Brussels (B), 6 November 2008.

Project partners of the project PRESERVE (Peer reviews for sustainable eco-regions via Eu-rope) came together today for the kick-off meeting in the AER Brussels office. PRESERVE is one of 35 regional initiative projects that were approved from the 492 applications received under the first call INTERREG IVC.

With AER as lead partner, 13 partner regions from 11 countries will work together over the next 3 years to improve the effectiveness of regional development policies, specifically focu-sing upon cultural heritage and landscape policies as key factors in economic development.

Using common evaluation methodologies, the exchange of best practice and audits from other regional experts (Peer Reviews), the regional policymakers will be able to develop a work plan to apply the recommendations and improve their cultural heritage and landscape policies.

Some Photos of the Event:

The project builds upon AER’s highly successful peer review programme, which began in 2006 with peer reviews on regional economic development and has since continued with peer re-views on tourism and the work of AER’s tourism network.

A public opening conference will take place in Brussels in early 2009.

For more information: [email protected]