU’s Recovery & Resilience Facility (RRF), local and regional authorities have found themselves largely frozen out of discussions, or in some cases excluded entirely. With the April deadline for submitting the national plans looming, what can be done to make sure regions have their say in Europe’s post-pandemic future? On the evening of Thursday 4 March, the AER and the Government of Catalonia brought together representatives from the European Commission, ...

We are pleased to invite you to the webinar “Innovation and Farming: Applications of Advanced Manufacturing in the Food Value Chain” that will take place on 26 March 2021 at 10:00 CET and focuses on advanced manufacturing solutions in driving sustainable change in the agrifood sector It will offer regions and stakeholders engaged with the agri-food sector the opportunity to learn and share experiences about how regions, companies, and Vocational Education & Training centers can identify common information communications technology (ICT) and advanced manufacturing solutions in driving the change in the food processing and supply chain, in order to foster regional cooperation based on the shared goals and values of the Smart Specialisation Strategies. A new approach to food production The agricultural sector, ...

We are pleased to invite you to the webinar “Ambitious Skills and Innovation Strategies: A territorial approach” that will take place on 25 March 2021 at 10:00 CET Including rural areas in innovation strategies to tackle EU challenges Rural areas, cover 44% of the EU territory, and are home to almost 1 in 4 Europeans. Education, vocational training and lifelong learning play a vital role in the economic and social strategies of the European Union (EU). The strategic framework for European cooperation in education and training is called Education and training 2020 (ET 2020). It pursues four common objectives: make lifelong learning and mobility a reality; improve the quality and efficiency of education and training; promote equity, social cohesion and active citizenship; ...

At a time where every aspect of our lives is getting “smarter”, can food get “smart”, too? The answer is yes, as will be demonstrated on 3 March at the AER’s 2021 Innovation Show – How Smart is your Food?, hosted by Gelderland (NL) in collaboration with Th!nk East Netherlands. Every link in the food value chain is being transformed by digital innovation, and in particular by Economy 4.0. Research on nutrition is bringing fresh insights and innovative ideas that affect every stage from production and processing, right through to consumption. Working towards nutrition security and sustainable diets, moreover, has been found to positively impact issues as diverse as climate change, health and citizen participation. Food value chain innovation and the ...

On 16th February 2021, the Assembly of European Regions in cooperation with IOM and the Intercultural Regions Network hosted the webinar “Intercultural regions: Active Participation & Social Inclusion“. This was the third webinar co-organised within the framework of the Includ-EU project which works towards building more inclusive and cohesive European Societies. Intercultural interaction at the core of positive diversity management Policies and practices that foster intercultural interaction and inclusion are instrumental in enabling cities and regions to manage diversity positively. This third webinar focused on regional and local experiences facilitating migrant’s active participation and social inclusion. Political will, effective methodologies, a learning environment The webinar, which was moderated by Irena Guidikova, Head of Division of the Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Programmes at the Council of Europe, presented different experiences of ...

On 4 March AER will host a debate on the role of regions in overcoming the economic and social impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. The EU’s Recovery and Resilience Facility (RRF) represents a ray of hope for regions as Europe sets out on long road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic.    However, a recent study conducted by the European Committee of the Regions and the Council of European Municipalities and Regions clearly demonstrates that our cities, regions and municipalities are not being meaningfully included in the member states’ preparation of National Recovery Plans. What can we do to ensure that regions have a greater say in the design and implementation of these recovery plans? Join us on Thursday, 4 March from 16:00 to 17:30 CET for our ...

On January 27th,  the Assembly of European Regions in cooperation with Skillman Alliance hosted the “New enthusiasm for Vocational Education & Training, Boosting self-confidence in young people” webinar. This was the ninth webinar on EU funding opportunities that are being co-organized by AER within the Skillnet project framework (co-founded by the Erasmus+ Programme) in order to bring together experts in different fields linked to vocational education and training (VET) and establish relevant groups of collaboration for future EU project proposals. Generating enthusiasm for Technical and Vocational Education and Training This webinar offered the opportunity to learn and exchange about regional policies and practices aimed at making young people more aware of the opportunities related to Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET). ...

Reducing the number of early leavers from education and training across the member states is one of the EU’s priorities in the field of education. The risk of an increased number of drop-outs from education is a growing concern in Europe; with the fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbating the challenges faced by vulnerable learners. In this context, young peoples’ feelings of exclusion and isolation may impact their motivation to continue studying, enrol in training or find a job, with considerable costs for individuals and society at large. To counter this trend and facilitate mutual learning between regions and vocational education and training (VET) organisations, the AER hosted our second Skillnet webinar of 2021. This webinar focused on how to ...

APPLICATION STILL OPEN: The call for participants for the Advocacy Training for Young European Activists organised by the Assembly of European Regions and the Young European Federalists (JEF) has been extended! Submit your application by Friday 26th February 2021 via the online form! APPLICATION EXTENDED TO YOUTH FROM ALL OVER THE EU: The application has been opened to young citizens that are member of JEF Sections and/or the AER Youth Regional Network and/or representative a Youth Regional Council within the European Union! Priority (not exclusion) is given to applicants belonging to one of the above organisations/networks that are located in one of the country covered by the Y-FED project, namely: Belgium, Bulgaria, Croatia, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Malta, North ...

Are you interested in joining projects within the Transnational Actions on Asylum, Migration and Integration Call? TAMAT, a non-governmental organization located in AER’s member region Umbria, is looking for partners to join their new project to support integration and social inclusion of migrants. About the Transnational Actions on Asylum, Migration and Integration Call – Topic 1 Developing and Implementing Local Integration Strategies through Multi-stakeholder Partnerships  Even though integration mostly occurs at the local level, local plans and strategies have to coordinate interventions of different stakeholders. Thus the AMIF-2020-AG-CALL-01 aims to support the development and implementation of multi-stakeholder local integration strategies including various aspects of the integration process. The integration and social inclusion of migrants are crucial not only for ensuring the ...

As part of the “Y-FED: Europe is what of make of it” project, The Assembly of European Regions (AER) and Young European Federalists (JEF Europe) are seeking to empower youth across Europe as major advocates of the European Youth Goals at the local and European level. To achieve this aim, we are currently looking for three trainers to facilitate and contribute to the organisation of an online training seminar on advocacy for young activists. The seminar will be held in the first week of March 2021. “Y-FED: Europe is what we make of it” is a project co-financed by the Erasmus+ programme of the EU with the aim of strengthening the relationship between the EU and its young citizens. ...

On 16 February AER will organise a webinar on how regions can foster active participation & social inclusion of third-country nationals for better integration policies and practices, together with IOM and the Council of Europe Mutual learning to foster integration policies & best practices Regional and local authorities are at the forefront when it comes to addressing integration needs in practice. It is therefore particularly important to create opportunities for structured and meaningful mutual learning on integration. This will enable regional and local authorities to share good practices and improve policies and practices. Participation & Inclusion for Cohesion and Economy Organised in the framework of the Includ-EU project, an EU-funded project which contributes to building more inclusive societies by enhancing knowledge and ...

The transition towards a circular economy is among the core objectives of policy-makers at all levels of government. Yet, its full and effective achievement strongly depends on the readiness of all the societal and economic actors. In this regard, a growing mismatch between skills and labour needs can hamper both the transition as well as the possibility to exploit its great potential for employment and social inclusion. To counter this trend and facilitate the adoption of effective models by regions and vocational educational and training (VET) organisation, AER launched a dedicated webinar within the 2020 edition of the Skillman International Forum.   During the first day of the Skillman International Forum (10-11 December 2020), AER held the webinar ‘Circular Economy: Opportunities ...

On 11 December as part of the 2020 Skillman International Forum, the Assembly of European Regions hosted the webinar “New mobility services: Anticipating skills and job roles“. This webinar brought together experts working in the new mobility sector, who exchanged perspectives and examples of how emerging skill needs and professional profiles are being integrated into this growing sector by regions and private stakeholders. The event was part of the series of webinars on EU funding opportunities organised by AER within the Erasmus+ project Skillnet. These webinars bring together experts in different fields linked to vocational education and training (VET) and aim to build partnerships for future EU project proposals.  Transformation of mobility services and the need to embrace the change New mobility services offer ...

On 17 December 2020, AER took part in Finnova Foundation‘s webinar Next Talent Generation EU: COVID-19 Challenge, training in European Affairs for young people abroad. The webinar addressed the challenges that the COVID-19 crisis is posing to European mobility programmes, which are vital for upgrading the education and training of young professionals. A European Marshall Plan to invest in Youth Talent There are currently 1.8 billion young people between the ages of 15 and 35 in the world; the largest youth population in history. With 25 million jobs expected to be lost due to the health crisis, this cohort accounting for one-third of the world’s population is at a higher risk of exclusion amid the pandemic. At EU level, it is hoped ...

How to encourage young people and provide them with adequate support so they remain interested in learning in a global context that is particularly challenging? AER is proud to announce two webinars, which will provide an opportunity to share regional experiences and hear about support initiatives at EU level. Enthusiasm for technical & vocational training One of the challenges in Technical and Vocational Education and Training is that it is often associated with negative representations such as the difficulty to follow general education or attend university. The objective of the first webinar, which will take place on 27 January 2021 at 10:00 CET, is to learn about regional policies and practices aimed at making young people more aware of the opportunities related ...

Are you undertaking a project or initiative in your region that puts European cohesion into practice? The AER invites you to apply for the 2021 Emperor Maximilian Prize! Instituted in 1997 by the Land of Tirol and the town of Innsbruck, the prestigious ‘Emperor Maximilian Prize for European Service at the Regional and Local Level’ is awarded biennially to pioneering projects that stand for European cooperation beyond local, regional and national borders. The prize celebrates those that have shown outstanding commitment to strengthening the role of the regions and local government at European level. It consists of a cash prize worth €10,000, a medallion of Emperor Maximilian I and a certificate. Role of the AER We are delighted to announce that ...

As a proud partner of the Skillnet project, AER is very pleased to provide an overview of the very first virtual 6th edition of the yearly SIF – SKILLMAN.EU INTERNATIONAL FORUM 2020, about redefining the future of learning, which took place on December 10th and 11th 2020. Practitioners, innovative academics, and industrial experts in the field of  Vocational Education and Training joined forces to promote an approach to curricula design based on skills foresight analysis. This year the Forum adopted a holistic approach to face the new challenges risen during the pandemic in the context of skills and job opportunities. The underlying theme of the event was the importance of assessing and therefore providing key skills that people have to possess, especially in the Advanced ...

Following the first European Green Deal webinar, which covered challenges and opportunities for regions in the time of Covid-19, the AER brought the second in our series: Farm to Fork – The Commitment of Regions to Sustainable Food Policy in the EU, in collaboration with the Advisory Council for Sustainable Development of the Catalan Government (CADS). The panel debate moderated by Arnau Queralt, Director of the Advisory Council for Sustainable Development of Catalonia, brought together regional authorities as well as EU and global representatives. During this online session, it was discussed the key role that the new comprehensive approach to food sustainability has to play in the European Union and the commitment from European regions towards developing and implementing food policies that contribute to a more resilient ...

We are looking for our next intern! You will be working as an External Relations and Executive Assistant (Intern Contract – up to 6 months) – for STUDENTS ONLY We are looking for a motivated student to join the AER Team at our Brussels Office. You will work 70% with the Member Relations and Communication colleagues and 30% with the Secretary General. Your tasks will include but are not limited to:  contribute to the external relations (communications, member relations…) strategies of AER; assist in the development and management of our main communication channel (our website); assist in reaching out to AER’s audience via social media and our newsletter; support the organisation of events from start to finish; support the Secretary General (scheduling and organisation of meetings; ...

Are you currently developing a project proposal within the Cosme programme or are you planning to do so? Sviluppumbria, the Development Agency of Umbria (Italy), AER member region, is eager to join as a partner an established consortium and to input with their expertise. About the call This COSME action aims to promote entrepreneurship and improve the business environment for SMEs to allow them to realise their full potential in today’s global economy. In particular, the call for proposals Innovation uptake and digitalisation in the tourism sector (COS-TOURINN-2020-3-04) focuses on supporting the digital transformation of tourism entrepreneurs, particularly SMEs and start-ups, and enhance innovation along the tourism value chain, through the integration of tourism businesses and stakeholders in transnational and inter-regional innovation ecosystems as ...

Are you currently developing a project proposal within the Horizon 2020 European Green Deal Call or do you wish to do so? Then, Municipality of Acquasparta, Municipality of  Sangemini, Municipality of Terni and company Green Power, based in Umbria (Italy), AER member region, are eager to either join an established consortium or to find partners willing to co-create an effective project application. About the European Green Deal Call Horizon 2020 Green Deal Call launched on the 18th of September, offers €1 billion investment to boost the green and digital transition. It provides the opportunity and resources to achieve the primary objective of a sustainable Europe and planet. Project proposals have to be submitted by 26 January 2020. The structure of the call is mirroring the European Green Deal. One ...

Are you looking for partners to join and contribute to your project proposal under the Horizon2020 Green Deal Call – Demonstration of systemic solutions for the territorial deployment of the circular economy? The paper-making consortium ECOVPRINT based in Città di Castello, in Umbria, one of the AER member regions, could be the right partner to join your project! About the European Green Deal Call Green Deal Call, worth €1 billion, has been launched on the 18th of September. It is the last call of the Horizon 2020 Programme and just ahead of the launch of Horizon Europe, the next research and innovation programme kicking-off in 2021. The Green Deal Call is all about making Europe the first climate-neutral continent by 2050, with ...

New mobilities is a topic regularly discussed at AER to help better integrate and manage urban transport. We have exchanged experiences of mobility solutions during Nancy plenaries and discussed new initiatives through the leadership of Östergötland in the AER Working Group on Transports and Mobility. The AER is now pleased to invite you to share your opinion and knowledge in the discussions on future opportunities for urban areas’ space for mobility. Share your views ALICE, EPA, and POLIS are launching a large-scale survey at the European level on curbside management, and your contribution can make the difference. Through this short questionnaire, we would like to collect some information that could help steer the discussion on curb management and define the main opportunities and ...

On November 18th, the AER Digital Health Network hosted the webinar Digital Health, Wellbeing, and Smart Specialisation. The webinar was moderated by Donna Henderson, Chair of AER Digital Health Network. It showcased the experiences of two AER in supporting the development of digital solutions that underpin healthy living and foster collaboration between the public sector, universities, civil organisations, entrepreneurs and businesses. Kenneth Johannesson, Vice President for Health Innovation of the AER Committee on Social Policy and Public Health opened the webinar by stating that new forms of innovation in digitalisation are necessary to offer more proactive, personal, patient well-being oriented and cost-effective care. The benefits provided by the digitalisation of services, he explained, such as virtual visits, patient portals, electronic medical records, early disease ...

The Green Deal Call worth €1 billion has been launched on the 18th of September. The call is the last within the H2020 Programme and just ahead of the launch of Horizon Europe, the next research and innovation programme kicking-off in 2021. Send your proposals by 26th January 2021! With 10 different areas of intervention, the H2020 Green Deal Call offers the opportunity and resources to achieve the primary objective of a sustainable Europe and planet by tackling the current major environmental, climate, and societal challenges. To this aim, the call attaches pivotal importance to: The impact of the action, with the Commission looking for projects that will deliver fast and visible results. The short term approach is the main difference ...

The first ever virtual General Assembly, Bureau Meeting and Eurodyssey Forum took place last week on 19-20 November. Owing to the Covid-19 crisis, these meetings scheduled to take place in Barcelona were moved online. Despite these challenges, AER members from across the continent tuned-in; making the most of the new format and ensuring the important work of the AER could continue in earnest. The General Assembly The General Assembly & Bureau meetings began with welcoming remarks from AER President, Magnus Bernttson. The President noted that the challenges posed by the pandemic have impacted the work programme of the AER, but stressed the need for optimism and noted the many achievements of the AER despite these difficulties. Most significantly, rumours of severe cuts ...

The Assembly of European Regions is glad to contribute to Skillman International Forum by hosting the webinar “New mobility services: Anticipating skills and job roles”, organised within the Skillnet project co-funded by Erasmus+ Programme. The webinar will take place online on the 11th of December, 11:15 – 12:15 CET.  The event is part of the Skillnet series of 18 webinars designed to bring together experts in different fields linked to vocational education and training (VET), with the purpose of establishing relevant groups of collaboration and partnerships for future EU project proposals. The webinar will highlight regional examples on the integration of new mobility services and the development of skills and job roles needed in the sector.  New mobility services are offering solutions to ...

Save the date! We are pleased to invite you to the webinar ‘Circular Economy: Opportunities and Needs in the Labour Market’ that will be held online on 10th December from 15:30 to 16:30 as part of the 2020 edition of the Skillman International Forum focused on “redefining the future of learning in the advanced manufacturing sector”! The event is part of the Skillnet series of 18 webinars designed to bring together experts in different fields linked to vocational education and training (VET) with the purpose of establishing relevant groups of collaboration and partnerships for future EU project proposals. It will offer regions and stakeholders engaged with circular economy the opportunity to learn and exchange about how regions, companies, and VET organisations can ...

On November 10th, the Assembly of European Regions in cooperation with IOM and the Intercultural Regions Network hosted the webinar “Intercultural regions: improving labour market inclusion“. This was the second webinar co-organised within the framework of Includ-EU project which works towards building more inclusive and cohesive European Societies. The webinar, which was moderated by Geertrui Lanneau, Senior Regional Labour Mobility and Human Development Specialist from the IOM Regional Office for the European Economic Area, the European Union and NATO, presented different experiences on how regions work to improve labour market integration policies and provided insights from IOM, and the European Commission. Multistakeholder approach to support cultural diversity Fereshteh Jalayer-Hess, co-chair of the Intercultural Regions Network, County Councillor of Värmland (SE) ...

The first-ever virtual Eurodyssey Forum took place on 19 & 20 of November 2020. These online sessions brought together the correspondents from Eurodyssey regions, hosting companies and youth alumni. In these sessions, participants discussed the functioning of the programme, and shared experiences and best practices to adapt learning mobility to the “new normal” of COVID-19. An online Eurodyssey Assembly In the afternoon of 19 November, following the AER General Assembly and Bureau meeting, the Eurodyssey Assembly gathered representatives from 20 member regions. The Assembly provided members with an opportunity to assess the state-of-play of the programme and exchange views on the regions’ prospects of hosting Eurodyssey participants in 2021, given the COVID-19 pandemic. https://twitter.com/europeanregions/status/1329425917157003264 In their opening remarks, AER President, Magnus Berntsson, ...

Are you interested in joining projects within the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment Call? Maramures County Council, local public administration in Romania and member region of AER, is looking for partners to join their new project to support youth employment.  About the EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment  EEA and Norway Grants Fund for Youth Employment aims to support transnational project initiatives that promote sustainable and quality youth employment. The focus on transnational cooperation reflects the view that unemployment among youth is a common European challenge and common European solutions should therefore be explored. This is in line with the Europe 2020 strategy and the EU cohesion policy that emphasize the importance of the regions and cross-border cooperation ...

Skills for the industry of the future The digital transformation, the greening of the economy, and demographic change all generate a large and structural need for employees with technical and digital skills. The lack of adequately skilled workers is a major issue in this context, which is only partially addressed by current Vocational Education and Training systems in Europe. In this context, the SKILLNET project – Sector Skills Network of Vocational Education and Training centres in Advanced Manufacturing-, co-funded by the Erasmus+ program, is developing a transnational and national network for Vocational Education Training providers. This network offers opportunities for mutual learning, information on funding, and fosters partnerships to improve the quality and efficiency of VET in Europe. Opportunities for regional stakeholders To ...

The sixth edition of the Skillman International Forum is getting closer! Do not miss the opportunity to learn more and contribute to ‘redefining the future of learning’! On 10th and 11th December, the 2020 edition of the Skillman International Forum (SIF) will be held online. The event is a yearly appointment launched by the Skillman Alliance in order to provide a space for exchanges relevant for improving the framework of education and Vocational Education and Training (VET) systems. This year, the SIF will focus on redefining the future of learning in the advanced manufacturing sector through a variety of activities and contributions. Through webinars, workshops, roundtables, pavillions, award ceremonies, and a VET cafè held and moderated ...

The rapidly evolving digitalisation of health and wellbeing requires new knowledge and collaboration models to accelerate growth globally. Small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) need to increase their business development expertise and capabilities in the field of digital health. Health care providers need to speed up their adoption of digital innovations and assess the impact of digital solutions on healthcare processes. New collaborative action models at the European level will speed up this development and knowledge building. Digital Health, Wellbeing and Smart Specialisation The AER Digital Health Network is pleased to invite you to the webinar Digital Health, Wellbeing and Smart Specialisation organised on 18 November 2020, 10.00 – 11.30 CET. The objective of this webinar is to learn and exchange experiences of ...

Are you interested in joining projects within Horizon 2020 European Green Deal Call? Sibiu County Council, local public administration in Romania and member region of AER, is looking for partners to join their new project on the Farm-to-Fork Strategy. About the European Green Deal Call Green Deal Call, worth €1 billion, has been launched on the 18th of September. It is the last call of the Horizon 2020 Programme and just ahead of the launch of Horizon Europe, the next research and innovation programme kicking-off in 2021. The Green Deal Call is all about impact, with the Commission looking for projects that will deliver fast and visible results. This call is yielding tangible results that will bring changes by 2030.  The structure of the ...

The AER Digital Health Network is pleased to invite you to Digital Health & Care Event – DigiFest2020, Scotland’s largest annual digital health and care event is back and for the first time will be delivered virtually! What’s the Festival about? Digital health and care solutions have had a year of rapid scale-up and development. Taking time to reflect and learn about how digital solutions in Scotland and internationally have grown and been adopted is the focus of this year’s DigiFest.    2020 has been a challenging year for everyone and for staff working to innovate and deliver person-centred services. Digital tools, services and approaches have had a higher profile than ever before and are recognised as making a key contribution to delivering health and care ...

The series of webinars on EU funding opportunities launched within the Skillnet project continues! New themes and dates have been agreed and we are now launching a call to collect good practices on circular economy and new mobility services to be presented during the Skillman Internal Forum on 10th and 11th December 2020! As you know, a series of 18 webinars on EU funding opportunities was launched within the Skillnet project. The latter is a project co-funded by the Eramus+ Programme of the EU aiming at improving the overall framework of Vocational Education and Training systems to provide effective responses that are tailored to current societal and economic needs. Within this framework, Skillnet webinars on EU funding opportunities offer a space ...

Why do we need to communicate about cohesion policy? Cohesion policy provides investments that represent the most tangible and concrete proof of the EU’s impact on the everyday life of millions of citizens. Those investments aim to support job creation, business competitiveness, economic growth, sustainable development, and improve citizens’ quality of life. Despite the local character of the cohesion policy and its major impact on citizens’ life, lack of knowledge about the policy is still widespread. To enable an informed debate about the EU’s future priorities and secure better transparency on the spending of the EU funds, citizens should be more aware of the investments in their countries, regions, and cities. The experience of Together4Cohesion Cohesion Policy is a key topic within AER ...

The General Assembly is the highest authority of AER and convenes representatives of all its full members at least once a year. The General Assembly adopts among other things, the annual reports of the Thematic Committees. This report is the compilation of actions developed and implemented within Committee 1 between the 2019 General Assembly in Larnaka (CY) and the 2020 online General Assembly. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic the AER Executive Board decided to prolong the validity of the AER Action Plan in order to allow the continuation of knowledge sharing between regions in a structured way. AER had to define ways to maintain planned activities and offer new opportunities for mutual learning in a radically different and uncertain context, where ...

The General Assembly is the highest authority of AER and convenes representatives of all its full members at least once a year. The General Assembly adopts among other things, the annual reports of the Thematic Committees. This report is the compilation of actions developed and implemented within Committee 2 between the 2019 General Assembly in Larnaka (CY) and the 2020 online General Assembly. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic the AER Executive Board decided to prolong the validity of the AER Action Plan in order to allow the continuation of knowledge sharing between regions in a structured way. AER had to define ways to maintain planned activities and offer new opportunities for mutual learning in a radically different and uncertain context, where ...

The General Assembly is the highest authority of AER and convenes representatives of all its full members at least once a year. The General Assembly adopts among other things, the annual reports of the Thematic Committees. This report is the compilation of actions developed and implemented within Committee 3 between the 2019 General Assembly in Larnaka (CY) and the 2020 online General Assembly. In the context of the COVID-19 pandemic the AER Executive Board decided to prolong the validity of the AER Action Plan in order to allow the continuation of knowledge sharing between regions in a structured way. AER had to define ways to maintain planned activities and offer new opportunities for mutual learning in a radically different and uncertain context, where ...

To register to this event, please download the registration form on the event webpage of the Training Seminar For the second year in a row, AER is collaborating with the European College of Cluny to provide a training seminar for policymakers, which brings together both academics and practitioners in an interactive format. This year’s seminar is organised together with the European campus of Sciences Po in Dijon and will be held fully online. The collaboration with the European College of Cluny was initiated in the framework of an initiative led by Committee 3 President Radimir Čačić and aimed at facilitating civil servants exchanges and capacity building in public administration. Difficult questions for difficult times This training seminar will look at a question, which ...

On October  21st, the Assembly of European Regions in cooperation with Skillman Alliance, hosted the “Lifelong learning: Upskilling and Reskilling of 50+” webinar. This was the sixth webinar on EU funding opportunities that are being co-organized by AER within the Skillnet project framework (co-founded by the Erasmus+ Programme) in order to bring together experts in different fields linked to vocational education and training (VET) and establish relevant groups of collaboration for future EU project proposals. The webinar presented examples of how regions address the need for reskilling and upskilling and provided insights on funding opportunities and EU programmes supporting life-long learning.  Rapidly changing labour markets In the context of rapidly changing labour markets, the upskilling and reskilling of adults has become a priority. Technological ...

For the very first time, the AER-Eurodyssey programme was featured in the European Week of Regions and Cities in partnership with the Public Employment Service of Catalonia – SOC (es), Bureau International Jeunesse – Wallonia (be), Varazdin County (hr), Brussels Public Employment Service – Actiris (be) and the Sardinian Agency for Active Labour Policies – ASPAL (it). A celebratory event marking 35 years of Eurodyssey The Eurodyssey virtual lab Eurodyssey35: Regions on the move (14/10/2020), moderated by Hrvoje Kovaç, Chair of the AER Subcommittee on Youth, was joined by two inspiring panellists in the field of youth: Jovana Majstorovic, Board Member of the European Youth Forum, and Floor Van Houdt, Head of Unit for Youth policy and Volunteer Solidarity ...

Interested in sharing your business propositions and ideas to potential clients? Join us at the Regional Business Forum that will take place this year as a hybrid online event in Novi Sad. The Regional Business Forum (RBF) is an annual international forum to exchange on support for SMEs, promote business and commerce, incentive the possibility to collaborate and share best practices between regions. This 3rd edition will be a hybrid-event hosted in the Autonomous Province of Vojvodina on 10 November. Following the success of last year’s forum, this year’s Regional Business Forum will focus on three main sectors: Agriculture & Food; the Construction Industry; ICT and Creative industries. Through B2B (business-to-business) meetings, participants will get the chance to find partners according to ...

We are pleased to invite you to a webinar on how regions can improve labour market integration policies and practices, with examples from different regions and insights from IOM and the European Commission When? Tuesday November 10th 2020, 14:00-15:00 CETWhere? GoToWebinar Mutual Learning to improve policies and share good practices Regional and local authorities are at the forefront when it comes to addressing integration needs in practice. The Covid-19 pandemic has strongly tested systems in place, revealing tremendous needs but also the resourcefulness which exists at local and regional levels. This shows how essential it is to create opportunities for structured and meaningful mutual learning on integration in order to enable regional and local authorities to share good practices and improve policies and ...

One more year the Assembly of European Regions took part in the European Week of Regions and Cities with the organisation of a webinar together with its partners: Regions 4, ORU Fogar, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the Catalan Directorate-General for Development Cooperation (ACCD), and the European Union EUROsociAL+ Programme. The webinar which took place last 15 October addressed the question of “How cohesion policy can make regions deliver for a sustainable and fair Europe, and progress on the implementation of the SDGs“. Magnus Berntsson, AER President, moderated the workshop and introduced the relevance of bringing cohesion policy and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development together. Local and regional authorities play a crucial role in achieving a sustainable future and ...

Interested in knowing more about how you can be involved in the SKILLNET project and what opportunities are available to you? AER is launching an informative campaign on  SKILLNET’s core activities to answer these questions and ensure that our members and broader audience can gain the most out of the project! In the first contribution, we cover the 18 webinars on EU funding opportunities and the newly established Partnership in Focus hub – Read the full article and get involved!  SKILLNET – Context and Aims SKILLNET is a project co-financed by the Erasmus + programme and it aims to strengthen and improve the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system’s capacity to design effective and high-quality programmes that are tailored to current societal ...

In the framework of SKILLNET project – Sector Skills Network in Advanced Manufacturing, a webinar will take place on October 21, 10:00/11:15 CET  dedicated to Lifelong learning: upskilling and re-skilling of 50+. The event is part of a series of 18 webinars designed to bring together experts in different fields linked to vocational education and training (VET), with the purpose of establishing relevant groups of collaboration and partnerships for future EU project proposals. This webinar will be a valuable occasion for participants from different countries and institutions to get insights from key speakers and to interact with experts in the field of lifelong learning.  Due to the rapidly changing labour markets and multiple challenges, such as digitalisation, technological changes, labour shortage, ageing societies ...

The United Nations 75th Anniversary consultation on “The Future We Want, The UN We Need”, is an ambitious UN exercise in crowdsourcing priorities and solutions. The Global Taskforce of Local and Regional Governments facilitated the drafting of a Visioning Report on behalf of the constituency to which the Assembly of European Regions is part of. On 21st of September, world leaders of the United Nations General Assembly gathered virtually to commemorate the seventy-fifth anniversary of the UN. On 8th of October, the constituency of Local and Regional Authorities met to not only celebrate but to also share the future United Nations they envision for 2045. On this occasion, the AER President, Mr Magnus Berntsson, will be representing the Assembly of European ...

The AER conference “Territorial Approaches to Regional Development” focusing on the ways in which regions address differences between urban and rural areas aimed to look in detail at the role of culture to create inclusive and welcoming rural areas. In the below article, Eugenijus Kaminskis from Xwhy / Agency of Understanding in Lithuania, and a lead partner in the CUBES project, shares his experience on why and how culture is the fourth pillar of sustainable development, as stated by UNESCO. Cultural identity’s role for sustainable development There is a new positive direction of involving cultural sector and communities while developing strategies for regional development.Culture in relation to sustainable regional development is a horizontal priority and it plays an important role not only in promoting, ...

Join our EURegions Talk on ‘Conducting Joint Campaigns on Cohesion Policy across European Regions‘ next Wednesday, 14 October from 18:00 – 18:30 CET, part of DG-REGIO’s Media Programme within the European Week of Regions and Cities! By presenting the steps, achievements, and challenges of the “Together for Cohesion: Let’s rEUnite” campaign – we will follow-up and continue further our successful work on the promotion of the benefits of European cohesion policy among citizens. As you may recall, Together for Cohesion is a wide-reaching communication campaign co-financed by DG-REGIO, and ran from March 2019 to July this year by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) in cooperation with the Media Consulta International Holding (mc Group) and with the strong involvement ...

After carefully considering the developments of the pandemic in Europe and the current regulations and guidance regarding international travel and large events, we have decided to hold the General Assembly, Bureau Meeting & Eurodyssey Forum on 19-20 November online.  While we regret that we will not be able to gather our members in person in Barcelona, we feel that public health and safety comes first.  We will soon be providing you with a link to register, as well as further information on updated agendas and practical modalities. As we move online, we will be updating the agenda to limit the meetings to what is essential. 

In Spring 2020 most European schools were closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its disproportionate burden on health systems. Different measures were implemented to support the continuation of teaching and learning during this period. Sharing experiences to improve practices On the initiative of Radimir Čačić (Varaždin County, Croatia), Chair of the Committee for Education, Culture and Youth, regions are invited to share their experiences and lessons learned via a survey. The aim of this survey is to provide valuable information about the organisation of classes in the exceptional school year 2019/2020, which will provide important and hopefully valuable information for the exchange of best practice examples, which could help other regions to improve the organisation of schooling and/or apply some new ...

The first AER series of webinars on European Green Deal in collaboration with the Advisory Council for Sustainable Development of the Catalan Government (CADS) was launched on 14 September. During the online session entitled EU Green Deal: Challenges and Opportunities for EU regions in times of COVID-19, it was discussed the key role that the European Green Deal and its Just Transition Mechanism will play in building more resilience and economic recovery to tackle the consequences that will be confronted by European regions in a post-COVID-19 era.  For this occasion, the more than one-hundred participants enjoyed the presence of experts working on the ground and implementing the new EU growth strategy from different perspectives. In this regard, the panel was composed ...

New opportunities are arising for fostering social wellbeing in Europe and beyond! Two calls have been launched under the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (“EaSI”). The call are both aimed to actively address the major societal needs of nowadays societies through two different actions: On one side, VP 2020/010 is designed to fund the establishment of national competence centres for social innovation; On the other, VP2020/003 supports the development of policy innovations in the frame of the Principle 14 of the European Pillar of Social Rights providing that “everyone lacking sufficient resources has the right to adequate minimum income benefits ensuring a life in dignity at all stages of life, and effective access to enabling goods and ...

On September 2nd, the Skillman Alliance, in cooperation with the European Training Foundation, hosted the “Youth Policy Partnerships” webinar. This was the fifth webinar on EU funding opportunities that are being co-organized by AER within the Skillnet project framework (co-founded by the Eramus+ Programme) in order to gather experts and practitioners in the field of TVET to exchange experience, network, and establish fruitful partnerships to be applied to future project opportunities. The webinar served as a great occasion to fuel discussions and exchange practices on how youth can be concretely “engaged, connected and empowered” as foreseen by the European Youth Strategy, as well as to lunch the newly established Skillman Youth Forum, a Basecamp platform where youth experts (TVET providers, academic ...

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is pleased to announce our participation in the European Week of Regions and Cities (EURegionsWeek) in two sessions during the week of 12-16 October. The EURegionsWeek is an annual event taking place in Brussels dedicated to regional policy. During this week, political representatives, decision-makers, experts and practitioners of regional policy, as well as stakeholders from business, banking, civil society organisations, academia, the EU institutions and the media discuss common challenges for European regions and cities. In 2019, over 9000 participants took part in over 330 sessions. Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the EURegionsWeek will be fully digital over 3 weeks from 5 to 22 October, each week covering a different theme: October 5 – 9: ...

Are you currently developing a project proposal addressing the EaSI call VP/2020/003 “Establishing and testing integrated interventions aimed at supporting people in (the most) vulnerable situations” or do you wish to do so? Then, Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, the third-largest municipality in Turkey and a hub for multiculturalism and integration, is eager to either join an established consortium or to find partners willing to co-create an effective project application to be submitted by 15/10/2020. About the Call By means of the European Programme for Employment and Social Innovation (EaSI), the European Union finances actions needed to pursue one of its core objectives, i.e. “the promotion of high-level quality and sustainable employment, guaranteeing adequate and decent social protection, combating social exclusion and poverty and ...

Helping city services to fight gender-based violence The EU-funded project Equalcity is supporting local services to better identify, prevent and tackle sexual and gender-based violence in migrant communities. This initiative was first introduced during the Q&A session of the “Intercultural Regions: Improving Access to Services” webinar organised by AER, IOM, and the Council of Europe. The opportunities Equalcity provides for cities will ultimately have an impact on the regional capacity to become more intercultural. AER, therefore, invites its members working on inclusion and migration to share these with cities in their territories. Practical training tools The Equalcity project, coordinated by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), supports local authorities to foster the inclusion and protection of migrants. The project will achieve this through ...

The Digital Health Network provides a platform for AER regions to learn from each other on this very current topic. It is open to all regions willing to improve their digital health strategies. Regions will share their experiences, knowledge, and resources that support the effective deployment of digital health solutions within their regional healthcare systems. The Digital Health Network is chaired by Scotland. Transforming health & care The digital transformation of health and care requires further action in these areas: citizen’s secure access to and sharing of health data across borders; better data to advance research, disease prevention and personalised health and care; digital tools for citizen empowerment and person-centred care. Exchange of knowledge & experiences The exchange of knowledge is crucial to support the implementation and ...

The AER Digital Health Network is pleased to invite you to a webinar organised on 8 September 2020 14:00-15:00 CET in the context of the Scirocco Exchange project Delivering integrated care in remote and rural areas: Sharing the experience Acknowledging differences between regions The significance of integrated care as a means for improving health outcomes, effectiveness and sustainability of health and care systems is widely acknowledged. It is a central element in many on-going or planned healthcare system reforms, however, it is important to recognise that the regions and countries in Europe are experiencing different progress and levels of maturity for integration. This is particularly the case of delivering integrated health and care services in remote and rural areas. Sharing experiences: Slovenia & ...

The European Green Deal is the new EU growth strategy launched by the European Commission with the objective of transforming the European Union into a fair and sustainable society with a competitive and green economy where there are net emissions of greenhouse gases by 2050. This EU strategy includes a roadmap to accelerate the green transition in Europe and to address a large number of economic, environmental and social challenges; such as global warming, biodiversity loss, food security, secured energy, sustainable mobility, carbon-free societies, etc. Moreover, the European Green Deal is an integral part of the European Commission’s strategy to implement the Sustainable Development Goals, which aims at putting sustainability and the well-being of citizens at the centre of the ...

It is with much gratitude and appreciation that the AER President and Executive Board members share the following message from the AER Secretary General. Dear AER members, partners and friends, I hope this message finds you in good health and that you have had a nice Summer. I write to you today to inform you that I am embarking upon a new professional challenge, and that my time at the Assembly of European Regions has come to an end. The process to find my successor is underway. In the meantime, Ms Vania Freitas will be the acting Secretary General.  Running an ambitious and transformative organisation such as AER, made up of passionate and dedicated people, has been truly awe-inspiring. Together, we played our part in ...

Do you want to learn more about youth policies and to establish transnational partnerships to provide youngsters with enhanced opportunities? Join the Youth Policy Partnership webinar organized within the SKILLNET project on September 2nd from 10 to 11! Background – About SKILLNET The event is part of a series of webinars organized within the project SKILLNET –  Sector Skills Network in Advanced Manufacturing. The latter aims to enhance transnational partnerships and expertise in the field of vocational education and training (VET) in order to improve the match between individuals’ skills and economic and societal needs. The project is co-funded by the Erasums+ programme and coordinated by the Skillman Network, a transnational platform of centres for vocational excellence for the advanced manufacturing sector. The ...

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) welcomes the historic long-term budget and recovery package agreed upon by the European Council on 21 July. AER has stressed and will continue to emphasize the importance that cohesion policy has in promoting a fair, sustainable, prosperous future for the European Union.  Furthermore, cohesion policy has been integral in responding to the pandemic and reducing the societal and economic damages in our regions. On 29 May, AER released a statement on the proposal published by the European Commission on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027 and the COVID-19 recovery plan. This statement not only underlines the central role that cohesion policy plays but also highlights the need to comply with the partnership principle, multi-level governance ...

Due to the recent global pandemic, the tourism and hospitality sector has faced some difficulties. Europe is the world’s leading tourist destination. The tourism sector in the EU represents 9.5% of the European Union’s gross domestic product (GDP), accounts for 11.2% of jobs in the European Union and is made up of nearly three million companies, 90% of which are SMEs. There are over 22.6 million people working in tourism in the European Union. Travel restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic have been a challenge to the tourism industry. Indeed, as a result of the various measures put in place to limit the spread of the virus, revenues are expected to fall by 50% for hotels and restaurants, 70% for travel ...

The campaign #Together4Cohesion is now concluded and we want to go through the long road performed. At the same time, we hope that our actions were meaningful in generating a spark among all actors involved within cohesion policy persuading them to continue showing its benefits. To this end, we want also to share sustainable tools that can support practitioners in this long-lasting exercise, as well as our commitment to continue promoting cohesion policy.   Since April 2019, AER in cooperation with mc Group and in partnership with six flagship regions have been coordinating and implementing a widespread communication campaign on the benefits of European cohesion policy co-financed by ...

Are you a young entrepreneur running a local business in the Mediterranean region and collaborating with your regional or local community? Then you may be eligible for the ARLEM Award 2021. The Assembly of the European Regions is pleased to present this initiative launched by the Euro-Mediterranean Regional and Local Assembly (ARLEM) to award a young innovative entrepreneur addressing their local needs. Created in 2010 by the Committee of the Regions (CoR), ARLEM aims to give a territorial dimension to the Union for the Mediterranean; promote local democracy, multi-level governance and decentralized cooperation around the three shores of the Mediterranean; encourage North-South and South-South dialogue; promote exchange of best practices; and promote regional integration and cohesion. In the context ...

On 13 July 2020, Mr Magnus Berntsson joined the Local and Regional Government Forum (LRGF) organised within the framework of the United Nations High-Level Political Forum. The AER President had the pleasure to represent the constituency of Local and Regional Governments of the Global Taskforce and speak on behalf of those who could not make their voice heard on such an important day. The 3rd edition of the LRGF was marked by the pandemic, which prevented the participants to convene in New York as planned in the first place. The world has been put to test during the past several months, a test to which anyone was prepared for. As reiterated by many local and regional representatives, all of them ...

You are all invited to attend the webinar organised by Skillman Network on the implementation of innovative technical, vocational education and training (TVET) policies through transnational cooperation. Mr Hrvoje Kovač, Chair of the Sub-Committee on Youth in the AER Committee for Culture, Education and Youth and Deputy Mayor of the Town of Lepoglava in Varaždin County (HR), will provide a presentation about mutual learning on skills development amongst European regions. SKILLNET – Sector Skills Network in Advanced Manufacturing AER recently joined a new project SKILLNET, co-funded by the Erasmus+ programme. It aims at helping Vocational Education and Training (VET) organisations to network and anticipate changes in needs for skills. Skillnet addresses challenges such as the skills mismatch between the industry and the ...

On 10 July, the AER President, Magnus Berntsson, and the Chairs of the Intercultural Regions Network (IRN), Oriol Amorós, Secretary of Equity, Migrations and Citizenship of the Government of Catalonia, Conny Brännberg, Regional Minister of Culture of Region Västra Götaland, and Fereshteh Jalayer Hess, County Councillor from Region Värmland, joined by Irena Guidikova, Head of Division on Inclusion and Anti-Discrimination Programmes of the Council of Europe, met via video conference with European Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson. The Chairs of IRN took the opportunity to present the Intercultural Regions Network and its support for regions to develop comprehensive intercultural strategies to manage diversity and migration based on the principles of equal opportunities, recognition of diversity and positive interaction between people from different ...

The Assembly of European Regions is proud to present its annual Activity Report 2019 – 2020. This theme of this year’s report is “Achieving Agenda 2030“, an expression of AER’s commitment to supporting its member regions in localising and delivering upon the Sustainable Development Goals, adopted by the Member States of the United Nations by resolution A/RES/70/1 of the General Assembly of 25 September 2015. The cover page of the report, designed by Habile Studio, incorporates indicators from the SDG Index Score from the EU Sustainable Development Report as well as statistics reflecting the regional populations of AER member regions. The 2020 Activity Report is unique in that it also presents AER’s newly adopted long-term Political Priorities for the period 2020 ...

Are you planning to apply to the Erasmus + open call European Youth Together? Are you still looking for partners? Denizli Metropolitan Municipality and Denizli City Council Youth Assembly could be what you are looking for. Denizli City Council Youth Assembly: the partner you were looking for? The Denizli City Council Youth Assembly is keen to get involved as a partner in a project answering the Erasmus+ open call “European Youth Together”. The Assembly aims at raising awareness of young people and ensuring their active participation in the mechanisms of local government. It also aims at raising awareness of social enterprise projects among young people. In the past years, the Denizli City Council Youth Assembly carried out various activities and projects in relation to education, culture, ...

Regional and local authorities are at the forefront when it comes to addressing integration needs in practice. The Covid-19 pandemic has strongly tested the current systems in place, revealing tremendous needs of authorities but also the resourcefulness which exists at local and regional levels. This shows how essential it is to create opportunities for structured and meaningful mutual learning on integration in order to enable regional and local authorities to share experiences and improve policies and practices. Mutual learning to improve services In order to facilitate mutual learning between regions, AER, IOM and the Council of Europe are a organising series of activities open to all. These will build a mutual learning community across Europe on integration policies and practices at the ...

The AER President, Magnus Berntsson, met virtually today with Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Budget and Administration to discuss the Commission’s proposal for the 2021-2027 Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) and recovery plan. Magnus Berntsson emphasized the importance of an ambitious long-term EU budget that secures a more sustainable, prosperous and inclusive Europe. The AER President underlined the critical role of cohesion policy in responding to the long-term impacts of the COVID-19 crisis and in supporting the transition towards a green, digital and fair Europe. The meeting was an opportunity to give a strong warning against the attempt to centralise cohesion policy and stress the importance of involving local and regional authorities in the design and implementation of future investment programmes, in line with ...

After 3 months suspension, the members of the Eurodyssey Steering Committee adopted last Friday by consensus resolution 03/07/2020 to reactivate the programme and to set out the new conditions to adapt the programme to the “new normal”. Resolution 03/07/2020 The Eurodyssey Steering Committee encourages those member regions where the sanitary situation is stable to resume the publication of offers and host participants under the following new conditions (five “musts”): The Eurodyssey regions MUST guarantee, at least, a “blended format” prioritising, where possible, on-site work over teleworking. The Eurodyssey regions MUST make sure that host companies or organisations comply with the health measures set by the competent authorities for on-site work. The Eurodyssey regions MUST ensure effective linguistic training in any possible ...

Founded in 1985, the Assembly of European Regions is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe, bringing together regions from 30 countries – from Norway to Turkey and from Russia to Portugal. AER is present everywhere on the European continent, inside and outside the European Union. It is the political voice of its members, as well as a forum for interregional cooperation. AER has offices in Strasbourg (FR), Brussels (BE), and Alba (RO). The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is looking for its new Secretary General to start ideally by early November. We are looking for an experienced leader to oversee the management of our three offices, to ensure a smooth transition and implementation of our ambitious work programme, and ...

Last week, on 24 June, the online conference ‘Localising Agenda 2030: how regions can help meet the SDGs’ took place from 14:30 until 16:00 pm.  This event, the first of a series of events focusing on SDGs leading up to our final conference taking place in Strasbourg in June 2021, aimed to emphasise the importance of local actions in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals. The event gathered 64 attendees via the Zoom platform and 50 others followed the live web-stream. With the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic, citizens have seen quick responses and actions from both regions and cities. The crisis has exposed inequalities and the role of regions for sustainable recovery and action for a more fair and resilient society can ...

We may think that children are not yet mature enough to have a say in major political debates but, as shown by the “Fridays For Future” strikes all over the world,  this is not the case – especially when it comes to climate change and the future of our planet. Their thoughts are clear, their demands are spoken laud, and it is important that their voices are heard and encouraged. This is why the Csongrád-Csanád County Government, within the Cohesion Calendar of the project Together for Cohesion, has given these young actors a space to communicate their views through a drawing competition on climate change. As pointed by the President of the Csongrád-Csanád County Assembly,  László Gémes, during the award ceremony held ...

Do you want to actively engage in the next global changes? Are you 18-24 years old? Do you want to raise your voice and be heard? Then you should definitely participate in the next Think Thank in Gothenburg on November 16–19, 2020! What is it about? The overall goal of the conference is to stand up for a democratic and open society and to counterbalance the pessimistic ideas of contemporary nationalism and populism. Moreover, this year there will be a test and report on new ways of combining and integrating various transport means for travelling to Gothenburg. The other end is to promote sustainable ways for people and ideas to move across Europe in the future.  A 4-day ...

Undeniably, youth play a crucial role in the action plans to limit the spread of the COVID-19 and its adverse impact on public health, society and the economy at large. Young people are also among the most vulnerable groups who suffer from the pernicious consequences derived from this crisis. Labour turmoils The pandemic is admittedly making young people the main victims of labour market shocks. According to Eurostat, in April 2020 while the general unemployment rate increased by 0.2%, from 6.4% to 6.6%, the youth unemployment rate increased by 0.8%, from 14.6% to 15.4%. In OECD countries, the unemployment rate rose faster among women and young people aged 15 to 24 as reflected in the graphic below:   Source: OECD Statistics Over ...

You may remember the highly successful first Professional Forum held in December 2019. Here comes the second! On 30 June 2020, the County Government of Csongrád-Csanád will hold the second Csongrád County Mayor’s Professional Forum. Together4Cohesion is approaching its final stop on the route to raise awareness of European cohesion policy and its benefits for the regions through the “European cohesion calendar”! Indeed, the 2nd Professional Forum will take place on 30 June in Szeged, at the Tisza River Restaurant and Event Boat, and this will be the last local event of our communication campaign! Event Page Here Registration Here before 25 June 2020 Programme 9.00: Registration9.30: Welcome speech by Mr László Gémes, President of the General Assembly of Csongrád CountyTopic: “Together for Cohesion: let’s rEUnite” project, and Area and ...

Did you know that some of AER’s member regions are taking part in the Regiostars Awards this year? These awards go to EU-funded projects which demonstrate excellence and new approaches in regional development. These projects are made to inspire other regions and project managers across Europe.  Five categories are on the list for the competition and a public choice award are up for grab every year :   Industrial transition for a smart Europe,  Circular economy for a green Europe,  Skills & education for a digital Europe, Citizen Engagement for cohesive European cities,  Youth empowerment for cooperation across borders (through 30 years of Interreg) Check out some of the projects that AER members have submitted below!  (If we have missed your project, please contact Tina Wu with the ...

AER invites you to participate in the EU-wide Energy Efficiency Watch Survey which collects opinions from experts in all EU Member States on the progress in energy efficiency in the last years in their own country. By taking part, you will be making an important contribution to energy efficiency efforts in Europe. The survey is targeted at all people working on topics relating to energy in the business sector, energy agencies, university/research organisations, the public sector and others. The European Commission and the European Parliament have expressed strong interest in the results of this survey, which is carried out in the framework of the H2020 Energy Efficiency Watch project. The Energy Efficiency Watch project (EEW4) supports policy makers on EU, national and regional levels ...