MEET Project | Debate "Net Zero: a Green Deal or a Green Dream?"
2024-03-26 19:00 - 20:30 (Europe/Brussels) | Rue André Fauchille 6, 1150 Woluwe-Saint-Lambert, Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
Join us on the 26th of March from 7 pm to 8:30 pm in Brussels for the debate: “Net Zero: a Green Deal or a Green Dream?“.
The AER and the European Leadership Programme are excited to introduce you to Mr. Gaël Giraud, economist, Director of Research at the CNRS (Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique), professor at the French École nationale des Ponts et Chaussées and author. He directs the Environmental Justice Program at Georgetown University (USA), and his research work focuses on the interaction between economics and ecology.
Do not miss the unique opportunity to engage in a debate accounting for the challenges represented by the green transition and our economic model.
Register here for this event, and be quick, the capacity is limited only to 20 people!
About the MEET Project
With Europe at a crossroads at the end of the Conference on the Future of Europe and in the middle of the implementation of the Green Deal and the digitalisation agenda, active European citizens must be at the forefront. In the period before the upcoming European elections, the MEET project offers space for diverse groups of European citizens to bring Europe to local level through a diverse set of activities encouraging continuous activism and interaction with European politicians. The project is led by the European Youth Forum (YFJ), and AER participates as a partner.
MEET meaningfully contributes to a depolarised and less-tense democratic space. This allows more participation, and more respect and understanding of others’ positions, ultimately helping revive the flagging belief in democracy as a system.
Check out the MEET project page for more information and future events!
The MEET project is funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values (CERV) 2021-2027 programme of the European Union.
About the European Leadership Programme (ELP)
The European Leadership Programme is a five month long formation where the Fellows receive leadership training and support in their vocation discernment during their time in Brussels. The Fellows live and work in the heart of Europe, they help marginalised communities, receive coaching and professional mentoring. Check here for more information.

MEET Project | Writing the story of Europe: 2024 EU Elections and the next chapters| Debate in Letterkenny (Ireland)
2024-03-22 15:00 - 16:30 (Europe/Dublin) | Central Library Letterkenny, Oliver Plunkett Road, Leterkenny, Ireland
Join us on the 22nd of March in the Central Library in Letterkenny for a discussion about the upcoming EU elections and the Future of Europe.
We will address the upcoming 2024 EU elections, citizenship and participatory democracy as main topics. There will be space to ask questions and discuss the important topics surrounding the Future of Europe, such as sustainability and inclusion.
Please complete our registration form if you would like to attend.
About the MEET Project
With Europe at a crossroads at the end of the Conference on the Future of Europe and in the middle of the implementation of the Green Deal and the digitalisation agenda, active European citizens must be at the forefront. In the period before the upcoming European elections, the MEET project offers space for diverse groups of European citizens to bring Europe to local level through a diverse set of activities encouraging continuous activism and interaction with European politicians. The project is led by the European Youth Forum (YFJ), and AER participates as a partner.
MEET meaningfully contributes to a depolarised and less-tense democratic space. This allows more participation, and more respect and understanding of others’ positions, ultimately helping revive the flagging belief in democracy as a system.
Check out the MEET project page for more information and future events!
The MEET project is funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values ​​(CERV) 2021-2027 programme of the European Union.

MEET Project | Green Horizons: navigating decarbonization, critical raw materials and recyclability
2024-03-20 09:00 - 10:00 (Europe/Brussels) | North Sweden European Office, Av. des Arts 11, Brussels, 1210, Belgium
Join us on the 20th of March for the debate on “Green Horizons: navigating decarbonization, critical raw materials and recyclability”
The event will dive deep into the crucial nexus of decarbonization, critical raw materials extraction and recyclability. We are happy to welcome key experts from the Swedish region Norbotten, known for its significant deposits of critical raw materials, alongside private sector representatives offering insights into the latest trends in recyclability and decarbonization efforts.
This debate aims at fostering knowledge exchange and collaboration towards a greener, more sustainable future in the European Union and beyond.
Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation shaping the path towards decarbonisation and responsible resource management. Please complete our registration form if you would like to attend.
About the MEET Project
With Europe at a crossroads at the end of the Conference on the Future of Europe and in the middle of the implementation of the Green Deal and the digitalisation agenda, active European citizens must be at the forefront. In the period before the upcoming European elections, the MEET project offers space for diverse groups of European citizens to bring Europe to local level through a diverse set of activities encouraging continuous activism and interaction with European politicians. The project is led by the European Youth Forum (YFJ), and AER participates as a partner.
MEET meaningfully contributes to a depolarised and less-tense democratic space. This allows more participation, and more respect and understanding of others’ positions, ultimately helping revive the flagging belief in democracy as a system.
Check out the MEET project page for more information and future events!
The MEET project is funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values ​​(CERV) 2021-2027 programme of the European Union.

EU- Belong | Intercultural Integration: A Shared Journey towards Equality and Belonging
2024-03-20 08:00 - 2024-03-21 19:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Letterkenny, Donegal, Ireland
The EU-Belong knowledge-sharing event was hosted by Donegal (Ireland) from 19 to 21 March 2024 on the occasion of One Donegal Social Inclusion Week. One Donegal Social Inclusion Week is coordinated by Donegal County Council and aims to highlight the very positive work being done, not only by the Council but also by other statutory and community organisations, to raise awareness of social inclusion-related issues in Donegal.
The EU-Belong knowledge-sharing event was co-organised by the AER and Donegal County. It gathered international experts, regional politicians and civil servants, professionals, and volunteers engaged in creating intercultural societies to:

Learn in detail about the policies and practices employed in Donegal for intercultural integration.
Meet peers working on similar challenges in different regions across Europe
Engage in mutual learning, get inspired by each other’s experiences and insights, create sounding boards, spaces for reflexivity and continuously improve policies and practices.
Showcase regional initiatives: Feature speakers from Donegal and EU-Belong regions sharing approaches to building inclusive and intercultural communities.
Highlight the principles of interculturalism and their translation in real life: Emphasize core principles such as equality, the diversity advantage, meaningful interaction, and active citizenship.
Discuss key operational elements

AGENDA & PRESENTATIONS
EU-Belong One Donegal Social Inclusion Week Conference

Welcome address, Emanuela Pisanò, EU Belong Project Manager, Assembly of European Regions

Donegal: a Landscape of Multiple Collaborations

One Donegal Social Inclusion Week & The Donegal Black and Ethnic Minority Strategy, Charles Sweeney, Social Inclusion, Donegal County Council
EU-Belong pilot projects in Donegal: Supporting Pathways, Denise McCool, Team Lead Community Development & Sustainability, and Sinead McDaid, Team Lead, Enterprise & Employment at Inishowen Development Partnership
Communities Against Racism Actions (CARA) Donegal, Nolunga Shologu, Community Links Worker & Project Lead for CARA- DONEGAL, and Sheril Davies, CARA facilitator

Moderated by Fadl Mustapha, Donegal Youth Service and Co-Chair of Implementation Group – Donegal Black and Ethnic Minority Strategy
Journeying towards equality and belonging: experiences from regions across Europe

Listening better to improve policymaking: the case of the Timis Minority Council, Agneta Kardos, EU-Belong Project manager, Timis, Romania
Addressing the issue of youth gangs through street education, Marzio Barbieri, Social, inclusion and equal opportunities policies, Emilia Romagna, Italy
The intercultural approach in rural areas: an instrument for regional attractiveness, Joakim Sandberg, Director of Cultural Affairs, Västerbotten, Sweden
Introducing interculturalism into public institutions and their agenda to address societal challenges, Agnieszka Szczepanik, Migration Specialist – Intercultural Advisor, Poznan, Poland

Moderated by Emanuela Pisanò, EU Belong Project Manager, Assembly of European Regions. Co-moderated by Vania Freitas, Coordinator for Institutional Relations & Advocacy, Assembly of European Regions.

Charting the course of intercultural policies & practices in Ireland

Presentation by Geraldine McTavish, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Manager, Gaelic Athletic Association
Presentation by Sharon McLaughlin, EDI Lead for Atlantic Technology University Letterkenny, and 2 students
Presentation by Carmel Irandoust, Founder of NETLOVE

Moderated by Micheal O’Heanaigh, AER Vice President for Youth, Culture & Tourism
Visit to Intercultural Coffee Morning: Inishowen Partnership’s projects
Visit One Million Stars Exhibition
Community Cornerstones: learning with and from stakeholders

Donegal Intercultural Platform, Paul Kernan, Project Coordinator DIP, and Balume Dube, Community Worker DIP and Training & Development lead, Think Equality Donegal project
Donegal Travellers Project, Kate Hagan, Community Development & Health Worker, Hugh Friel, North West Roma Health Coordinator
Donegal Youth Service, Loraine Thompson and Fadl Mustapha
Donegal Volunteer Centre, John Curran, Manager
Donegal Local Development Company, Joleen Kuyper Machado, Diversity, Equality and Inclusion Officer
Donegal Regional Culture Centre, Jeremy Howard, Director, Regional Cultural Centre, and Dr. Harriet Purkis, Curator, Living in Donegal Project

Facilitated by Johanna Pacevicius, Coordinator Policy & Knowledge Transfer, Assembly of European Regions
Closing Addresses

Christina O’Donnell, Staff Officer, Social Inclusion Unit Donegal County Council & EU-Belong project Manager
Emanuela Pisanò, EU Belong Project Manager, Assembly of European Regions

Read the full concept and agenda of the event
For more information, contact Mirjam de Jong (m.dejong@aer.eu)

The event is the second 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 12 partners, and co-funded by the AMIF Programme (AMIF-2020-AG-CALL) of the European Union.

AER & Interreg NEXT MED | Online info session | Funding Opportunities
2024-03-14 10:00 - 13:00 (Europe/Brussels)
Are you looking into funding opportunities for projects in the Mediterranean region?
Join us for an online information session with the managing authority (the Autonomous Region of Sardinia) of the Interreg NEXT MED funding Programme on 14 March from 10am – 1pm (CEST).
The online event will focus on the Programme and the funding opportunities it gives to EU and non-EU countries in the Mediterranean region. For the first time, the Programme is open to Algeria and Turkey (more info on the Programme and eligible countries here).
Together, we will delve into funding opportunities and the first call for project proposals, with an interesting outlook on future calls for projects foreseen for the next years.
Do not miss out on the opportunity to have a dedicated Q&A session with the managing authority of the whole funding Programme, as we will have time to address general aspects, such as how to be part of the first project call, and specific aspects, such as funding rules and how to find partners to join forces in applying for funding.
The event is open for AER members and non-AER members, but we recommend checking the eligibility area with its list of countries to be sure that you are within the geographical area of interest!
Have a look at the agenda of the event!
Please complete the registration form if you would like to attend.

[Sold out] Youth Regional Network (YRN) General Assembly | Zalău, Sălaj County, Romania | 14-17 March 2024
2024-03-14 - 2024-03-17
Save the Date & Apply! The Youth Regional Network (YRN) will gather in Zalău (Sălaj County, Romania) for their annual General Assembly, between the 14th and the 17th of March 2024!

DRAFT AGENDA
CLICK HERE TO APPLY*
*Your application will be reviewed, and the AER Secretariat will send a confirmation email to the selected participants. Please do not make any travel arrangements before receiving a confirmation email.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
# Event’s location
The YRN General Assembly will take place in Zalău, Sălaj County, Romania.
The location can be reached by flying to the Cluj-Napoca “Avram Iancu” International Airport. Shuttles (3 maximum: morning, mid-day, end afternoon) will be organised by Sălaj County between Cluj airport and Zalău on Thursday 14 March, and between Zalău and Cluj airport on Sunday 17 March. Selected participants only will receive detailed information and schedule of these shuttles. Pre-booked taxis could constitute an option if necessary.
Once you receive your confirmation email from the AER Secretariat, it will be mandatory to send us your exact arrival and departure times. Otherwise, your participation will be canceled.
# Accommodation
Hotel options in Zalău are to be communicated to selected participants only. The current prices are approximately between 30€ and 60€ per person and per night (prices vary if you opt for a shared room with another participant, or for a single 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 MEET/YRN Solidarity Fund. If accepted, the AER can cover up to 200-250€ 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 250€ depending on the final number of participants.

WHAT IS THE YRN AND ITS GENERAL ASSEMBLY?
Created by the Assembly of European Regions (AER) in 2008, the Youth Regional Network (YRN) is a cross-regional youth platform, promoting active youth participation at regional level. The YRN provides young people with an opportunity to express policy recommendations, foster debate and capacity-building, to exchange good practices, to reach out to decision-makers, and to influence policies. JOIN THE YRN HERE.
The YRN General Assembly is an annual event where YRN members and young people interested in the programme have the opportunity to gather around workshops, capacity-building activities and debates, to exchange views and ideas with other young people from across Europe.
The YRN General Assembly is also the moment to elect the YRN Presidium for a one-year mandate. Here, members of the YRN only have the chance to elect the YRN President, Vice-Presidents and Chairs of the Thematic Committees. YRN members only can apply to such positions (the application form is included in the registration form to the present event), with priority given to YRN members based in AER member regions. Voting and eligibility rights are detailed in the YRN Statutes.
# MEET Intergenerational Debate on the Future of Europe
The YRN General Assembly 2024 will include a MEET Intergenerational Debate on the Future of Europe. The MEET project (Mobilise Europe = Engage Together) is funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values Programme (CERV) of the European Commission 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 the future of 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.

MEET Project | Breakfast Debate with MEP Lukas Mandl
2024-03-06 09:00 - 10:00 (Europe/Brussels) | AER Brussels Office, Rue d'Arlon 63, Brussels, 1040, Belgium
Join us on the 6th of March in our AER office in Brussels for a Breakfast debate with Lukas Mandl as part of the EU- Funded Meet Project. During the morning event, Lukas Mandl will address the upcoming 2024 EU elections, citizenship and participatory democracy as main topics. There will be space to ask questions and discuss the important topics surrounding the Future of Europe, such as sustainability and inclusion.
Please complete our registration form if you would like to attend.
About the MEET Project
With Europe at a crossroads at the end of the Conference on the Future of Europe and in the middle of the implementation of the Green Deal and the digitalisation agenda, active European citizens must be at the forefront. In the period before the upcoming European elections, the MEET project offers space for diverse groups of European citizens to bring Europe to local level through a diverse set of activities encouraging continuous activism and interaction with European politicians. The project is led by the European Youth Forum (YFJ), and AER participates as a partner.
MEET meaningfully contributes to a depolarised and less-tense democratic space. This allows more participation, and more respect and understanding of others’ positions, ultimately helping revive the flagging belief in democracy as a system.
Check out the MEET project page for more information and future events!
The MEET project is funded by the Citizens, Equality, Rights and Values ​​(CERV) 2021-2027 programme of the European Union.

[REGISTER NOW] YRN Online Workshops on Youth Participation | 28 February, 1 March, 4 March 2024
2024-02-28 18:00 - 2024-03-04 20:00 (Europe/Brussels) | Zoom
Register now! The Youth Regional Network Thematic Committee on Youth Participation and Governance and the Timis County Youth Foundation are organising 3 interactive workshops for young changemakers!

WORKSHOP OUTLINES

REGISTER HERE*

*The workshops will take place on Zoom. Registration is mandatory for each workshop. It is highly recommended for participants to attend all 3 workshops to benefit from the full training.
The purpose of the workshops is to inform young people about what youth participation entails, and how youth participation models, structures, opportunities, etc. can help them become more involved, active citizens. Each workshop has a different focus, allowing participants to fully familiarise themselves with the concept of youth participation, and to put the newly gained knowledge into practice through interactive activities.
The workshops will take place as follows:

28 February, 6 PM CET – The Concept of Youth Participation
1 March, 6 PM CET – Formal and Informal Participation Structures
4 March, 6 PM CET – Participation and Project Planning

If you attend the three sessions, you will receive an Official Certificate of Attendance, from the AER Youth Regional Network.
Participants will have the opportunity to benefit from mutual learning, share opinions, experience, best practices, collaborate on tasks, and interact with young people from all over Europe.
Both the YRN Committee on Youth Participation and Governance and the Timis County Youth Foundation will facilitate the sessions, provide their input and share their experience. The YRN will also present its Youth Participation Toolkit and explain some concrete ways in which they have facilitated youth participation in the Committee’s activities.
Contact
For more information, please contact the YRN at yrn.tc-youth-participation@aer.eu and the AER Secretariat t.nicolaescu@aer.eu.

[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.

Addressing racial discrimination in housing: a multistakeholder approach
2023-11-23 10:00 (Europe/Brussels) | 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

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

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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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.

[Sold out] Eurodyssey Forum 2023, São Miguel Island, Azores
2023-11-06 18:00 - 2023-11-09 14:00 (Europe/Brussels) | 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.

[Registrations open] Working group on Mental Health | Kick-off meeting
2023-10-27 14:00 - 16:00 (Europe/Brussels) | 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

[Registrations Open] First Inclusion Café: housing
2023-10-16 10:00 - 11:30 (Europe/Brussels)
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 closed] YOUTHopia Evening Debate & Photojournalism Exhibition
2023-10-09 18:00 - 22:00 (Europe/Brussels)
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

[Sold out] Youth Regional Network - Capacity-building weekend in Koppang, Innlandet
2023-09-22 16:00 - 2023-09-24 14:00 (Europe/Brussels)
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 OPEN] Includ-EU Final Conference: Including all & embracing diversity
2023-09-06 08:00 - 2023-09-07 17:00 (Europe/Brussels)
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

YOUTHopia Workshop: Unboxing EU Cohesion Policy
2023-07-27 08:00 - 2023-08-10 17:00 (Europe/Brussels)
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.

2023 AER General Assembly in Barcelona
2023-06-27 08:00 - 2023-06-30 17:00 (Europe/Brussels) | 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

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 (Europe/Brussels)
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

Addressing The Housing Crisis: An Essential Building Block For Intercultural Regions
2023-06-14 08:00 - 2023-06-15 17:00 (Europe/Brussels) | 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.

PEACE 25: Everyday Peacemakers Conference
2023-06-09 08:00 - 18:00 (Europe/Brussels) | 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

Open meeting of AER's Youth Regional Network (YRN)
2023-06-03 14:00 - 2023-06-04 16:30 (Europe/Brussels)
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!

EU-Belong Joint Event with COR - Empowering Regions and Cities in Migrant Integration Governance
2023-03-28 10:00 - 17:30 (Europe/Brussels) | 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.

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.

WG Green Hydrogen kick-off meeting
2023-03-13 09:30 - 11:00 (Europe/Brussels)
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

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

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.
