BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:-//Assembly of European Regions - ECPv6.1.3//NONSGML v1.0//EN CALSCALE:GREGORIAN METHOD:PUBLISH X-ORIGINAL-URL:https://aer.eu X-WR-CALDESC:Events for Assembly of European Regions REFRESH-INTERVAL;VALUE=DURATION:PT1H X-Robots-Tag:noindex X-PUBLISHED-TTL:PT1H BEGIN:VTIMEZONE TZID:Europe/Brussels BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20210328T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20211031T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20220327T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20221030T010000 END:STANDARD BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0100 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:CEST DTSTART:20230326T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0100 TZNAME:CET DTSTART:20231029T010000 END:STANDARD TZID:Asia/Nicosia BEGIN:DAYLIGHT TZOFFSETFROM:+0200 TZOFFSETTO:+0300 TZNAME:EEST DTSTART:20220327T010000 END:DAYLIGHT BEGIN:STANDARD TZOFFSETFROM:+0300 TZOFFSETTO:+0200 TZNAME:EET DTSTART:20221030T010000 END:STANDARD END:VTIMEZONE BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20211215T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20211215T113000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20211202T130106Z LAST-MODIFIED:20211207T161222Z UID:38360-1639562400-1639567800@aer.eu SUMMARY:REGISTER NOW: Eurodyssey Youth Programme Information Session — 15 December\, 2021 DESCRIPTION:On 15 December\, 2021 (10.00 AM\, CET)\, the Assembly of European Regions is delighted to welcome you to an informative session on how our Youth Exchange Programme (Eurodyssey) functions. This information session is organised to offer our members a clear insight in the tangible benefits that our Eurodyssey Youth Programme provides. \nDoes your region focus on promoting youth development and competency building? Are you looking to show some tangible examples for your regional representatives? Have you heard of our Eurodyssey Programme\, but is it still a bit too vague and are you looking for clear examples and answers? Then this session might be very useful for you. \nDuring the session on the 15th of December\, our Programme Coordinator Mr. Andres Munoz will be answering any questions you might have on the programme. Since this session is only for interested members\, we look to go in-depth on what your specific needs are\, answering questions on practicalities\, financing and human resources and give insights on the existing network already. \nIf you are interested in practical information regarding our Eurodyssey Programme\, to give your regional political representatives tangible examples on how this programme helps local youth development\, please join us for the special exclusive session. You will be able to ask any questions you might have. \nPlease send an email indicating your interest to our Member Relations Coordinator Mr. Anne Henk Bloemhoff (ah.bloemhoff@aer.eu). You will then receive the Zoom-Link for the event. \n  \nWe are looking forward to having you. \n  \n  URL:https://aer.eu/events/eurodyssey-youth-programme-information-session-15-december-2021/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/INFORMATION-SESSION-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220324T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220324T170000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220224T164057Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220314T155403Z UID:39219-1648116000-1648141200@aer.eu SUMMARY:REGISTER NOW: Online Spring Bureau & Member Engagement Meetings DESCRIPTION:We are delighted to invite our members to register for our online Spring Bureau & Member Engagement Meetings on the 24th of March 2022. As we emerge from the pandemic\, this will be an opportunity for members to set out priorities for the future of the AER on everything from political priorities to the Action Plan. \n\n\n\nYou can register for all meetings and debates via the link above. There is only one Zoom link for all sessions\, so please save this link in a convenient location so you can access it easily on the day. \n\nOverview Agenda\n\n\n\n\n Thursday\, 24 March (all times CET)\n\n\n\n\n 10:00-13:00Co-development of AER Action Plan meeting\n\n\n 13:00-14:00Lunch\n\n\n 14:00-14:20AER Bureau: Welcome & Bureau Updates\n\n\n 14:20-15:50Bureau Debate on Growth\, Jobs & Investment \n\n\n 15:50-16:00Break \n\n\n 16:00-16:10AER Recommendations on the Future of Europe\n\n\n 16:10-16:25Adoption: AER Position on Sustainable Mobility & Connectivity\n\n\n 16:25-16:40Adoption: AER Position on Democracy\n\n\n 16:40-17:00Identification of the Bureau Priority Topics 2022 and Closing\n\n\n\n\nMember Engagement Meeting — AER Action Plan\nFrom 10:00-13:00\, Members will have the opportunity to provide their input into the AER Action Plan. More details will follow shortly\, so keep an eye on the News section of our website. If you have any questions\, please contact Policy & Knowledge Transfer Coordinator\, Johanna Pacevicius HERE. \n2022 Spring Bureau Meeting\n\nAfter lunch\, 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 priority topics for political discussion and advocacy actions in 2022. \n\n\n\nFurthermore\, 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.  \n\n\n\nYou can find out more about how you can get involved in our article HERE. If you have any questions\, please contact AER Institutional Relations & Advocacy Coordinator\, Vania Freitas HERE. URL:https://aer.eu/events/2022-spring-bureau-member-engagement-meetings/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:AER Bureau plenaries,AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/SPRING-BUREAU-5-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220324T142000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220324T155000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220223T103522Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220405T095734Z UID:39174-1648131600-1648137000@aer.eu SUMMARY:SPEAKERS ANNOUNCED: Bureau Debate on Growth\, Jobs and Investment! DESCRIPTION:***Our first speakers have been announced — don’t miss your chance to join what promises to be a fruitful discussion!*** \nNOTE: The registration button below is for non-members only. AER members should fill in the form HERE.  \n \nThe COVID-19 crisis had a profound impact on European regions and on the lives of our citizens. Businesses were negatively affected by the public health restrictions\, leading to jobs losses and income reductions\, with disproportionate impacts for women\, younger and older workers and people in low paid jobs. As a result\, economic activity declined\, poverty increased and inequalities widened\, jeopardizing progress towards the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. \nThat’s why as part of our Bureau meeting on 24 March\, we will bring together representatives of local and regional authorities\, European Institutions and other relevant stakeholders to debate on the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead after the pandemic. \nThe debate is also a follow-up of AER´s political work from the Bureau Meeting in December 2021\, where AER Bureau members made “Growth\, Jobs and Investments” a topic of priority for its political work in 2022 and set up a Task Force\, co-chaired by Vice-President Alessandra Zedda (Sardinia\, IT) and Vice-President Damir Zobenica (Vojvodina\, RS) to drive it forward. \nAs we recover from the crisis\, there is an opportunity to maximize the opportunities offered by the digital and green transition to strengthen sustainable economic growth that delivers jobs\, prosperity and wellbeing for all citizens. Local and regional authorities have a critical role in supporting the recovery by delivering services and infrastructure\, providing education and skills opportunities\, helping businesses\, and supporting innovation locally. \nThis debate will consider three key questions: \n\nWhat are the key priorities for a sustainable\, resilient\, inclusive and wellbeing European economy that takes the opportunities of the green and digital transition?\nHow to maximise the contribution of local and regional governments to Europe’s recovery and economic and social renewal following COVID-19?\nHow to build successful partnerships to support sustainable and inclusive economic growth and recovery?\n\nMeet our panel!\nOur first speakers have been announced — stay tuned to fine out who will join: \n\nDavid Lopes\,  Team leader\, Recovery and Resilience Facility\, Economics of resilience and transition Unit\, Directorate-General for Economic and Financial Affairs\, European Commission\nKaren Maguire\, Head of the OECD Local Employment\, Skills and Social Innovation Division\, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development\nDragoş Pîslaru\, Chair of the Employment and Social Affairs Committee\, European Parliament\nCllr. Michael Murphy\, Chair of the Commission for Economic Policy\, European Committee of the Regions;\nMaria Elena Romanini\, TVET expert\, Skillnet Project.\n\nWith insights and unique regional contexts and recovery experiences from: \n\nMícheál Ó hÉanaigh\, AER Vice President and Chief Executive of Údarás na Gaeltachta (IE)\nAlbert Castellanos Maduell\, AER Vice President and Secretary for Business and Competitiveness\, Ministry of Business and Labour\, Government of Catalonia (ES)\n\nFor any questions\, please contact AER Institutional Relations & Advocacy Coordinator\, Vania Freitas HERE. \nOrganised with the support of: URL:https://aer.eu/events/join-our-bureau-debate-on-growth-jobs-and-investment/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:AER Bureau plenaries,AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/SPRING-BUREAU-DEBATE-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220325T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220325T123000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220304T153305Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220324T113742Z UID:39303-1648202400-1648211400@aer.eu SUMMARY:REGISTER NOW: Unboxing the Multiannual Financial Framework Session III - Making EU funds work for your region DESCRIPTION:Date: 25 March 2022  \nTime: 10:00 – 12:30 CET \nVenue: Online (via Zoom) \nBackground\nTogether with the NextGenerationEU recovery instrument\, the Multiannual Financial Framework (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.  \nThat is why as part of the Skillnet Project\, the AER has put together three information sessions to help regions make the most of the MFF and NextGenerationEU Package. Featuring insights from experts at the European Commission\, these webinars will give regions guidance on how to plan initiatives and projects that can benefits from the different funds. \nWhat’s in it for regions?\n\n\n\nThe third session of the ‘Unboxing the Multiannual Financial Framework’ will give regional authorities and their stakeholders the knowledge to best access and manage European funds. 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  that leads to some gaps in how the funds are used. \n\n\n\nThis webinar will provide an overview of what is available for regions and put their questions to European Commission experts in our extended Questions & Answers session. \n\n\n\nThematically\, the webinar is structured in three main sessions covering the different tools: \n\n\n\n\nSession on mutual learning and exchange of practices – Taxiex-Regio Peer2Peer\, Taiex\, Regio Communities of Practitioners\, ESF Transnational Cooperation Platform;\nSession on administrative capacity – EU Competency Framework for management and implementation of the ERDF and Cohesion Fund\, Roadmap for Administrative Capacity Building;\nSession on measures to prevent mismanagement\, fraud and corruption – Integrity Pacts (Civil Control Mechanism for Safeguarding EU Funds Against Fraud and Corruption)\, Arachne\, Training on Cohesion Policy for EU Member State Experts\, EU Funds Anti-Fraud Knowledge & Resource Centre.\n\n\n\n\nThis overview of tools and instruments will be provided by experts from the European Commission. \nMeet our Speakers!\nWe are delighted to announce the following experts will join this webinar: \nBruno Mola\, Policy Officer\, Administrative Capacity Building and Solidarity Instruments\, Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy\, European Commission \nMarianne Doyen\, Policy Officer\, European Social Fund +\, Directorate-General for Employment\, Social Affairs and Inclusion\,  European Commission \nLuca Baldin\, External Auditor\, Joint Audit Directorate for Cohesion Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy\, European Commission \nLuc Molemans\, External Consultant and IT Project Manager\, Information Technologies\, DG Employment\, Social Affairs and Inclusion\, European Commission \n*** \nThis training session is being organised as part of the Skillnet Project\, which is funded by the Erasmus+ Programme of the European Commission. Skillnet aims to strengthen the Vocational Education and Training (VET) system’s role and capacity to design high-quality VET programmes tailored to current societal needs through enhanced transnational and cross-sectoral partnerships. To learn more about funding opportunities within the Skillnet Project\, visit our dedicated Partnerships in Focus Hub. URL:https://aer.eu/events/register-now-unboxing-the-multiannual-financial-framework-session-iii-making-eu-funds-work-for-your-region/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/MFF-Session-III-Making-EU-funds-work-for-your-Region-V2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220328T170000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220330T143000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220301T124602Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220329T142843Z UID:39235-1648486800-1648650600@aer.eu SUMMARY:Conference on “Strong counties serving their citizens – the future of regional governance in Albania” 28-30 March in Tirana DESCRIPTION: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. \nThe Assembly of European Regions and the Konrad Adenauer Stiftung are 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 liaise\, to cooperate and to add to the debate. We look forward to seeing you there. \nFollowing years of close cooperation and building a successful working relationship\, the AER is excited to partner up with the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung to host this new event in Tirana with its Albanian member regions. We hope to engage participants in a debate that will lead to increased regional cooperation. We believe this event will be an excellent opportunity to identify common challenges for regional governance in Albania and developing common conclusions and recommendations for the benefit of politicians\, civil servants\, and our AER network. We look forward to your participation in the event. \nWe will discuss current needs and opportunities of the Albanian counties within the administrative setting On top of this\, the goal is to shed light on how regional governments\, businesses and citizens can from increased dialogue\, e.g. to trigger investments and advance public participation. The AER will be proud to host these debates together with the Tirana branch of the German think tank Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung\, who accepted to support our conference. \nOur list of confirmed speakers so far include: \n\nMs. Romina Kuko – Deputy Minister of Interior\nMr. Jonas Büchel – Spokesman of the Board\, Urban Institute\, Riga\, Latvia\nMr. Christian Spahr – Secretary General of the Assembly of European Regions\, Brussels\, Belgium\nMr. Aldrin Dalipi\, Head of the Association of Albanian Qarks/Regions\, Head of Tirana Region\nMr. Vuk Vujnovic – Secretary General South East Europe Public Sector Communication Association (SEECOM)\, Podgorica\, Montenegro\nMr. Lukas Mandl – Vice President of the Assembly of European Regions\, Brussels\, Belgium\nMr. Tobias Rüttershoff – Director of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung Albania\, Tirana\, Albania\n\nThe agenda for the event can be found here. Should you have any questions and would you like to register for the event\, please contact our Member Relations Coordinator Mr. Anne Henk Bloemhoff (ah.bloemhoff@aer.eu). \nWe very much look forward to see you in Tirana. URL:https://aer.eu/events/conference-on-strong-counties-serving-their-citizens-the-future-of-regional-governance-in-albania-28-30-march-in-tirana/ LOCATION:Hotel Rogner\, Tirana\, Bulevardi Dëshmorët e Kombit\, Tirana\, Tirana\, 1001\, Albania ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/COUNTIES_BANNER_16X9.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220405T080000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220408T170000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20211223T121028Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220301T163506Z UID:38861-1649145600-1649437200@aer.eu SUMMARY:REGISTER NOW: World Sustainable Energy Days 2022 DESCRIPTION: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. \nAs in previous editions\, in 2022 the event will take place in Wels\, Austria. \n  \nInterested in attending?\n \n\nWhat is it all about?\nIn 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 up Europe’s 2030 climate ambition – Investing in a climate-neutral future for the benefit of our people’ on the same day. It included an updated 2030 emissions reduction target of net 55 % compared to 1990 levels. This new ´Fit for 55´ package aims to put the EU on track towards climate neutrality\, and as energy accounts for 75% of GHG emissions\, speeding up the energy transition is critical. \nAs such\, the 2022 edition of the WSED (Fit for 55) presents the far-reaching transformation of policies\, technologies and markets for achieving climate neutrality. It also increases the pace of development and change. On top of that\, it shows how citizens and businesses can profit from this\, how we can increase acceptance\, trigger investments\, and get things moving at full speed! \nWhat’s new about the 2022 edition of the WSED\nIn just four days\, you will benefit from: \n\n6 dedicated conferences; The European Energy Efficiency Policy Conference\, European Pellet Conference\, the Industrial Energy Efficiency Conference\, the Young Energy Efficiency Researchers Conference\, the Young Biomass Researchers Conference and the Smart E-Mobility Conference\nHands-on experience through technical site visits and innovative energy projects\nA major trade show on building efficiency and renewable energy with 800 exhibitors\nNew business opportunities\nValuable networking possibilities within energy transition businesses\, policy makers and researchers\nThe of course well-renowned Austrian hospitality!\n\nPlease make sure to check out the programme overview and timetable here. More information on the event can be found on the event website. \nUpper Austria – a leader in the clean energy transition\nUpper Austria\, one of Austria’s nine regions\, is a leader in the energy transition\, making the region an ideal location for this conference. Through significant increases in energy efficiency and renewable energy\, greenhouse gas emissions from buildings were reduced by 39 % in 10 years. Furthermore\, 60 % of all space heating and 31 % of the primary energy in Upper Austria already come from renewables\, and over 2.5 billion Euros are invested annually in the energy transition. \n  \nFor any questions or inquiries regarding the event\, please contact our Mr. Anne Henk Bloemhoff\, Member Relations Coordinator at the AER (ah.bloemhoff@aer.eu) or Ms. Megan Gignac\, International Projects at OÖ Energiesparverband (megan.gignac@esv.or.at). URL:https://aer.eu/events/register-now-world-sustainable-energy-days-2022/ LOCATION:Wels\, Pollheimerstrasse 1\, Wels\, Wels\, A-4600\, Austria ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/Screen-Shot-2022-02-28-at-12.18.59.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220407T150000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220407T163000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220322T081434Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231031T171755Z UID:39633-1649343600-1649349000@aer.eu SUMMARY:Includ-EU webinar "Cross-sectoral approaches to inclusive housing" DESCRIPTION:The housing pillar of the EU’s Action Plan on Integration and Inclusion places emphasis on the need to ensure affordable accommodation and promote non-segregated\, dignified\, and accessible housing. In this webinar\, we will discuss some of the main challenges to inclusive housing as well as explore opportunities and approaches for local and regional public authorities and relevant stakeholders to promote and implement inclusive housing policies. \nThe 4th Includ-EU webinar looked at innovative practices that promote the positive benefits of intercultural identities of neighbourhoods and encourage social interactions in inclusive housing and public spaces\, which are of utmost importance to foster integration through careful\, urban regeneration. \nSpeakers included: \n\nRossella Celmi\, Project Manager\, IOM Coordination Office for the Mediterranean: Housing: what’s at stake Presentation\nIvana D’Alessandro\, Head of the Intercultural cities Unit\, Council of Europe: Gentrification & the intercultural approach Presentation\nEleonora Milazzo\, PhD\, researcher and migration policy consultant\, Briefing on housing: findings from the INclud-EU project Presentation\nFatemeh Jailani\, COO of SINGA Global Unlock the potential of migration: citizen housing Presentation\n\nFacilitation: Johanna Pacevicius\, Policy and Knowledge transfer Coordinator at Assembly of European Regions. \n  \nThe recording of the event is now available online! \nThe agenda of the webinar is available here \nContacts: \nAnna Comacchio\, Project and Policy Officer\, a.comacchio@aer.eu \nJohanna Pacevicius\, Policy and Knowledge Transfer Coordinator\, j.pacevicius@aer.eu \n  \nThis webinar is co-funded by the European Unions’s AMIF Programme. URL:https://aer.eu/events/includ-eu-webinar-cross-sectoral-approaches-to-inclusive-housing/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Housing-Webinar.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220419T080000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220419T170000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220419T153110Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220421T103809Z UID:40105-1650355200-1650387600@aer.eu SUMMARY:The World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels\, Austria 2022: a great success! A review and a call for papers for the WSED 2023 DESCRIPTION:The World Sustainable Energy Days in Wels\, Austria 2022: a great success! A review and a call for papers for the WSED 2023: \nOver 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. \n©OOe Energiesparverband \nThe 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. \nThe WSED 2022 showed how to increase acceptance\, trigger investments and raise the pace of change. The event was organised by the OÖ Energiesparverband\, the regional energy agency of Upper Austria. \nThe whole energy transition sector comes together again \nAfter the second year of pandemic\, the WSED 2022 were among the first events in its field with significant international participants on-site. Over 650 experts from 55 countries took part in the 4 conference days – more than 60 % of them on-site. More than 100 experts from all over the world presented the comprehensive transformation of policies\, technologies and markets for achieving climate neutrality and how to get things moving. \nHigh quality\, compact programme \nThe WSED are an international conference and tradeshow on the energy transition and global climate neutrality. In 2022\, the WSED offered the following complimentary events: \n\nEuropean Energy Efficiency Conference\nEuropean Pellet Conference\nYoung Energy Researchers Conference\nEnergy Efficiency Policy Conference\nIndustrial Energy Efficiency Conference\nSmart E-Mobility Conference\nInnovation Workshops\n\n  \nA tradeshow on renewable energy and energy efficiency\, a poster presentation and valuable opportunities for networking rounded off the WSED’s comprehensive package. \n©OOe Energiesparverband \n Upper Austria – a leader in the clean energy transition \nUpper Austria\, one of Austria’s nine regions\, is a leader in the clean energy transition: 60 % of all space heating and 31 % of the primary energy in Upper Austria already come from renewables. Through significant increases in energy efficiency and renewable energy\, greenhouse gas emissions in the buildings sector were reduced by 39 % in 10 years. 2.8 billion Euro are invested annually in renewable energy and energy efficiency. This makes Upper Austria an ideal location for this annual event. \nSee you next year in Wels/Austria! \nThe World Sustainable Energy Days 2022 focused on opportunities\, solutions and strategies to make global climate neutrality reality. The next edition will be held from 1-3 March 2023 in Wels/Austria. The deadline for the Call for Papers & Speakers is 10 October 2022. \nFurther information: www.wsed.at and OÖ Energiesparverband\, office@esv.or.at \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n  URL:https://aer.eu/events/the-world-sustainable-energy-days-in-wels-austria-2022-a-great-success-a-review-and-a-call-for-papers-for-the-wsed-2023/ CATEGORIES:AER Events,AER Member Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/WSED2022-3.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220424 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220428 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220208T155038Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220429T113117Z UID:39043-1650758400-1651103999@aer.eu SUMMARY:AERxDYPALL | CoE Study session - Climbing the ladder\, capacitating youth leaders DESCRIPTION:The AER is partnering 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. \n\nWhat are the objectives of the study session?\nThe study session will focus on two of the five strategic priorities of the Council of Europe youth sector: Revitalizing pluralistic democracy and Youth work. In addition\, it aims to create and test a learning module based on non-formal education that includes vital skills (such as advocacy principles\, outreach strategies\, facilitation skills) to encourage youth leaders to take action at the local level and multiply their learnings and attitudes with their peers as well as map new forms of participation that emerged during the pandemic. \n\nWho can participate?\n25 youth leaders aged 18-30 years old\, residing in one of the Council of Europe Member States\, will be selected as beneficiaries of this CoE Study Session. The activity is targeting: \n\nCurrent and Former Youth delegates to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities;\nYouth leaders and young people with a strong interest in youth participation;\nYoung representatives of local and regional youth councils and similar participation structures;\nYouth workers who are committed to empowering young people as key actors in decision-making processes.\n\nN.b.: Previous experience in the youth sector\, specifically related to youth participation in decision-making processes and youth work\, is not necessary but is welcomed.  \nYouth delegates sponsored by an AER member region may be privileged to participate. Young candidates must indicate on the application form their connection with AER in the “Organisational information” or “anything you would like to add?” sections. Following the application deadline\, those selected will receive a confirmation email and an invitation to attend the event. \n  \nApplications CLOSED!*\n \n \n*The successful applicants will receive a confirmation email with the official invitation to participate in the CoE Study Session scheduled for 24-30 April 2022.  \nPractical information\nReasonable flight/trip expenses shall be reimbursed up to 350 Euros. Local transport from/to the venue\, accommodation\, meals\, and visa costs are fully covered in exchange for a 50-Euro fee to be deducted from the reimbursements. Please\, refer to the official call for participants for further details on reimbursements. \nN.b.: Booking arrangements can only be done after receiving the email confirmation and invitation from the organisers.  \n\nCovid-19 related information\nIn view of the current situation due to the COVID-19 pandemic\, the selection of the participants will be made to secure that the travel rules set in place by France and the health and sanitary measures of the Council of Europe are fully taken into account. \n\nContact\nFor any questions or inquiries regarding the event\, please contact Andrés Muñoz (a.munoz@aer.eu). \nYou can also address your inquiries to Gianluca Rossino at gianluca.rossino@dypall.com \n  URL:https://aer.eu/events/call-for-participants-coe-study-session-climbing-the-ladder-capacitating-youth-leaders/ LOCATION:European Youth Centre Strasbourg (EYCS)\, 30 Rue Pierre de Coubertin\, 67000 Strasbourg\, France\, Strasbourg\, Grand Est\, 67000 CATEGORIES:AER Events,Partner Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/png:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/02/climbing-the-ladder-STS_POSTER-1.png END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220505T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220505T163000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220422T115808Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220422T120418Z UID:40138-1651741200-1651768200@aer.eu SUMMARY:Capacity-building for Integrated Care: From the Maturity Assessment to Improvement Planning DESCRIPTION: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 online 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 online.  \nThroughout 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\, the project has developed an effective tool that ensures and offers to regions\, countries\, and organisation effective knowledge management and improvement planning starting from a comprehensive understanding of the local context and maturity of the specific healthcare system – the Knowledge Management Hub. Specifically\, the Hub is a community-driven platform supporting public authorities and organisation to: \n\nBetter understand the local readiness\, needs and priorities for the adoption of integrated care informed by multi-stakeholders’ dialogues and consensus-building;\nAccess readily available evidence\, knowledge and expertise on integrated care maximising their transferability and adaptation to the local context;\nCo-design personalised knowledge transfer support for those willing to adopt or improve their existing system design for integrated care;\nCo-design improvement planning that is tailored to the local context\, maturity and aspirations of European countries\, regions and organisations.\n\nThe Hub is currently available in 11 languages and has been used in nearly 100 organisations\, regions\, and countries in Europe and beyond. By joining the conference\, you will learn about the practical experience of European countries\, regions and organisations in applying and using SCIROCCO Exchange Knowledge Management Hub to assess the state of art in integrated care\, co-design capacity-building and improvement planning activities. \n\n  \nEVENT AGENDA: https://scirocco.promotime.media/programme/ \n \n\n \nREGISTER HERE! URL:https://aer.eu/events/capacity-building-for-integrated-care-from-the-maturity-assessment-to-improvement-planning/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/scirocco_conf.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220517T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220517T130000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220426T100927Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220819T121314Z UID:40160-1652781600-1652792400@aer.eu SUMMARY:Green (H)ydrogen: Powering Our Regions’ Future DESCRIPTION:You can check out the agenda and full list of speakers HERE.\nWhy is Europe talking about hydrogen?\nHydrogen is a versatile energy source with significant potential. It can be used as a feedstock\, a fuel or an energy carrier\, and has many possible applications across industry in the transport\, heating and construction sectors. Most importantly\, it does not emit CO2 and produces almost no air pollution when used. The European Commission estimates that “green” hydrogen from renewable sources could make up 13-14% of Europe’s energy supply by 2050\, and act as a replacement for fossil fuels in high polluting sectors.  \nHowever\, there is significant work to do to scale-up production and demand. At present\, hydrogen makes up less than 2% of Europe’s energy mix\, and is still largely produced from fossil fuels. Producing clean hydrogen from renewable sources like wind and solar is expensive\, and while technology has improved and come down in cost\, there remain challenges connecting hydrogen production to energy grids and securing enough investment to make it viable. \nWhat’s in it for Regions?\nRegions have a key role to play in scaling-up the renewable hydrogen economy across Europe.  With the right level of private and public investment\, European regions can lead in the creation of self-contained “hydrogen hubs” that link all elements of the value chain. Indeed\, the EU has committed to a total generation capacity of 40GW of renewable hydrogen by 2030\, and in early 2022 launched a call worth €300.5 million for projects to develop “cutting-edge hydrogen technologies” under its Clean Hydrogen Partnerships programme. \nIn this context\, the AER and the Government of Catalonia are initiating discussions among European regions on hydrogen in the energy transition. This knowledge exchange and networking session will be the first step towards sustained exchanges between regions on the development of green hydrogen. It will be an opportunity for AER members to identify common priorities in the field\, project and funding opportunities with the European Commission\, and accelerate work towards building a hydrogen community within the AER network. \nHow can I get involved?\nMembers are welcome to register online to view this event remotely. There will be limited possibilities for those who join online to take the floor during the open session. \nMembers interested in joining a future working group on green hydrogen can fill in this survey. \nPresentations\nPresentation by Pere Margalef SVP Technology Officer Hydrogen \nPresentation by Albert Ballbé\, Head of technical evaluation\, monitoring and verification of R&D projects in ACCIÓ\, Catalonia (ES) \nPresentation by Ana Ursua\, General Director\, Navarra Industrial Association\, Navarra (ES) \nPresentation by Giampaolo Canestri\, Head of Energy Efficiency and Open Innovation Sector – engineer at Compagnie Valdôtaine des\nEaux\, Valle d’Aosta (IT) URL:https://aer.eu/events/green-hydrogen-powering-our-regions-future/ LOCATION:AER Brussels Office\, Rue d'Arlon 63\, Brussels\, 1040\, Belgium CATEGORIES:AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Green-Hydrogen.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220524T150000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220524T163000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220429T112739Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231031T172113Z UID:40202-1653404400-1653409800@aer.eu SUMMARY:WEBINAR: Access To Quality Education And Training- An Intercultural Approach DESCRIPTION:How to unlock the potential of education and training as key enablers for inclusion?\nFormal education and extracurricular activities have a powerful influence on how individualsperceive diversity. From early childhood education to lifelong learning\, education andtraining are therefore powerful tools for building more inclusive societies.Actions to support the inclusion of third-country nationals and to harness the diversityadvantage include work on the school and extracurricular programmes\, when this falls underthe competences of the region or city\, as well as the creation of opportunities for childrenand adults (parents\, educators) of different cultures to build trust and mutual respect andcreate thereby favourable learning and working conditions for all pupils\, irrespective of theirnationalities\, origins\, languages\, sexual orientation or gender identity\, religions/beliefs.Learner-centered approaches that take into consideration the needs\, talents\, skills\, desires andmindset of individual learners (including their backgrounds)\, as well as the need to ensurelearning is accessible at all stages of their lives\, are crucial to achieving personaldevelopment and participate fully in society.\n\n\n\nDuring our 5th Includ-EU webinar\, we will discuss and look into the policy context and different ongoing initiatives on access to quality education and training for migrants and  Third Country Nationals (TNC)\, with a special focus on the lifelong learning dimension (and insights from the Skillnet Project) and as usual\, from the lenses of  Interculturality.\n\n\n\nSpeakers include:\nBruno Mesquita Valle\, Chief of Unit\, Capacity Development and Field Support\, UNESCO; \nIrene Psfidou\, Senior Expert\, CEDEFOP\, VET and Inclusion: a European Picture; \nMaria Podlasek-Ziegler\, Policy Specialist at European Commission: Erasmus+ and European Solidarity Corps Inclusion and Diversity Strategy; \nEleonora Milazzo\, PhD\, researcher and migration policy consultant\, Kings College London: Presentation of thematic briefing on Access to Education. \nOurania Xylouri\, Director\, Athens Lifelong Learning Institute\, Greece \nWendy Heezen\, Senior Relation Manager\, Foundation for refugee students (UAF)\, Netherlands; \nMaja Radinovič Hajdič\, Director\, Adult Education Center Jesenice. \n  \n\nInterested in attending?\n \nContacts: \nAnna Comacchio\, Project and Policy Officer\, a.comacchio@aer.eu \nJohanna Pacevicius\, Policy and Knowledge Transfer Coordinator\, j.pacevicius@aer.eu \n  \nThis webinar is co-funded by the European Unions’s AMIF Programme. URL:https://aer.eu/events/webinar-access-to-quality-education-and-training-an-intercultural-approach/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/ed-and-training.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220601T093000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220602T164500 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220513T125111Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220601T130633Z UID:40376-1654075800-1654188300@aer.eu SUMMARY:1st AER-ENoP Forum on New Forms of Democratic Engagement DESCRIPTION:How to actively involve citizens in policy development in order to regain political trust and add legitimacy to political decisions?\nOn 1-2 June 2022\, in Comet Meeting-Louise\, and Online\, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and the European Network of Political Foundations (ENoP) will co-organise a Forum dedicated primarily to innovative and more participatory forms of democratic engagement. \nA new form of politics is gaining steam. Providing an alternative to traditional representative routes\, citizen assemblies and other forms of deliberative democracy try to help governments through discussing and developing recommendations on needed steps to safeguard a healthy and stable world. Practical examples on direct involvement of citizens in democratic processes enable an open discussion on particular policy challenges and giving recommendations to elected governments. Involved citizens are randomly selected to reflect the demographic diversity of the population. The process is typically facilitated by an independent and apolitical organisation\, which brings in experts across a wide range of disciplines\, as well as competing interest groups and the voices of those personally affected by the issue in question. Building up on this\, ENoP and AER are initiating a project that would capitalise on successful examples and good practices\, while at the same time discussing the full potential and future of such direct involvement of citizens in democratic processes. \nHow the project is built?\nThe first part of the project consists of a 1.5-day forum where different examples and experiences of citizen assemblies from different country contexts are presented\, aiming to: \n\nHelp the EU to formulate/design its deliberative policies/approaches in Europe and for its\ninternational cooperation programmes;\nHighlight the opportunities and challenges of direct involvement of citizens in democratic\nprocesses\, as well to allow for an exchange of lessons learned from different forms of deliberative\nprocesses ;\nDiscuss the options of relationship between those assemblies and representative\nbodies/governments and elaborate recommendations for different options of structured\nengagement of citizens in policy making (based on the experiences from the case studies).\n\nFollowing the forum\, a series of studies will be compiled\, based on the following criteria: \n\nThe good practice model has innovative elements\nThe good practice model has achieved and recorded concrete results\nThe achieved results are relevant to the people living in the region\, municipality\, commune\nThe good practice model is sustainable and replicable to other regions\, municipalities\, communes\n\nSpeakers Include\n\nMarcin Gerwin\, PhD\, Center for Blue Democracy\, Specialist in Deliberative Democracy and Sustainability\nToma Šutić\, Member of the Cabinet of Dubravka Šuica\, European Vice President for Democracy and Demography\nAleksandra Dulkiewicz\, Mayor of Gdansk\, Poland\nMathilde Bouyé\, Démocratie Ouverte & World Resources Institute – presenting the French Ctizens’ Convention on Climate\nProf. David Farrell\, The Irish Citizens’ Assembly Project\nKarl-Heinz Lambertz\, Rapporteur of Congress of Local Regional Authorities\, and President of German-speaking Community of Belgium\nLukas Mandl\, Member of the European Parliament; and Vice President for European Integration & Wider Europe\, Assembly of European Regions\n\nMore speakers are to be confirmed so stay tune! \n  \nCheck out the Programme HERE\nInterested in attending?\n \nContacts: \nAnna Comacchio\, Project and Policy Officer\, a.comacchio@aer.eu \nGisela Guari Cañada\, Institutional Relations & Advocacy Officer\, g.guari@aer.eu URL:https://aer.eu/events/1st-aer-enop-forum-on-new-forms-of-democratic-engagement/ LOCATION:Comet Louise\, Place Stéphanie 20\, 1050 Brussels\, Belgium\, Comet Louise\, Place Stéphanie 20\, Brussels\, 1050\, Belgium CATEGORIES:AER Events,Other Events,Partner Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Forum-on-New-Forms-of-Democratic-Engagement-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220614T093000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220614T180000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220607T051237Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230414T145052Z UID:40566-1655199000-1655229600@aer.eu SUMMARY:Inclusion\, Creativity & Human Potential: Includ-EU Workshop DESCRIPTION:This workshop is organised in the context of the Includ-EU project co-financed by AMIF programme of the European Union. It will look at labour market inclusion from a skills\, creativity and human potential angle. \nThe opening and roundtable (09:30-11:00) will be streamed\, you can register here to get the link to attend online: \n \n  \nThe objective is to take a holistic approach to labour market inclusion\, which takes into account space\, skills and the realisation of potential. Participants will share policies and practices which support stakeholders to build on their ideas\, motivation\, competences and experiences. \nMigrant entrepreneurs contribute to economic growth\, create jobs and can support the post-COVID-19 recovery. Effective inclusion of migrants and EU citizens with a migration background into the labour market requires the active collaboration of a large variety of actors\, including public authorities at local\, regional\, national and European level\, civil society organisations\, economic and social partners and employers. \nThis workshop aims to: \n\nGive visibility to inclusion policies and practices shared in the context of the project and which can be of use to stakeholders across wider Europe\nstrengthen the collaboration between partners\, support them in mobilising both their local and international networks\nFacilitate the exchange of policies and practices for inclusion between local and regional stakeholders in Europe\nEncourage the development of new collaborations between local and regional stakeholders\n\nAGENDA URL:https://aer.eu/events/inclusion-creativity-human-potential/ LOCATION:The Home of The Human Safety Net Procuratie Vecchie – Piazza San Marco 105\, Venezia\, Venice\, Italy CATEGORIES:AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screenshot-2022-05-23-at-23.13.27.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220617T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220617T130000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220530T151011Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220608T111730Z UID:40456-1655460000-1655470800@aer.eu SUMMARY:Just Announced: Join AER's Event on Regional Support for Ukraine DESCRIPTION:In the context of the war in Ukraine\, a number of initiatives\, led by cities\, regions\, institutions\, and civil society organisations have been set up. \nFor that reason\, the AER is organising a webinar on Friday\, 17 June to share information on ongoing initiatives and available support to Ukrainian regions\, provide examples and experiences from regions in their support to Ukraine\, and hear from Ukrainian regions what they need in terms of support. The overall goal is to help regions provide support that really makes an impact on the ground in Ukraine. \nYou can register and view the draft agenda using the buttons above. We hope you can join us for this timely\, crucial discussion to share your insights\, experiences and ideas for strengthening partnerships with Ukrainian regions. 🇺🇦 \n***More information will follow shortly\, so be sure to keep an eye on this event page for updates.  \n  URL:https://aer.eu/events/just-announced-join-aers-event-on-regional-support-for-ukraine/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:Other Events,Ukraine ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Ukraine-Event-V1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220622T140000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220622T153000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220607T070331Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220929T105946Z UID:40577-1655906400-1655911800@aer.eu SUMMARY:AER Working group on the bioeconomy: first meeting DESCRIPTION:The newly created Working Group on the bioeconomy will meet online for the first time to define its action plan for the coming months. This meeting is open to all AER members \n \nThe proposal to develop a working group on the bioeconomy was lead by Innlandet (NO)\, and is supported by Värmland (SE)\, Lower Austria (AU)\, Gelderland (NL). \nDuring this first meeting\, AER members interested in sharing experiences and knowledge on the topic of the bioeconomy will: \n\nget to know each other (pitch on the region)\nshare why the topic matters for them now\nshare how the working group would create value for them: what they expect\, how they would like to contribute\ndefine activities for the coming months\n\nThe group will also agree on who should be the Chair of the Working Group \n  \nMore information on how to set-up a working group at AER here. \nFor any questions\, please contact AER Coordinator for Policy & Knowledge Transfer Johanna Pacevicius \nPhoto by Olena Sergienko on Unsplash URL:https://aer.eu/events/working-group-bioeconomy-meeting1/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/forest.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20220829 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20220902 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220620T140419Z LAST-MODIFIED:20240729T131648Z UID:40611-1661731200-1662076799@aer.eu SUMMARY:SOLD OUT: AER Summer Academy 2022 - Donegal\, Ireland DESCRIPTION:  \n \n***PLEASE NOTE: ALL TICKETS ARE  SOLD OUT. IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR TICKET\, PLEASE CONTACT THE AER SECRETARIAT*** \n  \nWith 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.  \nIn 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. \n2022 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 acquiring equal status to the other 23 languages in our Union for the first time. We are therefore enormously privileged to bring this year’s iteration to Ireland and the Gaeltacht [Irish-speaking region] during a year of important milestones for the country’s relationship with Europe. \nThe Covid-19 pandemic\, the climate crisis and the war in Ukraine have fundamentally changed expectations about Europe’s future. 2022 has become a time of big\, existential questions about what Europe stands for\, and what future we shape for the the next generation. Right now\, we have a unique opportunity to reimagine Europe from a democratic\, economic\, cultural and social perspective. \nThe theme this year focuses on how young people in our regions can be empowered to answer these questions\, and shape “A Europe for the Next Generation”. As we look to build back better\, this year’s programme will focus on key key topics such as climate change\, skills and education\, cross-border and transnational cohesion and reconciliation\, remote working and entrepreneurship. \nAs Europe works to build back better\, regions are best-placed to ensure young people lay the building blocks for a peaceful\, prosperous and sustainable future for all. Do not miss this opportunity to join regional leaders from all over Europe for a series of debates\, workshops and excursions to enlighten and inspire. \nLast but not least\, the 2022 Summer Academy programme is offering participants an exciting opportunity to visit Derry/Londonderry City to learn about the Peace Process\, take-in spectacular scenery on Inis Eoin island and Glenveagh National Park\, visit the region’s unique rural innovation hubs\, and sample Irish music and dance as part of our social programme—this is a programme not to be missed! \n***\nThe 2022 Summer Academy is proudly brought to you by: URL:https://aer.eu/events/register-now-aer-summer-academy-2022-donegal-ireland/ LOCATION:Atlantic Technical University (ATU) Letterkenny CATEGORIES:AER Events,AER Summer Academies ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/SA-Logo.jpeg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220831T113000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20220831T130000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220704T114845Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220825T085711Z UID:40825-1661945400-1661950800@aer.eu SUMMARY:ANNOUNCEMENT: Bureau Debate on Youth\, August 31 2022 DESCRIPTION:  \n  \n \nThe COVID-19 crisis has taken a toll on the education\, employment\, mental health and disposable income of youth all across Europe. Young people used to work in sectors most affected by lockdowns\, like retail\, consequently those about to enter the job market faced dwindling employment opportunities. \nThis is why\, as part of our Summer Academy on 31 August\, we will bring together representatives of local and regional authorities\, European Institutions and other relevant stakeholders to debate the opportunities and challenges of youth policy in the context of post-pandemic recovery. \nDuring the last Spring Bureau Meeting\, the AER Bureau members set up a new Task Force on Youth\, chaired by Údarás (IE)\, which aims at promoting youth inclusion\, participation and well-being in the context of the European Year of Youth and post-pandemic recovery\, with a particular focus on the key role of regional and local governments. This debate will be hosted during the AER Summer Academy in Donegal County Council\, Ireland\, and chaired by Mícheál Ó hÉanaigh\, Chair of the Task Force on Youth. \nThe debate will address three key questions: \n\nWhat should the focus of youth policy be in our post-pandemic European societies?\nHow can youth contribute to building more resilient and strengthened European regions?\nWhat can public actors do to avoid facing a “lockdown generation” and maximise the well-being of European youth?\n\nFor further information on the content of the debate\, please\, go to this article. \nPanel: \n\nAnne Karjalainen\, Chair of the Commission for Social Policy\, Education\, Employment\, Research and Culture (SEDEC) and Chair of Kerava City Council – European Committee of the Regions\nChougher Doughramajian\, Member of the Advisory Council on Youth – Council of Europe\nTom Matthew\, Board member – European Youth Forum\nMaylinda Bajrami\, Member Youth Panel – European Youth Card Association\n\nWith insights\, unique regional contexts and recovery experiences from the Task Force on Youth member regions. URL:https://aer.eu/events/announcement-bureau-debate-on-youth-august-31-2022/ LOCATION:Atlantic Technical University (ATU) Letterkenny CATEGORIES:AER Bureau plenaries,AER Events,AER Summer Academies ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/07/Capture-décran-2022-08-16-à-10.30.25.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20221006T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20221006T123000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220914T090751Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230414T144856Z UID:41542-1665050400-1665059400@aer.eu SUMMARY:Introduction to Interculturalism and Intercultural Competences: First Online Capacity-building Session for Regions and Local Stakeholders DESCRIPTION:What is interculturalism and how do we support the development of intercultural competences among regions and their stakeholders? \n  \nIntercultural Competence is what allows for a person to be able to navigate comfortably in complex intercultural settings. Accordingly\, to the European Commission (2007)\, it means combining skills\, attitudes\, abilities\, and knowledge to face\, act and intervene effectively and appropriately in a variety of contexts\, where cultural\, socio-economic\, ethnic\, and other lines intersect and can lead to situations of intercultural conflict that can\, in turn\, damage social cohesion. \nA person is considered interculturally competent if he/she can successfully communicate and relate with people from other cultural backgrounds. It means mobilizing external and internal resources and it is something that can always be developed and improved throughout our lives.  Deardoff (2006) defines it as the ability to develop targeted knowledge\, skills and attitudes that lead to visible behavior and communication that are both effective and appropriate in intercultural interactions. \n  \nThe EU-BELONG team is ready to kick-start its ambitious process of empowering regions and their stakeholders to develop innovative integration strategies for the first time applying the intercultural approach. As first step\, regional decision-makers\, civil servants and local stakeholder will build knowledge in intercultural integration concepts and foster key intercultural competences that will be applied throughout and beyond the project. \nThe first online capacity-building session will be held on 6th October 2022 from 10 to 12:30 CET focusing on ‘Introduction to Interculturalism and Intercultural Competences’. The session is addressed at the 11 regions of the project and 20 civil servants and/or local stakeholders from each region.  It aims at fostering an understanding of what is interculturalism and what are its key principles\, how we can build an intercultural region step-by-step and how to develop an intercultural strategy. Lastly\, the session will provide guidance on how to develop and organise a large-scale training on intercultural competences to support the regions throughout the implementation of their capacity-building programmes. \n\nStructure and Programme \nTrainer: Carla Calado\, Coordinator of the Portuguese Intercultural Cities Network \nLanguage: English \nParticipants: EU-BELONG partners\, 20 stakeholders/local and regional civil servants from each region\, experts working with the regions on the organisation of the capacity-building session\, members of the Intercultural Regions Network \n\n10:00 – 10:15 Welcoming words \n\nMarina Medarić\, AER Vice President for Inclusion\, Diversity & Equality\nNichola Howson\, Directorate General of Democracy Anti-Discrimination Department of the Council of Europe\n\n10:15 – 10:45  Presentation and Ice Breaker \n10:45-11:30h       Interculturalism \n\nDefinition of Interculturalism\nPrinciples of Interculturalism\nEthnocentrism VS Relativism\nThe intercultural region step-by-step: assessment\, building a strategy\, implementing\, and evaluating actions\, connection to city strategies (examples from cities regarding housing\, education\, culture\, labour\, tourism\, public spaces\, etc.)\n\n11:30 – Ice Breaker \n11:45-12:15h    Intercultural competence training \n\nDefinition of Intercultural Competence\nWhy is Intercultural competence training important?\nHow does it look like in practice?\nGeneral recommendation for large-scale training. The blended learning approach (pros and cons).\n\n12:15 – 12:30    Q&A and final remarks \n\nAdditional resources for exploration: \n\nICC Intercultural Citizenship test: Intercultural Citizenship Test (coe.int)\nOnline courses:\nDiversity and Inclusion – AKF | The Learning Hub (akflearninghub.org): send an email to an automatic email will be sent to you via “the learning hub” platform with instructions. The course takes 90m to watch and it is divided into small lessons (3 to 4 min each)\nICC Course – The intercultural city step-by-step Survey (surveymonkey.com): this course does not need previous enrolment\nResources in ICC website in the dedicated page: Thematic papers (coe.int)\n\n\nIf you are interested in participating\, please contact Birgit Sandu  (b.sandu@aer.eu)\, or Anna Comacchio (a.comacchio@aer.eu). \n\nEU-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. Its aim is to support the adoption of innovative and pioneering regional integration strategies\, based on a multi-level and multi-stakeholder framework that\, for the first time\, applies the intercultural approach to Regions as a key-player for the successful integration of third-country nationals. URL:https://aer.eu/events/introduction-to-interculturalism-and-intercultural-competences-first-online-capacity-building-session-for-regions-and-local-stakeholders/ LOCATION:Zoom CATEGORIES:AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Introduction-to-interculturalism-and-intercultural-policies.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20221011T093000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20221011T110000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220906T141501Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221011T084025Z UID:41433-1665480600-1665486000@aer.eu SUMMARY:European Week of Regions and Cities 2022 - Regions4Youth: Strengthening Cohesion Through Youth Empowerment ONLINE WORKSHOP DESCRIPTION:How can youth development contribute to achieving territorial\, economic and social cohesion?\nEmpowering our next generation empowers all of us. \nTerritorial\, economic and social cohesion cannot be achieved without providing younger generations with opportunities to thrive and without including them in decision–making processes. The COVID–19 pandemic has put a heavy burden of both sacrifice and uncertainty over young generations. It is today crucial for policymakers to place future generations at the core of policies and to foresee how empowering our young people from a civic\, social and economic perspective can be a catalyst for recovery and real cohesion across Europe. \nThe year of youth\nThe European Year of Youth provides a unique opportunity for European regions to identify ways of better supporting youth participation and autonomy. Young generations often have a strong sense of territorial development\, and roots\, not to add sustainability and protection. In parallel\, they are keen on embracing innovation and modernity for growth and the bettering of society. It is therefore fundamental to better link youth and cohesion policy; their mutually reinforcing potential can only benefit to EU’s cohesion objectives as well as regional and territorial prosperity. Through our EU funded projects\, youth exchange programme and political work\, the AER has worked tirelessly to create avenues for civic participation of young people\, and empower them at local and regional level. \nWhy? \nThe purpose of this high–level workshop is bring together policymakers\, civil society and most importantly young people to demonstrate how promoting youth development in our regions can drive territorial\, economic and social cohesion. Equally important\, to explore how best practices from AER regions can be scaled–up across Europe. \nWho?\nThis panel will engage AER members both online; putting young people from civil society in the driving seat of discussions with regional policymakers from our network. We will use interactive tools like Sli.do and a “reverse Q and A” with our on–site AER regional politicians to ensure a lively conversation with youth voices\, concerns and priorities front and centre. \n  URL:https://aer.eu/events/european-week-of-regions-and-cities-2022-regions4youth-strengthening-cohesion-through-youth-empowerment-online-workshop/ CATEGORIES:Partner Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/Regions4Youth-Strengthening-Cohesion-Through-Youth-Empowerment-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20221014T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20221014T130000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220909T141408Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221011T081942Z UID:41484-1665741600-1665752400@aer.eu SUMMARY:2022 AER General Assembly\, Brussels (BE) DESCRIPTION:2022 AER General Assembly\n  \n***REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED: please contact j.sammon@aer.eu with any questions.  \nThe 2022 General Assembly will take place in Brussels\, Belgium and online on 14 October\, hosted by the by the Government of Lower Austria Liason Office. \nMembers joining on-site are also invited to a welcome reception the evening of Thursday\, 13 October (details to follow shortly)*. All onsite events will take place at the Lower Austria Liason Office\, Rue Montoyer 40\, B-1000 Brussels. \nThe deadline to register for on-site participation is Monday\, 3 October. Online registrations for Zoom will open the week of 3 October. \nYou can view the working documents at the link below. Voting procedures will be shared closer to the date. \nYou will be able to meet the Project Unit throughout the event at the Projects Info-Stand. \nDirect Links:\n\nWorking Documents\nDraft Agenda\n\nWherever you are\, we hope you can join us. URL:https://aer.eu/events/register-now-2022-aer-general-assembly-brussels-be/ LOCATION:Lower Austria Liason Office\, Rue Montoyer 40\, Brussels\, Brussels Capital Region\, B-1000\, Belgium CATEGORIES:AER Events,AER General Assemblies,AER Member Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/General-Assembly-L.Austria-V3.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20221107 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20221110 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220808T065256Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230709T193634Z UID:41263-1667779200-1668038399@aer.eu SUMMARY:[SOLD OUT] Eurodyssey Forum 2022 - Limassol\, Cyprus DESCRIPTION:The Eurodyssey Forum is back! \nThis 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! \n \n*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. \n  \nWhat is Eurodyssey?\nEurodyssey is the flagship youth regional mobility programme of the Assembly of European Regions\, entirely managed at regional level. Together with our participating member regions\, AER provides fully-funded traineeships\, allowing young people from diverse backgrounds to benefit from a paid traineeship\, in various sectors. During 3 to 7 months\, trainees will benefit from valuable professional experience in another European region\, together with language training and cultural and social activities. Enriched from this experience\, the programme’s beneficiaries will have boosted their employability\, skills\, international comfort and personal development. Besides the traineeship experience\, Eurodyssey is also a unique opportunity to boost mutual understanding and intercultural learning\, and to raise awareness about regional diversity in Europe –  one of AER’s strong pillars. \n  \nA panEuropean youth mobility programme… before Erasmus!\nEstablished in 1985\, the Eurodyssey programme celebrated its 35th birthday in 2020. The COVID-19 pandemic didn’t make 2020 the celebration year we expected\, but the 2022 Eurodyssey Forum will provide us with an exciting programme to make up for it! \n \n  \nBouncing back from the pandemic\nAs the COVID-19 pandemic hit hard international mobility\, and particularly affected mobility opportunities for young people across Europe and the world\, the Eurodyssey programme also faced challenges due to the sanitary and travel restrictions. However\, the programme bounced back! In 2021\, and even more in 2022\, our participating regions were able to host and send trainees again. And after two editions organised online\, the Eurodyssey Forum is now back for a fully in person event! \nThis year’s edition will focus on International Youth Mobility in the post-pandemic era\, and the priorities set by the European Commission as part of the European Year of Youth\, especially Education & European Learning Mobility\, and Employment & Inclusion. \nDuring plenary sessions and workshops\, our participating regions\, Eurodyssey trainees and alumni\, and involved organisations will share their experience and good practices on the benefits of the programme. From valuing youth and employment policies at regional level\, to developing young people’s skills and employability\, while expanding intercultural learning\, inclusion\, diversity\, and more\, we strongly believe in the resilience and relevance of the Eurodyssey programme\, in the aftermath of the Conference on the Future of Europe. This Forum will also be the occasion to reflect on past and current challenges faced by the programme\, and to co-develop\, together with our participating regions\, young people and public and private stakeholders\, the Eurodyssey of tomorrow. \nCheck the programme below and make sure to register here. \n  \n \n\nLaunching Our Brand New Project YOUTHopia!\nLast but not least\, the Forum will mark the launch event of AER’s “YOUTHopia – Generating Perspectives for Cohesion”. This pan-European project\, supported by DG REGIO and conducted together with five member regions of AER\, aims at raising awareness about the concrete benefits that Cohesion Policy offers to boost the economic and social well-being of its citizens and regions\, with a focus on youth employment and the transition towards a green and climate-neutral Europe. URL:https://aer.eu/events/save-the-date-register-eurodyssey-forum-2022/ LOCATION:Atlantica Miramare Hotel\, Limassol\, Cyprus CATEGORIES:AER Eurodyssey Forums,AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Visual_Eurodyssey_Forum_2022.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20221115 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20221201 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20220912T092551Z LAST-MODIFIED:20220912T102539Z UID:41517-1668470400-1669852799@aer.eu SUMMARY:REGISTER NOW: Regional Business Forum 2022 DESCRIPTION:It is our pleasure to invite you to the fifth edition of the Regional Business Forum (RBF)\, taking place as a hybrid event. You are most welcome to join us online and in Novi Sad\, Vojvodina from 15-30th November\, 2022.  \nThe 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. \n \nThis worldwide event provides additional support to companies to find international partners. The participants will be offered a chance to have B2B meetings with companies and institutions participating in the Forum\, according to their own needs and based on the information on registered participants. \nYou can access the platform for organisation of “one-on-one” meetings by clicking the following link: https://rbf2022.b2match.io/ which provides the opportunity to promote business cooperation between regions. \nThe sectors which will be presented are as follows: \n\nInformation and communication technologies and the creative industry\nCircular Economy\nGreen Agenda\nAgriculture and food processing industry\n\nThe invitation is addressed\, in particular\, to regional chambers of commerce\, regional development agencies and institutions supporting SMEs development. \nWe therefore invite you to register as soon as possible. You can find the official invitation for AER members HERE. \nFor further information\, please consult the RBF website. Should you have any questions\, please email rbf@vojvodina.gov.rs or call +381 21 487 4431. URL:https://aer.eu/events/register-now-regional-business-forum-2022/ LOCATION:Novi Sad/online\, Serbia CATEGORIES:Partner Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/V1-Regional-Business-forum-2022-visuals.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20221206T090000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20221206T130000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024644 CREATED:20221019T101201Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221209T123446Z UID:41928-1670317200-1670331600@aer.eu SUMMARY:The Bioeconomy & the New European Bauhaus DESCRIPTION:Bio-based innovation to decarbonise the construction sector\nThe AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy\, chaired by Aud Hove (Innlandet\, NO) organised a workshop on “The Bioeconomy & the New European Bauhaus” on 6 December 09:00-13:00\, which looked at \n\nThe European strategies supporting the decarbonisation of the construction sector\nThe link with societal challenges\, the territorial approach\nTechnical innovations in bio-based constructions materials\n\nAGENDA & PRESENTATIONS\n(Click on titles to access presentations) \nBeautiful\, sustainable\, inclusive by design\n\nWelcome\, setting the scene\, Stian Berg\, International Adviser\, Innlandet (NO) on behalf of Aud Hove\, Chair of the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy\nSpaces for mutual learning and policy innovation\, Christian Spahr\, AER Secretary General\nThe New European Bauhaus\, Connecting our living spaces and experiences with the European Green Deal\, Borislava Woodford\, Directorate-General Joint Research Centre\, European Commission\nDecarbonising the construction sector: the challenges and measures to address them at EU level\, Philippe Moseley\, Policy Officer\, Directorate General for Internal Market\, Industry\, Entrepreneurship and SMEs\, European Commission\n\nModerated by Stian Berg\n \nBio-based\, innovative practices in the regions\n\nNature Based Materials in Regional Ecosystems\, Edwin Hamoen\, Nature Based Materials Programme\, Wageningen University\, Gelderland (NL)\nDecarbonising our territories with hemp : the construction market\, Chloé Charlier\, The European Hemp Pole\, Grand Est (FR)\nIndustrial pilots\, Skills ecosystems & Circular material hubs\, Eivind Merok\, Innlandet (NO)\nThe Bioeconomy & Värmland’s Smart Specialisation Strategy\, Eva Hallström & Kaltum Hussein\, Värmland (SE)\n\nFacilitation by Johanna Pacevicius \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n \nThis event took place the day before the AER Autumn Bureau\, which saw the adoption of two AER position papers: \n-Position Paper on Jobs\, Growth & Investments \n-Position Paper on Youth \nMore information on the Bureau event webpage \n  \n\n\n\nPhoto credits: \nPictures of event: AER (taken by Erik Hayes\, Eurodyssey Trainee at the AER Secretariat)\n\n\n\nPicture on event visual: courtesy from Innlandet County Council URL:https://aer.eu/events/bioeconomy-the-new-european-bauhaus/ LOCATION:Oslo Region European Office\, Rue du Luxembourg 3/5\, Brussels\, Bruxelles\, 1000\, Belgium CATEGORIES:AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/AER-Workshop-Bioeconomy-6-December-2.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20221207 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20221208 DTSTAMP:20260409T024645 CREATED:20220921T145210Z LAST-MODIFIED:20221129T141410Z UID:41550-1670371200-1670457599@aer.eu SUMMARY:REGISTER NOW! - 2022 Autumn Bureau Meeting DESCRIPTION:You are invited to register for the Autumn edition of the AER Political Bureau on 7 December in Brussels. The Bureau Meeting will be hosted by the regions of Sardinia & Abruzzo (IT). \n \n  \nNEW DEADLINE: 30 NOVEMBER 2022\n  \nWe highly encourage you to participate in person in Brussels in the AER Autumn Bureau as the planned web streaming will offer limited interaction possibilities. \nWorking Documents\n\nDetailed Agenda\nPosition Paper on Youth – to be adopted\nPosition Paper on Jobs\, Growth & Investment – to be adopted\n\n\n7 December – Autumn Bureau Meeting Programme\n \n\nAdoption & Discussion AER Position Papers\n\nPosition Paper on Jobs\, Growth & Investment\n\nAER members are invited to propose their amendments to the Draft Position Paper on Jobs\, Growth and Investment. \nThis draft paper sets recommendations on how regions can boost growth\, drive investment and create jobs that will accelerate Europe’s economic recovery. This position will be discussed and voted upon by Bureau members at our Autumn Bureau meeting on 7 December 2022. \nMore information is available in our article. Call for amendments CLOSED. \n\nPosition Paper on Youth\n\nThis paper aims to provide a comprehensive position advocating for a better future for European youth. It addresses various topics\, from the development of socio-economic opportunities for young people to the several diverse inequalities faced by the youth\, to the future of work and skills in the context of the green and digital transition\, to the inclusion of young people in decision-making processes\, to the development of political and civic education\, to supporting young people’s mental health. \nTo make these proposals stronger\, the Task Force is inviting AER member regions to share their inputs about the Draft Position. \nMore information is available in our article. Call for amendments CLOSED. \nBureau debate on Sustainable Tourism\nIn an interdisciplinary debate\, panellists will highlight how the post-pandemic recovery of tourism is key to revitalising regional economies and nourishing their cultures. \nThis debate will bring together representatives of local and regional authorities\, European Institutions and other relevant stakeholders to answer the following questions: \n\nWhat are the key priorities for a sustainable\, resilient\, inclusive recovery of tourism in Europe that effectively builds on the opportunities from the green and digital transitions?\nHow can local and regional governments best contribute to the relaunch of the European tourism sector?\nWhat synergies and cooperation can be exploited among all involved actors and how can this best support recovery of tourism that is resilient\, sustainable and inclusive?\n\n6 December – Workshop on the Bieoconomy & the New European Bauhaus\nPrior to the Autumn Bureau Meeting\, the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy is organising a workshop on “The Bioeconomy & the New European Bauhaus” at the Oslo Region European Office\, on 6 December\, 09:00-13:00\, which will look at \n\nThe European strategies supporting the decarbonisation of the construction sector\nThe link with societal challenges\, the territorial approach\nTechnical innovations in bio-based constructions materials\n\nClick here for more information. URL:https://aer.eu/events/save-the-date-2022-autumn-bureau-meeting/ LOCATION:Brussels\, Belgium CATEGORIES:AER Bureau plenaries,AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/AER-Bureau-Debate-2-December-6.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230131T093000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230131T123000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024645 CREATED:20221227T105824Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230208T114023Z UID:42663-1675157400-1675168200@aer.eu SUMMARY:Includ-EU Online Session: "Anti-discrimination: a Transformative Approach for Organisations" DESCRIPTION:This online session focused on how we can identify and prevent systemic discrimination in our environments. It was led by Diversity Equity and Inclusion Expert\, Author and Podcast Producer Prisca Ratovonasy. She shared the stage with Mame-Fatou Niang\, Associate Professor\, Author and Artist-in-Residence at Ateliers Médicis.\n \nThe slides of the training are available here \nThe bibliography is available here\, it is in one document with the agenda \nThis session was held in English and simultaneously translated into Italian\, Slovenian\, Romanian\, Greek\, Spanish\, and Dutch\, allowing us to grow our community and involve more and more institutions. \nThis was a rare opportunity to bring together an international community with 7 European languages around a shared objective to make services and organisations more inclusive. \nThe session enabled all participants and organisers to: \n\nbetter understand the stakes\nraise awareness on the transformative dimension of addressing discrimination\nget actionable knowledge\, ready to use\n\nIf you missed this\, please contact us (a.comacchio@aer.eu) \nThis online training session is organised in the context of INCLUD-EU\, an EU project funded by the Asylum\, Migration and Integration fund (AMIF) which contributes to building more inclusive and cohesive European societies by enhancing knowledge\, driving innovation\, and stimulating cooperation between local and regional authorities in the European Union. To know more about the project\, visit the project website. \n  \n  \n \n  URL:https://aer.eu/events/includ-eu-online-session-anti-discrimination-a-transformative-approach-for-organisations/ LOCATION:Online CATEGORIES:AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2022/12/CONFERENCE-ON-THE-FUTURE-OF-EUROPE-1-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230313T093000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230313T110000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024645 CREATED:20230210T122538Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230406T111849Z UID:43209-1678699800-1678705200@aer.eu SUMMARY:WG Green Hydrogen kick-off meeting DESCRIPTION:The AER working group on Green Hydrogen organised its kick-off meeting on 13 March 2023 from 09:30-11:30 \nThe 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)\, Kosice (SK) \nThis meeting was open to AER members only \nDuring this first meeting\, AER members interested in sharing experiences and knowledge on the topic of Green Hydrogen: \n\ngot to know each other (pitch on the region)\nshared why the topic matters for them now\nshared how the working group would create value for them: what they expect\, how they would like to contribute\ndefined activities for the coming months\n\nThe group also nominated the Chair of the Working Group: Albert Castellanos\, Secretary for Business and Competitiveness of the Government of Catalonia \nPresentations & Ressources\nCatalonia Pitch on H2 Strategy \nFribourg Pitch on H2 R&D \nVärmland Pitch on H2 Strategy \nAbruzzo Pitch on H2 Strategy \nGrand Est Pitch on H2 Strategy \nLower Austria Pitch on H2 Strategy \nVästra-Götaland Pitch on H2 Strategy \nConclusions of the meeting\nThe findings and decisions made at the kick-off meeting of the AER Working Group on Green Hydrogen can be found here. \nContext: scaling up the renewable hydrogen economy\nThere is significant work to do to scale-up production and demand. At present\, hydrogen makes up less than 2% of Europe’s energy mix and is still largely produced from fossil fuels. Producing clean hydrogen from renewable sources like wind and solar is expensive\, and while technology has improved and come down in cost\, there remain challenges connecting hydrogen production to energy grids and securing enough investment to make it viable. \nRegions have a key role to play in scaling up the renewable hydrogen economy across Europe. As noted in a 2020 opinion adopted by the Committee of the Regions\, green hydrogen “has the capacity to promote regional and local development because significant parts of the value chain can be established in regions and municipalities”. With the right level of private and public investment\, European regions can lead in the creation of self-contained “hydrogen hubs” that link all elements of the value chain. \nRegions have a crucial role in facilitating\, supporting\, and developing collaborations for the deployment of green hydrogen. \nBy cooperating and sharing experiences and best practices\, regions can inspire each other inter-regionally to the best possible solutions in several areas. \n  \nMore information on how to set-up a working group at AER here. \nFor any questions\, please contact AER Coordinator for Policy & Knowledge Transfer Johanna Pacevicius \nPicture by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash URL:https://aer.eu/events/wg-hydrogen-kick-off-meeting/ CATEGORIES:AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/patrick-perkins-ETRPjvb0KM0-unsplash1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;VALUE=DATE:20230327 DTEND;VALUE=DATE:20230330 DTSTAMP:20260409T024645 CREATED:20230208T114859Z LAST-MODIFIED:20231031T172503Z UID:43186-1679875200-1680134399@aer.eu SUMMARY:Join AER-Includ-EU Workshop in Cluj Napoca or Online! - Cross-sectoral\, Multistakeholder Collaboration for Inclusion DESCRIPTION: An exciting opportunity for AER members to explore the potential of cross-sectoral collaboration and co-design to create better integration policies and practices. \nIn the context of the Includ-EU* project\, co-financed by AMIF programme of the European Union\, AER is organising a workshop looking at cross-sectoral collaboration\, co-design and co-management for better integration and inclusion: What are the policies and practices which enable the much sought-after multistakeholder collaboration? What is the role of local and regional authorities in this Context? \nWhole-of-Society Approach. Cross-sectoral\, Multistakeholder Collaboration for Inclusion.\nOn the side of administrations or non-governmental organisations\, understanding the circumstances and needs of migrants to provide adequate services can prove a daunting exercise. This leads to considerable frustration\, for users and for organisations involved in the integration process. \nIn Cluj-Napoca\, the one-stop shop for migrants emerged as a response to this need\, expressed both by migrants and authorities. One-stop shops are services designed following a holistic approach: concentrating services in one location can help newcomers understand what services are available and improve collaboration between providers.  \nAs part of the agenda\, the AER looks forward to connecting with members\, particularly our wide Romanian membership to strengthen the relationships and build new multi-stakeholder networks. This will be an opportunity for members to exchange ideas\, identify common challenges and deepen relations with the AER Secretariat. At the same time\, the AER will work to better understand the needs and expectations of its members and tailor its services and activities accordingly. \nWith that in mind\, the AER Secretariat proposes to launch a Ukraine Focus Group at this event. The aim is to provide tailored\, needs-based support to new Ukrainian members by creating a platform for direct region-to-region dialogue; a place where Ukrainian regions can request support from AER regions and partners directly. In tandem\, the Focus Group will onboard these Ukrainian regions into AER’s structures\, open new networks to them\, and build capacity for these regions over the longer-term. \nIf you and your region would like to attend the event\, please fill in this registration form and confirm your participation to a.comacchio@aer.eu and j.sammon@aer.eu. Don’t hesitate to contact us with additional questions about the programme. \nSeparate invitations for AER members and partners will shortly follow for the first meeting of AER’s Ukraine Focus Group\, which will take place during this event. \nRegistrations for the onsite event are now closed\,  but you can \n\n\n\n\n\nJoin the Live-Streaming\n\n\n\n\n\nWhen? Tuesday 28.03 | 14:00-15:45 \n\n\n\n\n\nThe AER invites all regions and stakeholders to join online the live-streamed panel discussion on“What are the enabling factors for cross-sectoral collaboration? What is the role of local and regional authorities? Challenges and good practices.”\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n*Includ-EU facilitates transnational knowledge and experience sharing to build more inclusive and cohesive European societies. The project develops cooperation between local and regional authorities from Greece\, Italy\, the Netherlands\, Romania\, Slovenia and Spain. Targeted exchanges generate actionable learning\, which leads to improved integration policies and practices. URL:https://aer.eu/events/join-includ-eu-workshop-in-cluj-napoca-cross-sectoral-multistakeholder-collaboration-for-inclusion/ CATEGORIES:AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Register-online_Workshop-RO_28-29.03.2023-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230328T100000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230328T173000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024645 CREATED:20230202T162025Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230310T115532Z UID:43057-1679997600-1680024600@aer.eu SUMMARY:EU-Belong Joint Event with COR - Empowering Regions and Cities in Migrant Integration Governance DESCRIPTION:​On 28 March 2023\, the Cities and Regions for Integration of Migrants network of the European Committee of the Regions will celebrate the conference “Empowering regions and cities in migrant integration governance.”​ \nOrganised in cooperation with the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and Eurac Research and the Brussels Interdisciplinary Research centre on Migration and Minorities (BIRMM) & Brussels School of Governance at Vrije Universiteit Brussel\, the conference will focus on the multi-level coordination and intercultural approach to the integration of migrants and refugees in cities and regions across Europe. \nThe conference will take place on Tuesday\, 28 March 2023\, from 10:00 to 12:30 and from 14:30 to 17:30 at the European Committee of the Regions\, Rue Belliard 99-101\, Brussels\, room JDE 51. Online participation will be possible via Interactio. \nTo attend the conference\, in person or online\, please fill in the registration form here. \nTake a look at the agenda!\nBuilding intercultural and inclusive regions\nWithin this event\, the AER is preparing a capacity-building session on Intercultural Regions: Embracing Diversity\, Fostering Equal Opportunities in close cooperation with the European Committee of the Regions and the Council of Europe.  \nThe session will aim at addressing the current challenges of migrant integration in our regions and cities\, and discuss the benefits of applying an intercultural approach to foster a sense of belonging.  \nThe intercultural approach as understood by the Council of Europe\, and implemented by its Intercultural Cities Programme\, aims at harnessing the benefits of diversity as a central aspect of building more inclusive\, prosperous and democratic societies. This requires an intercultural approach to integration and joined-up action across all levels of government and actors\, based on the principles of equal opportunities\, recognition of diversity\, and positive interaction between people from different origins.  \nRegional and local authorities play a vital role in responding to the increasing diversity of our communities\, delivering public policies and services that promote the inclusion of migrants and refugees\, intercultural interaction and social cohesion.  \nThe Assembly of European Regions has played a fundamental role in bringing the intercultural approach to European regional integration\, thanks to the establishment in 2019 of the Intercultural Regions Network (IRN)\, and the development and implementation of the AMIF-funded project EU-Belong: Intercultural Integration of Migrants in Europe’s Regions\, which aims at improving the socio-economic inclusion of migrants at the regional level through the development of intercultural integration strategies. During this session\, the main outcomes and policy tools developed by this European project so far will be presented.  URL:https://aer.eu/events/empowering-regions-and-cities-in-migrant-integration-governance/ LOCATION:European Committee of the Regions\, Rue Belliard 99-101\, Brussels\, Brussels Capital Region\, 1000\, Belgium CATEGORIES:AER Events ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/4885-16x9-visual-01-for-the-screen-1.jpg END:VEVENT BEGIN:VEVENT DTSTART;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230603T140000 DTEND;TZID=Europe/Brussels:20230604T163000 DTSTAMP:20260409T024645 CREATED:20230525T074714Z LAST-MODIFIED:20230525T095013Z UID:44391-1685800800-1685896200@aer.eu SUMMARY:Open meeting of AER's Youth Regional Network (YRN) DESCRIPTION:AER’s Youth Regional Network is back! Since the YRN General Assembly last March\, the YRN Presidium has been working hard on setting up a working plan and thematic committees\, and on contributing to AER’s work\, to foster youth participation and make youth voices heard in policy-making. \nNow\, they want to involve YOU! Whether you are already a member of the YRN\, or a young person interested in joining and contributing\, the YRN Presidium is inviting you to an open meeting\, online\, on the 3rd and 4th of June.   If you want to join this meeting\, please email the YRN Presidium at presidium.yrn@aer.eu. \nIf not done already\, also fill in the YRN Expression of Interest form: if you are eligible\, you will be able to join the YRN as a member and will receive all communications related to the YRN activities\, including the link to join the online meeting.   \n\nCheck out the programme of the online meeting of 3-4 June below: Agenda_YRN_Presidium_Meeting (3-4 June)   \n  \nWhat is the YRN?\nCreated by the Assembly of European Regions in 2008\, the Youth Regional Network (YRN) is a cross-regional youth platform\, promoting active youth participation at regional level. Composed of regional-level youth councils\, parliaments and organisations in AER’s network and membership\, it provides young people with an opportunity to express policy recommendations\, to foster debate and capacity-building\, to exchange good practices\, to reach out to decision-makers and to influence policies. The YRN is a unique forum for young people from diverse regions to raise their voice collectively\, while introducing a European dimension to youth policy in those regions.   \n  \nWho is the YRN Presidium?\n\nPresident: Jim Simonsen Jenssen (Nordland\, NO)\n1st Vice-President: Anette Amalie Bang (Nordland\, NO)\n2nd Vice-President: Norbert Nagy (Salaj\, RO)\nChair of the TC on Youth Participation & Governance: Sigrun Myrvang (Innlandet\, NO)\nChair of the TC on Mental Health & Wellbeing: Daria Sustrietova (Kirovohrad\, UA)\nChair of the TC on Gender Equality & Women Empowerment: Maylinda Bajrami (Tirana\, AL)\n\nYou can contact them at presidium.yrn@aer.eu! URL:https://aer.eu/events/open-meeting-of-aers-youth-regional-network-yrn/ ATTACH;FMTTYPE=image/jpeg:https://aer.eu/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Group_Picture_YRN_GA.jpg END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR