SOLD OUT: AER Summer Academy 2022 - Donegal, Ireland
2022-08-29 - 2022-09-01 | Atlantic Technical University (ATU) Letterkenny
***PLEASE NOTE: ALL TICKETS ARE SOLD OUT. IF YOU HAVE NOT RECEIVED YOUR TICKET, PLEASE CONTACT THE AER SECRETARIAT***

With the European Year of Youth in full-swing, the AER is delighted to announce that our flagship youth event, the AER Summer Academy is returning in 2022 after a two-year hiatus.
In partnership with Donegal County Council and Údarás na Gaeltachta, this year’s Summer Academy will take place from 29 August until 1 September in the stunning surroundings of County Donegal, in Ireland’s Atlantic North-West.
2022 marks fifty years since Irish citizens voted by referendum to join the European Community, precursor the European Union in 1972. 2022 also celebrates the Irish language 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.
The 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.
The 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.
As 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.
Last 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!
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The 2022 Summer Academy is proudly brought to you by:

ANNOUNCEMENT: Bureau Debate on Youth, August 31 2022
2022-08-31 11:30 - 13:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Atlantic Technical University (ATU) Letterkenny
The 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.
This 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.
During 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.
The debate will address three key questions:

What should the focus of youth policy be in our post-pandemic European societies?
How can youth contribute to building more resilient and strengthened European regions?
What can public actors do to avoid facing a “lockdown generation” and maximise the well-being of European youth?

For further information on the content of the debate, please, go to this article.
Panel:

Anne 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
Chougher Doughramajian, Member of the Advisory Council on Youth – Council of Europe
Tom Matthew, Board member – European Youth Forum
Maylinda Bajrami, Member Youth Panel – European Youth Card Association

With insights, unique regional contexts and recovery experiences from the Task Force on Youth member regions.

Introduction to Interculturalism and Intercultural Competences: First Online Capacity-building Session for Regions and Local Stakeholders
2022-10-06 10:00 - 12:30 | Zoom
What is interculturalism and how do we support the development of intercultural competences among regions and their stakeholders?

Intercultural 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.
A 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.

The 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.
The 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.

Structure and Programme
Trainer: Carla Calado, Coordinator of the Portuguese Intercultural Cities Network
Language: English
Participants: 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

10:00 – 10:15 Welcoming words

Marina Medarić, AER Vice President for Inclusion, Diversity & Equality
Nichola Howson, Directorate General of Democracy Anti-Discrimination Department of the Council of Europe

10:15 – 10:45 Presentation and Ice Breaker
10:45-11:30h Interculturalism

Definition of Interculturalism
Principles of Interculturalism
Ethnocentrism VS Relativism
The 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.)

11:30 – Ice Breaker
11:45-12:15h Intercultural competence training

Definition of Intercultural Competence
Why is Intercultural competence training important?
How does it look like in practice?
General recommendation for large-scale training. The blended learning approach (pros and cons).

12:15 – 12:30 Q&A and final remarks

Additional resources for exploration:

ICC Intercultural Citizenship test: Intercultural Citizenship Test (coe.int)
Online courses:
Diversity 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)
ICC Course – The intercultural city step-by-step Survey (surveymonkey.com): this course does not need previous enrolment
Resources in ICC website in the dedicated page: Thematic papers (coe.int)

If you are interested in participating, please contact Birgit Sandu (b.sandu@aer.eu), or Anna Comacchio (a.comacchio@aer.eu).

EU-Belong is a 3-year project run by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and 13 partners, and co-funded by the AMIF Programme (AMIF-2020-AG-CALL) of the European Union. 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.

European Week of Regions and Cities 2022 - Regions4Youth: Strengthening Cohesion Through Youth Empowerment ONLINE WORKSHOP
2022-10-11 09:30 - 11:00
How can youth development contribute to achieving territorial, economic and social cohesion?
Empowering our next generation empowers all of us.
Territorial, 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.
The year of youth
The 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.
Why?
The 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.
Who?
This 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.

2022 AER General Assembly, Brussels (BE)
2022-10-14 10:00 - 13:00 | Lower Austria Liason Office, Rue Montoyer 40, Brussels, Brussels Capital Region, B-1000, Belgium
2022 AER General Assembly

***REGISTRATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED: please contact j.sammon@aer.eu with any questions.
The 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.
Members 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.
The deadline to register for on-site participation is Monday, 3 October. Online registrations for Zoom will open the week of 3 October.
You can view the working documents at the link below. Voting procedures will be shared closer to the date.
You will be able to meet the Project Unit throughout the event at the Projects Info-Stand.
Direct Links:

Working Documents
Draft Agenda

Wherever you are, we hope you can join us.

[SOLD OUT] Eurodyssey Forum 2022 - Limassol, Cyprus
2022-11-07 - 2022-11-09 | Atlantica Miramare Hotel, Limassol, Cyprus
The Eurodyssey Forum is back!
This year’s edition will be a fully in-person event and will take place in Limassol, Cyprus, from the 7th to the 9th of November. The Forum will be hosted by the Union of Cyprus Municipalities and the Department of Labour of the Republic of Cyprus. An opportunity not to be missed!

*Registrations are open until the 30th of September on a “first-come, first-served basis”, with priority being given to the Eurodyssey participating regions. After this date, registrations will be possible only based on the number of spots still available.

What is Eurodyssey?
Eurodyssey is the flagship youth regional mobility programme of the Assembly of European Regions, entirely managed at regional level. Together with our participating 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.

A panEuropean youth mobility programme… before Erasmus!
Established 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!

Bouncing back from the pandemic
As 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!
This 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.
During 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.
Check the programme below and make sure to register here.

Launching Our Brand New Project YOUTHopia!
Last 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.

REGISTER NOW: Regional Business Forum 2022
2022-11-15 - 2022-11-30 | Novi Sad/online, Serbia
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.
The Regional Business Forum is an annual international forum to exchange ideas on support for SMEs, promote business and commerce, incentive the possibility to collaborate and share best practices between regions.

This 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.
You 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.
The sectors which will be presented are as follows:

Information and communication technologies and the creative industry
Circular Economy
Green Agenda
Agriculture and food processing industry

The invitation is addressed, in particular, to regional chambers of commerce, regional development agencies and institutions supporting SMEs development.
We therefore invite you to register as soon as possible. You can find the official invitation for AER members HERE.
For further information, please consult the RBF website. Should you have any questions, please email rbf@vojvodina.gov.rs or call +381 21 487 4431.

The Bioeconomy & the New European Bauhaus
2022-12-06 09:00 - 13:00 | Oslo Region European Office, Rue du Luxembourg 3/5, Brussels, Bruxelles, 1000, Belgium
Bio-based innovation to decarbonise the construction sector
The 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

The European strategies supporting the decarbonisation of the construction sector
The link with societal challenges, the territorial approach
Technical innovations in bio-based constructions materials

AGENDA & PRESENTATIONS
(Click on titles to access presentations)
Beautiful, sustainable, inclusive by design

Welcome, setting the scene, Stian Berg, International Adviser, Innlandet (NO) on behalf of Aud Hove, Chair of the AER Working Group on the Bioeconomy
Spaces for mutual learning and policy innovation, Christian Spahr, AER Secretary General
The New European Bauhaus, Connecting our living spaces and experiences with the European Green Deal, Borislava Woodford, Directorate-General Joint Research Centre, European Commission
Decarbonising 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

Moderated by Stian Berg

Bio-based, innovative practices in the regions

Nature Based Materials in Regional Ecosystems, Edwin Hamoen, Nature Based Materials Programme, Wageningen University, Gelderland (NL)
Decarbonising our territories with hemp : the construction market, Chloé Charlier, The European Hemp Pole, Grand Est (FR)
Industrial pilots, Skills ecosystems & Circular material hubs, Eivind Merok, Innlandet (NO)
The Bioeconomy & Värmland’s Smart Specialisation Strategy, Eva Hallström & Kaltum Hussein, Värmland (SE)

Facilitation by Johanna Pacevicius

This event took place the day before the AER Autumn Bureau, which saw the adoption of two AER position papers:
-Position Paper on Jobs, Growth & Investments
-Position Paper on Youth
More information on the Bureau event webpage

Photo credits:
Pictures of event: AER (taken by Erik Hayes, Eurodyssey Trainee at the AER Secretariat)

Picture on event visual: courtesy from Innlandet County Council

REGISTER NOW! - 2022 Autumn Bureau Meeting
2022-12-07 | Brussels, Belgium
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).

NEW DEADLINE: 30 NOVEMBER 2022

We highly encourage you to participate in person in Brussels in the AER Autumn Bureau as the planned web streaming will offer limited interaction possibilities.
Working Documents

Detailed Agenda
Position Paper on Youth – to be adopted
Position Paper on Jobs, Growth & Investment – to be adopted

7 December – Autumn Bureau Meeting Programme

Adoption & Discussion AER Position Papers

Position Paper on Jobs, Growth & Investment

AER members are invited to propose their amendments to the Draft Position Paper on Jobs, Growth and Investment.
This 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.
More information is available in our article. Call for amendments CLOSED.

Position Paper on Youth

This 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.
To make these proposals stronger, the Task Force is inviting AER member regions to share their inputs about the Draft Position.
More information is available in our article. Call for amendments CLOSED.
Bureau debate on Sustainable Tourism
In an interdisciplinary debate, panellists will highlight how the post-pandemic recovery of tourism is key to revitalising regional economies and nourishing their cultures.
This debate will bring together representatives of local and regional authorities, European Institutions and other relevant stakeholders to answer the following questions:

What 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?
How can local and regional governments best contribute to the relaunch of the European tourism sector?
What 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?

6 December – Workshop on the Bieoconomy & the New European Bauhaus
Prior 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

The European strategies supporting the decarbonisation of the construction sector
The link with societal challenges, the territorial approach
Technical innovations in bio-based constructions materials

Click here for more information.

Includ-EU Online Session: "Anti-discrimination: a Transformative Approach for Organisations"
2023-01-31 09:30 - 12:30 | Online
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.

The slides of the training are available here
The bibliography is available here, it is in one document with the agenda
This 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.
This 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.
The session enabled all participants and organisers to:

better understand the stakes
raise awareness on the transformative dimension of addressing discrimination
get actionable knowledge, ready to use

If you missed this, please contact us (a.comacchio@aer.eu)
This 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.

WG Green Hydrogen kick-off meeting
2023-03-13 09:30 - 11:00
The AER working group on Green Hydrogen organised its kick-off meeting on 13 March 2023 from 09:30-11:30
The proposal for this working group is led by Catalonia (ES). It is supported by Burgenland (AU), Lower Austria (AU), Valle D’Aosta (IT), Flevoland (NL), Maramures (RO), Värmland (SE), Västra-Götaland (SE), Fribourg (CH), and Denizli (TR), Kosice (SK)
This meeting was open to AER members only
During this first meeting, AER members interested in sharing experiences and knowledge on the topic of Green Hydrogen:

got to know each other (pitch on the region)
shared why the topic matters for them now
shared how the working group would create value for them: what they expect, how they would like to contribute
defined activities for the coming months

The group also nominated the Chair of the Working Group: Albert Castellanos, Secretary for Business and Competitiveness of the Government of Catalonia
Presentations & Ressources
Catalonia Pitch on H2 Strategy
Fribourg Pitch on H2 R&D
Värmland Pitch on H2 Strategy
Abruzzo Pitch on H2 Strategy
Grand Est Pitch on H2 Strategy
Lower Austria Pitch on H2 Strategy
Västra-Götaland Pitch on H2 Strategy
Conclusions of the meeting
The findings and decisions made at the kick-off meeting of the AER Working Group on Green Hydrogen can be found here.
Context: scaling up the renewable hydrogen economy
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.
Regions 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.
Regions have a crucial role in facilitating, supporting, and developing collaborations for the deployment of green hydrogen.
By cooperating and sharing experiences and best practices, regions can inspire each other inter-regionally to the best possible solutions in several areas.

More information on how to set-up a working group at AER here.
For any questions, please contact AER Coordinator for Policy & Knowledge Transfer Johanna Pacevicius
Picture by Patrick Perkins on Unsplash

Join AER-Includ-EU Workshop in Cluj Napoca or Online! - Cross-sectoral, Multistakeholder Collaboration for Inclusion
2023-03-27 - 2023-03-29
An exciting opportunity for AER members to explore the potential of cross-sectoral collaboration and co-design to create better integration policies and practices.
In 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?
Whole-of-Society Approach. Cross-sectoral, Multistakeholder Collaboration for Inclusion.
On 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.
In 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.
As 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.
With 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.
If 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.
Separate 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.
Registrations for the onsite event are now closed, but you can

Join the Live-Streaming

When? Tuesday 28.03 | 14:00-15:45

The 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.”

*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.

EU-Belong Joint Event with COR - Empowering Regions and Cities in Migrant Integration Governance
2023-03-28 10:00 - 17:30 | European Committee of the Regions, Rue Belliard 99-101, Brussels, Brussels Capital Region, 1000, Belgium
​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.”​
Organised 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.
The 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.
To attend the conference, in person or online, please fill in the registration form here.
Take a look at the agenda!
Building intercultural and inclusive regions
Within 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.
The 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.
The 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.
Regional 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.
The 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.

Open meeting of AER's Youth Regional Network (YRN)
2023-06-03 14:00 - 2023-06-04 16:30
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.
Now, 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.
If 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.

Check out the programme of the online meeting of 3-4 June below: Agenda_YRN_Presidium_Meeting (3-4 June)

What is the YRN?
Created 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.

Who is the YRN Presidium?

President: Jim Simonsen Jenssen (Nordland, NO)
1st Vice-President: Anette Amalie Bang (Nordland, NO)
2nd Vice-President: Norbert Nagy (Salaj, RO)
Chair of the TC on Youth Participation & Governance: Sigrun Myrvang (Innlandet, NO)
Chair of the TC on Mental Health & Wellbeing: Daria Sustrietova (Kirovohrad, UA)
Chair of the TC on Gender Equality & Women Empowerment: Maylinda Bajrami (Tirana, AL)

You can contact them at presidium.yrn@aer.eu!

PEACE 25: Everyday Peacemakers Conference
2023-06-09 08:00 - 18:00 | Irish College Leuven, Janseniusstraat 1, Leuven, 3000, Belgium
To mark the 25th anniversary year of the Belfast Good Friday Agreement, the Assembly of European Regions (AER) invites you to join its PEACE 25: Everyday Peacemakers High-Level Conference in Leuven, Belgium on the 9th of June.
Organised in partnership with the International Fund for Ireland and hosted by the Irish College Leuven, the Conference will focus on community-based Peace and Reconciliation initiatives in Ireland and across Europe.
We are delighted to announce that European Commissioner and former Vice-President of the European Parliament, Mairead McGuinness, will open the Conference on 9 June.
The AER invites its members and partners to join seminars with leading experts and practitioners on the following themes:

Support for Peace and Reconciliation initiatives;
Women’s leadership in peace-building;
Cultural and community-based initiatives for reconciliation.

If interested in attending the event please RSVP to reception@irishcollegeleuven.eu.
VIEW THE PROGRAMME BELOW:
PEACE25 Programme

Addressing The Housing Crisis: An Essential Building Block For Intercultural Regions
2023-06-14 08:00 - 2023-06-15 17:00 | Gdansk, Pomerania
A great opportunity for AER regions and the Intercultural Regions Network to join the transnational knowledge sharing event organised by the AER and the Pomeraskie Region (PL) “Addressing the housing crisis: An essential building block for intercultural regions“.
Since February 24 2022, 4 million Ukrainians had to leave their country and homes and looked for shelters among their European neighbours. One year later, regions and local administrations are faced with a growing concern as to how to accommodate so many people, ensuring that dignity and human rights are respected, and finding sustainable and long-term housing solutions. These concerns are part of a broader housing crisis currently taking place across Europe with several people at risk of homeless and a general mission to think and rethink about the “where people live” within our societies.
In view of supporting regions addressing the housing crisis and as a direct response to the challenges expressed by the Polish region Pomorskie, which, since the outbreak of the war, has witnessed the most significant population growth ever with a rise of approx. 110 000 people in the overall region (regional data) and by 34% in its capital city, Gdańsk (Council of Europe, 2022), the event will provide an opportunity for regions and stakeholders to address and exchange about challenges and good practices in ensuring sustainable and long term housing solutions, countering homelessness, poor housing, and gentrification, and how intercultural and cross-sectoral regional policies can support these practices.
The event will take place on 14-15 June in Gdańsk, Pomerania. It will gather international experts and regional politicians and civil servants from both the social inclusion and spatial planning departments, with the aim of:

understanding the challenges related to the war in Ukraine and the housing sector, learning from the experience, actions, and projects in Pomerania
exploring how the intercultural approach and cross-sectoral cooperations can promote social and territorial cohesion with particular regard to housing, e.g through innovative social housing solutions and models
benefitting from existing regional innovations by sharing knowledge and practices among regions
reflecting on how housing related challenges and models can be integrated in current and future regions’ strategies and policies.

Read the full concept and agenda of the event
The event is addressed to regional practitioners and local stakeholders active both in the spatial/territorial planning and inclusion sector.
Places are limited. For more information and to register, contact Birgit Sandu (b.sandu@aer.eu) and Johanna Pacevicius (j.pacevicius@aer.eu)

The event is the first EU-BELONG transnational knowledge sharing event aimed at supporting regions in addressing current societal challenges through intercultural and multi-stakeholder policies. EU-Belong is a 3-year project run by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) and 13 partners, and co-funded by the AMIF Programme (AMIF-2020-AG-CALL) of the European Union.

AER Delegation to the Europa Forum Wachau (21-24 June 2023) - Call for participants (closed)
2023-06-21 14:30 - 2023-06-24 14:00
APPLY HERE
The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is a partner of the Europa Forum Wachau, which will take place from the 21st to the 24th of June 2023, in Göttweig Abbey (Stift Göttweig), Lower Austria.
The Europa Forum Wachau was established in 1995, following Austria’s accession to the European Union. It is a yearly high-level discussion forum, addressing current European challenges in various Salons and Plenary Sessions. The Forum values the input and participation from young European citizens in the different sessions, and includes a Youth Event. The Europa Forum Wachau is a unique opportunity to foster exchanges and intergenerational dialogue between European citizens, and to reinforce the sense of European belonging. The event gathers elected representatives (heads of government, ministers, EU Commissioners…), but also business, cultural and media representatives, as well as (young) European citizens and representatives from the civil society.
As partners of the event, the AER is assembling a delegation of 6 young participants, to take part in all activities of the Forum (including its Youth Event), and represent the AER and its Youth Regional Network (YRN). One of the young participants should be an elected political representative at local or regional level.
Eligibility of the participants

Participants must travel from France. They don’t need to be French citizens or residents, but they must travel from France;
Aged between 18 and 30 years old;
Priority will be given to applicants based in one of the AER member regions in France (Grand Est and Corsica);
Priority will be given to applicants belonging to a youth council or a youth organisation in Grand Est or Corsica, and willing to join the AER’s Youth Regional Network.
We will also consider applications from other regions, but priority is given to our members.

Practical information & Travel Reimbursement rules

Arrival day & Welcome event: 21st of June. Transfer by bus from the Vienna Central Station to Stift Göttweig will be organised and covered by the organisers (departure at 14.30 from the station).
End of the event & Departure day: 24th of June. Transfer by bus from Stift Göttweig to the Vienna Central Station and then to Vienna International Airport will be organised and covered by the organisers (departure at 14.30 from Stift Göttweig, estimated arrival at the airport 16.30).
Accommodation and meals are covered by the organisers;
The accommodation will be at the Jugendquartier Stift Göttweig;
Travel reimbursement up to 275€ per participant after the event, upon presentation of all supportive documents (original boarding passes / train tickets / bus tickets and invoices / receipts). Detailed information will be sent by the AER Group Leader to all selected participants.
Participants can arrive a day before (20th of June) in Vienna if they wish to visit the city and/or if more convenient with their transport options, but they will have to cover their meals and accommodation themselves for this day / night.

Deadline to apply
Please send your application by filling in this Application Form, no later than 20/04/2023.
Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis.
Group leader & Contact person
Please contact Lorène Weber (l.weber@aer.eu), Programmes Coordinator at the AER Secretariat, for any question you may have.
APPLY HERE

PROGRAMME HERE

2023 AER General Assembly in Barcelona
2023-06-27 08:00 - 2023-06-30 17:00 | Barcelona, Barcelona, 08034, Spain
The Assembly of European Regions was glad to have the General Assembly 2023 ON-SITE in Barcelona from the 28th to 30th June, hosted by the member region of Catalonia.
The General Assembly was part of the Summer Symposium, a three-day event about the challenges and opportunities of European regions enabling members to reconnect and revive their pan-European network.
The event took place at the World Trade Center Barcelona (click here to check the venue on Maps).
Read here our wrap-up article.
Draft Programme of the Summer Symposium
Click here to read the draft detailed programme.

28 June 2023 – 12.00 – 17:00
Study Visit to the Port of Barcelona & WG on Green Hydrogen
This study visit was organised in the context of the AER Working Group on Hydrogen chaired by AER VP for Sustainability,
Environment & Climate Albert Castellanos.

Hydrogen Valley of Catalonia
Energy Transition Plan in Port of Barcelona: towards Decarbonization
The green gateway: Hamburg port’s sustainable energy hub

28 June 2023 – 15.30 – 17:00
Ukraine Focus Group
29 June 2023 – 09:30-13:30
The AER Focus Group on Ukraine brings our members together to coordinate support towards our twelve Ukrainian members (overview HERE)
Contributors
● Anna Carin Krokstäde – Deputy Head, Ukraine Division, European External Action Service (EEAS)
● Jozef Michálek, Programme Manager of INTERREG funds, DG REGIO, European Commission
● Frederic Subirats Villa, Manager International Strategy, Catalonia Trade and Investment, Government of Catalonia (Presentation HERE)
● Salvador Mestre Gispert, Policy Officer for Europe [on behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Action of the Government of Catalonia]

Bureau Meeting
The AER Summer Bureau Meeting took place in Barcelona on 29 June.
The Bureau defined positions on key AER action areas that will guide our advocacy work for 2023 – 2024 and will be joined by institutional representatives and other stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing regions in the future of work, and the role local and regional authorities can play in delivering a brighter future of jobs and skills in Europe.
Please find the draft agenda HERE.
Direct links:

Agenda
Working Documents
Background Note – Debate on The Future of Work

Bureau Debate “Next Generation Skills: Regions shaping the Future of Work”
Conversations about what the work landscape will look like in the future are happening around the world. As Europe recovers from the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis and seizes the opportunities of the green and digital transition to build a more prosperous, greener and fairer economy, this debate, organised in the framework of the European Year of Skills, will explore the challenges and opportunities that regions face in adapting to the changing nature of work, and how they can best prepare for the future.
Speakers

Lilijana Madjar, Chair AER Task Force on Future of Work and AER Vice President for Cohesion, Digitalisation and Public Services
Patrick Daru, Head of Operations, Global Programme on Skills and Lifelong Learning, International Labour Organization
Kristine Langenbucher, Head of the Employment and Skills Unit, Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities, Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (Presentation here)
Andrea Glorioso, Policy Officer, Future of Work, Digitalisation, Robotisation, Automatisation and Impact on Labour Markets, Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, European Commission
Tània Verge Mestre, Minister for Equality and Feminisms of the Government of Catalonia

Further information on the debate can be found HERE.
30 June 2023 – 11:15-13:45
General Assembly
The AER General Assembly took place on 30 June 2023 from 11.15 to 13.45.

Draft Agenda

Practical Info
Info Package_Summer Symposium
Please find the downloadable version HERE.
In case of questions please contact Barbara Polin, Communications and Events Manager, at b.polin@aer.eu and Laura Bassan, Communications and Events Assistant at events@aer.eu.
Draft_Overview AER General Assembly+ Bureau Meeting_Summer Symposium_27-30.06.2023.docx

YOUTHopia Workshop: Unboxing EU Cohesion Policy
2023-07-27 08:00 - 2023-08-10 17:00
27 July – 3 August – 10 August (3-5 pm CET)
Hear hear young people! If you are either from a youth organisation, a young regional representative from our Youth Regional Network (YRN), or just a young enthusiast curious about EU and regional policy and politics, then mark your calendar!
AER’s YOUTHopia project is on a mission to uncover all you need to know about the biggest EU investment plan that covers one-third of the total EU Budget: the Cohesion Policy. They are all sealed in a mystery box prepared to be unboxed!
Unlike the infamous Pandora Box, once you discover its content you will get all the knowledge you need to empower yourselves, transform your region and city.
Don’t let the Cohesion Policy box gather dust, join our 3 online workshops, and discover all the available opportunities for you(th)!
If you attend the three sessions, you will receive an official certificate of attendance and your newly acquired knowledge, sealed from the Assembly of European Regions.
The workshop will dive into key topics that together will equip you with a great overview of Cohesion Policy instruments, and how we can talk Cohesion-friendly to our peers, BUT NO WORRIES! YOU CAN REGISTER FOR EACH SESSION INDEPENDENTLY!

Session #1: The legislative process behind the EU main investment tool & avenues of participation in policy-making for youth. 27th July, 15:00 – 17:00 (CET, Brussels time)
Session #2: How Does It Work in Practice? An Overview of Funding & Opportunities for Youth. 3rd August, 15:00 – 17:00 (CET, Brussels time)
Session #3: Story-telling or the Art of Making European Cohesion Cool. 10th August, 15:00 – 17:00, Brussels time

REGISTER HERE

Can’t wait until the workshop? Check out our HotlineCohesion articles and answer our quiz in preparation!
Feel free to reach out to us if you have any questions or need further information. Contact e.hayes@aer.eu or a.comacchio@aer.eu.
Don’t miss out on this fantastic opportunity!

The Youthopia Project is co-funded by the Directorate General for Regional and Urban policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission.

[REGISTRATIONS OPEN] Includ-EU Final Conference: Including all & embracing diversity
2023-09-06 08:00 - 2023-09-07 17:00
Includ-EU is proud to announce the dates for its final conference in Brussels on the 6th and 7th of September, open to all AER member regions regions, cities and organisations across Europe!
The conference is mostly an in-person event but allows for online attendance and interaction through a dedicated live stream.
The focus will be on the Includ-EU results and lessons learned, outlining the contexts and needs in which the pilot initiatives promoting integration at regional and local levels were implemented in their respective territory. After high-level plenary discussion with key pan-european stakeholders, participants will have the chance to “deep-dive” into the challenges and learnings of some of the pilots and gather inspiration regarding the good practices when it comes to replicating them in their own context.
Finally, the results of the project, as well as findings on what creates sustainable learning communities around inclusion policies and practices will be handed officially over to the donor, the European Commission. This will also represent a moment to strengthen the institutional commitment of the involved partners to a more inclusive and cohesive Europe.
Registration Link for onsite participation (deadline 30 August):
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSe-iYzzPLiHz1gB8z42S3Z4bpSyrSxCdICQ9_pz54tJKnpLMg/viewform

Registration Link for online participation (DAY 1 only): https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_IJ3CEhLsRPOiuTWPK9JSBA

Agenda:
Includ-EU Final Conference_Agenda_website (1)
For more information, please contact: Anna Comacchio, a.comacchio@aer.eu

[Sold out] Youth Regional Network - Capacity-building weekend in Koppang, Innlandet
2023-09-22 16:00 - 2023-09-24 14:00
Save the Date! The AER Youth Regional Network (YRN) will gather in Koppang (Innlandet County, Norway) for a capacity-building weekend with their members, from the 22nd to the 24th of September 2023!
The event is open to all members of the YRN, and to AER members working on youth issues, such as the Youth Coordinators in the regions / councils / provinces.
The event is coordinated by the YRN Presidium (President, Vice-President and Chairs of the Thematic Committees), and they have developed a very nice programme and arrangements for their members!

Programme
CHECK OUT THE PROGRAMME HERE
Practical Information
# Arrival day: Friday 22 September
This day will be dedicated to arrivals throughout the day and to getting to know each other in the end afternoon / evning.
If you travel by plane, the arrival airport will be Oslo. From there, you should take the train to Koppang (train RE10 / R60).
You can check the route and timetables on the Norwegian railway website here.
/! Koppang is in a rural area, so trains can be infrequent: make sure to plan your travel accordingly and to check the Norwegian railway website beforehand! In addition, because of the floods in Norway in August, some trains originally scheduled when we planned this event had to be cancelled, and some were substituted by replacement buses:

For Friday 22 September (arrival day), make sure to check the Norwegian railway website to see what your travel options are from Oslo airport to Koppang. At the moment, there are trains departing from Oslo airport at 10:52 (RE10 to Hamar, then change for R60 to Koppang) and at 15:07 (direct R60 train from Oslo to Koppang). After that, the only options are RE10 train to Hamar, and change for a replacement bus from Hamar to Koppang. Make sure you will have enough time to change in Hamar. In the worst case scenario, the YRN Presidium has rented a car to pick up participants who may be stranded in Hamar (in case they miss the replacement bus for lack of time), but this should be a last-resort option.
For Sunday 24 September (departure day), the very first train leaves from Koppang at 14.16 and arrives at Oslo airport at 16.32. You may want to plan an additional night in Oslo on Sunday 24 September after the event in Koppang, and depart the day after, depending on your flight options.

# Activities: Saturday 23 September (full day) and Sunday 24 September (morning)
# Departure day: Sunday 24 September.
Activities will be planned only in the morning to give time for participants to travel in the afternoon / evening.
Accommodation & Meals
All meals are covered from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch.
The participants will be accommodated at Stor-Elvdal Hotell (address: Kjemsjøveien 1, 2480 Koppang, Norway), contact@storelvdalhotell.no.
The participants are expected to book and cover their accommodation themselves (selected participants will receive the hotel’s contact email). The prices are the following (and include breakfast):
Option 1: shared apartment with two bedrooms and a shared large bathroom. If there are 4 people in one apartment: the price is 575 NOK (around 52€) per night and per person. If there are 2 people in one partment (one in each bedroom): 1000 NOK (around 90€) per night and per person.
Option 2: hotel rooms. 1095 NOK (around 98€) per night and per person for a single room, 650 NOK (around 59€) for a double room, 600 NOK (around 54€) for a triple room.
Solidarity Fund
Young participants whose travel costs cannot be supported by their region, a regional council, a youth regional council, a youth organisation, etc., may apply to the YRN Solidarity Fund. If accepted, the AER/YRN and our host regions in Norway can cover up to 400€ of your travel and accommodation costs, as a reimbursement by bank transfer after your attendance to the entire event, and if you provide all necessary supportive documents (invoices, receipts, original boarding passes, train tickets, bus tickets). The reimbursement may exceed 400€ depending on the final number of participants. Please wait for a confirmation by the AER Secretariat and the YRN Presidium before making any travel arrangements.
How to attend the event?
Please fill in the application form by clicking on the button below. Please do not make any travel arrangements until your participation is confirmed by the YRN Presidium.
Who to contact?
Please contact the YRN Presidium at presidium.yrn@aer.eu for any question you may have.

[Registrations closed] YOUTHopia Evening Debate & Photojournalism Exhibition
2023-10-09 18:00 - 22:00
Are you in Brussels during the European Week of Regions and Cities? You still have some space in your busy agenda? Then, here is something you should not miss!
Dive into YOUTHopia and join us for an evening discussion and an Italian Aperitivo, on the 9th of October at @Atelier 29, in Brussels.
This evening dialogue, which marks the conclusion of the YOUTHopia project, aims to promote strategic collaboration between politicians, regional representatives and youth representatives, and foster better communication and storytelling on Cohesion Policy. We have the goal of creating a community of good practices based on the involvement of citizens in the upcoming discussions on the future of Cohesion Policy.
Hear inputs from Babel International, media professionals, the Youth Regional Network (YRN) and the European Commission.
YOUTHopia ends, but our work on Cohesion continues!
On this occasion, the AER – a long-standing partner in the defence of a strong Cohesion Policy – will not only showcase the results of the project, but will also launch a renewed political Task Force on Cohesion, with a view to advocate for our regions in the crucial coming months ahead of new negotiations.
Pictures (see more here)

Main contacts:
Barbara Polin, b.polin@aer.eu
Larisa Stanciu, l.stanciu@aer.eu

[Registrations Open] First Inclusion Café: housing
2023-10-16 10:00 - 11:30
In order to facilitate peer-learning around integration policies and practices, the AER is organising its first online Inclusion Café.
An informal space to explore practices
The Inclusion Café is an informal space for exchanges between peers across Europe, where one practice is presented each time and then discussed to explore elements of transferability.
Members of the Intercultural Regions Network and all regional and local representatives interested in learning from this practice are welcome to register!

1st Inclusion Café: meeting temporary housing needs via co-design & multistakeholder collaboration
During this first Inclusion Café, we will welcome Giulia Boldrini, to hear about ANCI Toscana’s work to support the Region in the development of a coherent and efficient reception model for third-country nationals. In particular, ANCI Toscana developed a model to meet the temporary housing needs of migrants who are not entitled to reception services and are therefore in a vulnerable situation.
For this, ANCI Toscana explored cooperative housing and the development of a model of public-private collaboration based on a network, oriented towards housing inclusion. This guaranteed the sustainability of the action. Migrant were directly involved in the co-design of the activities.
The practice is further detailed on the Includ-EU website
Start the week by having coffee with peers!
This online Inclusion Café is a space to exchange with peers and learn about the actual implementation of a practice. It will take place several times a year, and aims to become a trusted space for mutual learning and exchanges.

[Registrations open] Working group on Mental Health | Kick-off meeting
2023-10-27 14:00 - 16:00 | Zoom
The AER General Assembly in Barcelona in June 2023 adopted the creation of a working group on mental health.
The group will meet online on 27 October from 14:00-16:00 CEST for the first time to define its action plan for the coming months. This meeting is open to all AER members

Kicking-off activities
The proposal to develop a working group on the mental mealth was presented by Värmland (SE), with the support of Alba (RO), Arad (RO), Kharkiv (UA), Odesa (UA), Norrbotten(SE), and Vojvodina (RS). Since the General Assembly last June, several other regions including Nordland (NO), Västerbotten (SE), Västra-Götaland (SE) Brussels Capital (BE) have also expressed interest in joining the activities of the group. All AER regions are welcome to register!
During this first meeting, AER members interested in sharing experiences and knowledge on the topic of mental health will:

get to know each other (pitch on the region)
share why the topic matters for them now
share how the working group will create value for them: what they expect, how they would like to contribute
agree on how to collaborate with the AER Youth Regional Network, which has also been working on the topic
define activities for the coming months

The group will also agree on who should be the Chair of the Working Group
More information on how to set-up a working group at AER here.
For any questions, please contact AER Coordinator for Policy & Knowledge Transfer Johanna Pacevicius

Picture by Sonia Sanmartin on Unsplash

[Sold out] Eurodyssey Forum 2023, São Miguel Island, Azores
2023-11-06 18:00 - 2023-11-09 14:00 | São Miguel Island, Ponta Delgada, Azores, Portugal
Organised every year in a Eurodyssey region, the Eurodyssey Forum offers a unique opportunity for regions to exchange around plenary sessions, capacity-building workshops, study visits and informal networking moments. Open to elected politicians, civil servants and young beneficiaries from the AER/Eurodyssey member regions and beyond, the Forum is the annual showcase of the Eurodyssey programme. In 2023, for the European Year of Skills, the Region of Azores (Portugal) will host the Eurodyssey Forum for the first time since 2008!

*Registrations are open until the 8th of October on a “first-come, first-served basis”. After this date, registrations will be possible only based on the number of spots still available. This deadline applies to international participants only. Participants based in the Azores will still be able to register after the 8th of October.

A Eurodyssey Forum for the European Year of Skills
Eurodyssey is the flagship youth regional mobility programme of the Assembly of European Regions, entirely managed at regional level, and providing paid traineeships to the young beneficiaries across the participating regions, in various sectors. During 3 to 7 months, the trainees will benefit from valuable professional experience and mentoring 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 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.
On this year’s European Year of Skills, the opening plenary of the Eurodyssey Forum 2023 will focus on Youth mobility and skills development in rural and peripheral areas.
The programme also includes capacity-building workshops and exchanges of best practices to boost the Eurodyssey programme in the participating regions, and to give the opportunity to other stakeholders and regional representatives to discover first-hand what the programme is about, and how it could be developed and implemented in their own regions, should they wish to join Eurodyssey. In addition to the plenaries and workshops, the host Region of Azores will take the participants to study visits, to discover the natural and industrial heritage of the region.

Election of the Eurodyssey Steering Committee
This year’s Eurodyssey Forum will include the election of the Eurodyssey Steering Committee, including the Eurodyssey President, for the next two-year mandate. The Eurodyssey participating regions will receive a dedicated call for candidacies. Please note that only regions taking part in Eurodyssey are eligible to these elections.

A MEET Intergenerational Regional Debate
The Eurodyssey Forum will include an Intergenerational Regional Debate as part of the MEET project (Mobile Europe = Engage Together), an EU-funded project led by the European Youth Forum (YFJ), in partnership with the AER. Ahead of the 2024 European elections, the MEET project aims at offering space for diverse groups of European citizens to discuss Europe at local and regional level. The MEET Regional Debates aim at creating space to make youth voices heard and to foster intergenerational debate between young people and politicians.

Debating Europe: Regional MEET Debate in Krapina-Zagorska, Croatia
2023-11-10 | Marija Bistrica, Krapina-Zagorska, Croatia (Local Name: Hrvatska)
The second regional debate of our MEET project will take place in Krapina-Zagorska, Croatia on November 10th, 2023. The intergenerational debate will be held in Croatian and will bring together 100 participants.
The MEET project
The MEET project is focused on encouraging democratic engagement and civic participation, where the focus is precisely on active European citizens. Just in the period before the upcoming European elections, the MEET project will provide a space for different groups of European citizens to connect Europe with the regional level through a series of different activities encouraging continuous activism and interaction with European politicians. Depolarization and a less tense democratic space will ensure higher levels of participation and better respect and understanding of other positions, ultimately helping to revitalize democracy as a system.
The MEET project aims to:

Provide young people with the tools and training they need to become more active in their democratic participation.
Create spaces where citizens from different backgrounds can connect with and learn from each other, acquire civic skills and learn more about the European Union and its role in their everyday lives.
Create opportunities for (young) people to enter in a dialogue with politicians ahead of the European elections.

Our second regional MEET debate will be organised in Krapina-Zagorska, Croatia and it will focus on European topics in general, and digitalisation in rural areas in particular. The debate will be held on November 10, 2023 in the Hotel Kaj in Marija Bistrica.
The project is funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values ​​(CERV) 2021-2027 programme of the Eurepean Union. The project is coordinated by European Youth Forum and AER is implementing various activities in different regions. The project partner of this third MEET debate is the Zagorje Development Agency.

SAVE THE DATE: Build partnerships with Catalonia at ReBuild Ukraine 2023
2023-11-14 - 2023-11-15 | Expo XXI, Ui. Pradzynskiego 12/14, Warsaw, 01-222, Poland
Is your region coming to ReBuild Ukraine 2023?
As part of ReBuild Ukraine 2023, ACCIÓ / Catalonia Trade & Investment is looking for Ukrainian partners to connect with Catalan companies, its business community and economic institutions.
Over two days in Warsaw, Poland on 14—15 November, ACCIÓ will bring together more than a dozen Catalan SMEs representing both the Construction and Energy Sectors looking for partners in Ukraine.
The objective is to better understand the needs for reconstruction, to network, and build peer-to-peer partnerships to support Ukraine’s reconstruction.
ACCIÓ therefore invites our members in Ukraine to take this opportunity to come together in-person during the Conference, and to share expertise, networks and knowledge that will power Ukraine’s recovery.
How can Ukrainian members take part?
If your region is planning to or is interested in meeting with Catalonia Trade & Investment at the ReBuild Ukraine Expo, please send an email to Member Relations Coordinator, Justin Sammon, with ‘ReBuild Ukraine’ in the subject line, and we will help facilitate.
To attend ReBuild Ukraine, you will need to purchase a ticket; you can fill in the form to be notified when registrations open. Please note that neither ACCIÓ nor AER are organisers of the wider event, and cannot provide members with tickets.
How can members more broadly take part?
If your region is interested in exhibiting, or you wish to buy a ticket to attend the event, you can find more information HERE.
***

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REGISTER NOW: Regional Business Forum 2023
2023-11-22 - 2023-12-08
It is our pleasure to invite you to the sixth 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, Serbia from 22 November until 8 December.
The Regional Business Forum is an annual international forum to exchange ideas on support for SMEs, promote business and commerce, incentive the possibility to collaborate and share best practices between regions.
This 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.
The emphasis at this year’s forum will be on the applications of artificial intelligence in the following areas:

Information and communication technologies and the creative industry
Metal processing industry
Agriculture and food industry

You can access the platform for organisation of online “one-on-one” meetings by clicking the following link: https://rbf2023.b2match.io/ which provides the opportunity to promote business cooperation between regions.
The invitation is addressed, in particular, to regional chambers of commerce, regional development agencies and institutions supporting SMEs development.
We therefore invite you to register as soon as possible. The official invitation for AER members from our President is HERE.
For further information, please consult the RBF website. Should you have any questions, please email rbf@vojvodina.gov.rs or call +381 21 487 4431

Addressing racial discrimination in housing: a multistakeholder approach
2023-11-23 10:00 | Zoom
For this first EU-Belong webinar on 23 November from 10:00-11:00 CET, we will discuss the challenge of addressing racial discrimination in access to housing, based on the experience of the Municipality of Olot, a medium-sized city of Catalonia.
The event, which will provide insights into this specific case, foresees 30mn of exchange with participants to explore obstacles, enablers and elements for transferability. The event is open to all.

Professor Quim Brugué, from the University of Girona, will share how the Municipality of Olot

Analysed the causes and the impact of racial discrimination practices faced by third-country nationals
Brought together key stakeholders in a regular exchange to identify solutions
Envisages the processes to enable the implementation of proposed solutions

In particular, when it identified a problem of racist-driven real estate discrimination, the municipality of Olot decided to collaborate with the University of Girona to analyse the problem and develop solutions. In collaboration with academia experts, real-estate representatives, entities, and affected people the municipality of Olot started out a process to outline a comprehensive approach to fight discrimination.
This process involved arranging meetings and dialogues among key stakeholders, with the support of the University. The primary goal of these interactions was to identify potential solutions and present them to the City Council.
The approach placed strong emphasis on building mutual understanding, recognition, and trust among all the people involved.
The webinar will be moderated by Laura Sentis Margalef, EU Belong Project Officer at the Department for Equality and Feminisms of Catalonia.
Quim Brugué is Professor of Political Science at the University of Girona as well as researcher on democratic innovation and modernization of public policies in the Research Group on Applied Social Sciences at the same university.
For more information about this event, please contact AER Coordinator for Policy & Knowledge Transfer Johanna Pacevicius

[Registrations closed] Winter Dialogues in Sankt Pölten, Lower Austria
2023-11-29 - 2023-11-30
The AER Winter Dialogues will be the concluding statutory event of 2023. Hosted in the Lower Austrian capital of Sankt Pölten on 29 and 30 November 2023, the Winter Dialogues will be an opportunity to wrap up a year of activities and look to next steps in 2024, with particular attention to the upcoming EU elections next June.
A member-driven network, the AER is eager to make sure that the Winter Dialogues offer a full overview of its services to member regions. This is why the two-day event will include meetings of the Working Groups on Bioeconomy and Mental Health, a discussion on the AER Multi-Annual Strategy, and the Autumn Bureau meeting hosting the third MEET Intergenerational Debate on the Future of Europe. This debate will explore the role of active citizenship and youth participation in shaping a more democratic, inclusive and sustainable future for our continent, with a focus on the opportunities coming from the New Green Deal.
The MEET project (Mobile Europe = Engage Together) is funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) and led by the European Youth Forum (YFJ), in partnership with the AER. Ahead of the 2024 European elections, the MEET project aims at offering space for diverse groups of European citizens to discuss Europe at local and regional level. The MEET Regional Debates aim at creating space to make youth voices heard and to foster intergenerational debate between young people and politicians.
A meeting of the Ukraine Focus Group hosted by Vice President Lukas Mandl MEP will take place on Friday, 1 December at the premises of the European Parliament Liaison Office in Vienna. The draft agenda can be viewed HERE.
Participants in the Winter Dialogues staying in Sankt Pölten will enjoy a preferential rate. The booking must be done by 31.10.2023. Find here all the relevant information.

Draft schedule
PUBLIC Winter Dialogues 2023. docx (4)-1

Detailed programme & info kit
Info Kit Winter Dialogues-2211

Please register before 15 November 2023!

30 November 14.15-16.30
Autumn Bureau Meeting
The AER Autumn Bureau Meeting will take place in Sankt Pölten, Lower Austria on 30 November.
The Bureau will define positions on key AER action areas that will guide our advocacy work for 2024-2025 and will be joined by institutional and youth representatives to discuss the future of Europe, and how regions can contribute to forging a more democratic, inclusive and sustainable future.
Direct links:
Draft Agenda
Working Documents
Background Note – The Future of Europe: An Intergenerational Debate

30 November 17.15-18.45
Bureau Discussion: “The future of Europe: An Intergenerational Debate”
In the run-up to the 2024 European Parliament elections, this debate will present a great opportunity to discuss the key challenges confronting Europe today and how regions can contribute to forging a more democratic, inclusive and sustainable future.
During the event, representatives of regional governments and young people will come together and engage in meaningful conversations about the future of Europe, focusing dialogue on how Europe can adopt a more sustainable path and improve people’s well-being in urban and rural regions in line with the Green Deal ambitions.
What are the key challenges and opportunities facing Europe? What are the priorities and aspirations of young people for the future of Europe? What steps can be taken to enhance the democratic participation of citizens within the European Union? How can we effectively involve young people in EU policy-making and implementation? How can we create a greener and fairer Europe while improving prosperity and quality of life? How can we maximise the opportunities of the green transition for European cities and regions in urban and rural areas?
These are some of the questions to be explored during the debate, organised in the framework of the MEET: Mobilise Europe = Engage Together project, led by the European Youth Forum in cooperation with AER and funded by the European Union.
Speakers:
Martin Selmayr, Head of Representation of the European Commission in Austria
Johannes Sundelin, AER Vice President for Sustainability, Green Transition and Health, Norrbotten Region
Jim Jenssen, President of the Youth Regional Network
Rares Voicu, Board Member of the European Youth Forum
Mariana Borges, Regional Directorate for Youth, Region of Azores
Michael Stellwag, Young Local Councillor for Europe, Lower Austria
Further information on the debate can be found HERE.
For more information on how you can be involved as a young European citizen, please see the Open Call for Young Participants HERE.
