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Committee 1 Progress report 2017

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Twice a year the members of the AER Committee on Regional Development and Economy gather in plenary meeting. This is the opportunity to set goals for cooperation through the elaboration of a joint work programme. Progress is evaluated, achievements are celebrated and experiences shared.

Evaluating progress

During the elaboration of the work programme in London, planned activities were organised in 3 categories:

The below progress report was compiled for the autumn 2017 plenary meeting in Nancy. It gives an overview of the situation, 6 months after the adoption of the work programme.

Projects

  • Silver Economy Awards (SEED): ongoing

The Silver Economy Awards aim to catalyse a sustainable European digital Silver Economy movement by promoting and rewarding innovative solutions to improve the quality of life for over 50s. The Awards are the perfect opportunity to raise awareness around the lesser-known notion of the Silver Economy. They will illustrate the breadth of the consumer markets and the public spending involved and the size of the opportunities available for entrepreneurs, investors, public authorities and civil society.

This year the Silver Economy Awards replace the traditional AER Regional Innovation Award. Regions are invited to submit their innovative solutions for active healthy and happy ageing until 15 November 2017 on the SEED website. SEED runs regular webinars.

  • Brokerage event in Partnership with ERRIN on health innovation: ongoing

After the success of the brokerage event on the green economy and innovation, we are this time proposing a new type of event in collaboration with ERRIN to stimulate project development: the Horizon 2020 Project Development Week. This 5 days event will bring together 400 different regional stakeholders around a series of selected EU calls to initiate project partnerships. These events are open to your regional stakeholders, don’t hesitate to invite them to join and share project ideas!

  • Development of an environment project based on the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): in progress

YRN representatives met with AER Coordinator for European Projects & Private Partnerships Agnese Pantaloni to learn about project development steps and potential funding opportunities. The YRN will work on the definition of an EU project.

  • Migrant Entrepreneur Support Scheme Against Gap of Economic System: project proposal not accepted

This project proposal aimed to share approaches and lessons learnt for migrant entrepreneurship support schemes. Migrant entrepreneurship had been raised in specific during the 2016 Spring plenary meetings in Timis. The proposal brought together public administrations, business support organizations, non-profit organisations and NGOs, educational institutions and other organisations active in the field across cities, regions and countries.

 

Good Practice Sharing

  • Committees Autumn Plenaries in Nancy: ongoing

This Autumn’s committees’ plenary will take place in Nancy, France, from the 12th to the 14th of September. The events will feature a debate on culture in the digital age, a workshop on the value of data, a workshop on transport & mobility, a workshop on life-cycle approaches and the Committees Plenary meetings.

A discussion on Cohesion Policy and its advantages will also take place in Nancy.

  • INTERREG Europe Policy Learning Platform (IEPLP): ongoing

AER is a key partner of the Policy Learning Platform (PLP) which is the second action of the Interreg Europe programme established to boost EU-wide policy learning and capitalisation of practices from investments on growth and jobs. The Platform is a space for continuous learning where regional actors in Europe can tap into the know-how of experts and peers. The PLP will be present at the European Week of Regions and Cities (formerly Open Days).

  • Study visit on the Energy transition: ongoing

The main focus of the study visit, which will be organised in cooperation with other interregional networks, will be the Gelders’ Energy agreement (GEA). This collaboration between local and regional industries, governments and NGOs’ in the province of Gelderland, Netherlands, has pledged for the province to become energy-neutral by 2050. It facilitates a co-creative process where initiatives, actors, and energy are integrated into society. See the event page.

  • Event on a current transversal topic: ongoing

Jean-Luc Vanraes, President of the AER Committee on Regional Development and Economy is inviting AER members to contribute to the organisation of an event on artificial intelligence to be held in Brussels, on November 30th 2017. A debate at the Committee 1 Plenary meeting will pave the way for this event. This event, “Artificial Intelligence: are regions up to the challenge” will be organised on the same format as the event “E-health let’s find a common language” which took place in December 2016 with the contribution of very diverse stakeholders.

  • Follow up on photonics: finished

On the occasion of the Timis Spring Plenaries Professor Hugo Thienpont presented the ACTPHAST programme on photonics innovation for SMEs. The information and opportunities regarding this European programme were further disseminated via the AER website. The ACTPHAST programme for photonics. See the results as at September 2017.

  • Conference on biomass: in progress

In London AER members agreed to collaborate for the organisation of a conference on Biomass in Vojvodina. The objective is to share practices and expert lectures to show the practical possibilities of production and usage of biomass in Europe, with a preview insight in the production in Vojvodina. The event also aims to awaken the interest of individual agricultural farms, agricultural cooperatives and clusters and regional and local governments.

  • Cooperation with the World Sustainable Energy Day: ongoing

On the occasion of the AER Committees plenary meetings in London, members highlighted their interest in participating to the World Sustainable Energy Days in a meaningful way. A delegation of 4 politicians from across Europe will be able to attend the World Sustainable Energy days for free on behalf of AER. This delegation will have an active representation role and is expected to participate in meetings on the spot too. How to get involved!

  • AER event on EFSI: finished

AER organised a conference on sustainable financing for regions, which presented political issues related to impact investments, green investments and long term investments. These strategic aspects of regional development are not mere tools but are part of a regional development plan, which looks at private funding to leverage public resources.  AER series on investments – Episode 1, AER series on investments – Episode 2

  • Nudging: finished

The “Towards New Urban Mobility” paper presented on the occasion of the AER Breakfast Briefing on Urban mobility in London adresses the ways in which policies are set up to change behaviour. This report argues that policy interventions sensitive to group attitudes are more likely to result in behavioural change towards transport alternatives. This includes understanding which transport alternatives are more acceptable to each group and how best to target communication.

  • Awareness raising on sustainable mobility: ongoing

AER is continuing to highlight regional good practices on sustainable mobility. In this context an AER article will be published in the Autumn 2017 edition of Revolve Magazine

  • Meeting of the AER working group on transports and mobility in Nancy: ongoing

Good practices from the host region will be presented on smart mobility and policies aimed at supporting green innovation in the field of transports. Discussion about regulatory framework, challenges for regions and opportunities for cooperation

  • Digitalisation of transports: ongoing

Promote digitalisation of transports networks both in urban and rural areas.

  • Promotion of knowledge about innovative technologies: ongoing

  • High Speed Rail: tbc

 

AER AT THE EUROPEAN WEEK OF CITIES AND REGIONS

  • Workshop on climate and energy transition: ongoing

Led by the region of Abruzzo, AER is co-organising a climate side-event during the European Week of Regions and Cities 2017.

  • Side-event on Public procurement for green innovation: tbc

How to use innovative public procurement as a tool and a changemaker in regional development towards a greener future.

  • Workshop on the Silver Economy: ongoing

Led by the SEED consortium. This workshop will take its participants through four inspiring examples of how a Silver Economy can help regions and cities to better match the needs of their ageing population while supporting local businesses and solution providers. It will be the opportunity to discuss the complementarity between these examples and the initiatives at EU level. The networking session that follows will bring together potential partners around issues related to the Silver Economy.

  • Workshop of the INTERREG Europe Policy Learning Platform: ongoing

Looking for new solutions for regional policy? 2000+ institutions have already exchanged experiences through interregional cooperation. You can learn from other cities and regions and their tried-and-tested solutions. The Interreg Europe Policy Learning Platform is launching an expert-validated Good Practice Database. Visit our show-case corner, learn more and get inspired!

Lobbying

  • Cohesion Policy Activities: ongoing

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is closely following the ongoing European debates on cohesion policy, whose future is uncertain. Aiming at defending regions’ interests in this field and make their voices heard, AER has been and will continue to work intensively on this issue. The next Bureau Meeting will be held in Maastricht.

  • AER Report on Regionalisation: ongoing

More than 40 academic experts accepted to give their contribution to this work, by delivering detailed reports about the state of regionalisation and multilevel governance in chosen European countries. The study covers 41 countries, and each country report is based on a similar structure, thereby allowing a comparative approach among all studied countries.

  • COP23 Local and Regional governments Leaders´ Summit: ongoing

The Conference of the Parties (COP23) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will take place in Bonn on 6-17 November 2017, under the presidency of the Fiji government and hosted by the UN Climate Change Secretariat. AER will actively contribute to the agenda of local and regional governments at the Conference, including the Leaders´ Summit on 12 November and associated events.

  • R20 Summit: finished

In presence of AER and R20 President, Magnus Berntsson, R20 founding chair, Arnold Schwarzenegger and all key people playing a part in climate change (private partners, NGOs, officials). R20 is a winning alliance for AER, but where do we stand?

  • Financing climate action: ongoing

AER works alongside R20, Blue Orchard and Leonardo Di Caprio Foundation to set up a 350 million $ Subnational Climate Fund to finance climate projects in European regions. In August AER met the European Investment Bank to pursue negociations.

  • 33rd Session of the Congress Local and Regional Authorities: ongoing

AER has a partnership status with the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. It sends high-level representatives to the meetings of the Congress and sits in the Chamber of Regions Bureau.

  • ERDF Funding for Regional Airports & State Aid for regional airports: ongoing

AER members get regular updates from the Working Group on transports and mobility’s Regional Airports expert Roger Estefors at meetings of the group. The Nancy meeting will feature an update on the topic too.

  • Sustainable biofuels: tbc

Promote 2nd generation sustainable biofuels, for example from waste and forest resources.

  • Legislation on biogas: finished

The AER secretariat connected regions which were interested in initiating a lobbying action. Regions had diverging priorities, the connection therefore did not result in a joint action.

 

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Take part in the Horizon 2020 Project Development Week! (Deadlines Extended!)

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Do you have a project idea but are looking for good partners to build a consortium and get Horizon 2020 funding? Do you have skills and capacity to offer but have not any project ideas to submit for funding?

Then the ERRIN Project Development Week is your chance!

What is it about?

After the success of the brokerage event on the green economy and innovation, we are this time proposing a new type of event in collaboration with ERRIN to stimulate project development: the Horizon 2020 Project Development Week. This 5-day event replaces the half day brokerage event on e-health initially foreseen. It will bring together over 400 different regional stakeholders around a series of selected EU calls to initiate project partnerships.

The aim is no other than to promote the exchange of knowledge in a wide range of relevant topics, such as health, energy, ICT, smart cities, opening science, blue innovative growth and transport, among others. Participants will therefore have the chance to share project ideas and innovative solutions as well as getting sound expert advices to submit successful proposals and thus get Horizon 2020 funding.

Four reasons to attend the event

By attending any of the proposed sessions within the ERRIN Project Development Week you will be able to:

  • Obtain detailed information on the Horizon 2020 2018-2020 Work Programs;
  • Expand your network, set up consortia, and build new partnerships;
  • Get sound expert advices on concrete project ideas;
  • Increase the chances to submit a successful proposal and be funded!

How to get involved?

The event is free of charge and open to everyone but participation is upon selection.

Have a look at the deadlines, consider the type of involvement, register on the website, and decide on how you can contribute to the sessions by contacting ERRIN at the following e-mail address: [email protected]

You can also contact them by phone dialing: +32 2 503 35 54

Save the dates!

Such event, which expects to bring together 400 participants to discuss about 60 project ideas in 8 sessions, will take place from 20th to 24th November at multiple venues in Brussels.

These events are open to your regional stakeholders, so do not hesitate to invite them to join and share project ideas!

Please, note that the deadline to register as a participant has been extended to October 30th.

 

And AER regions…

The AER, as a supporting partner of ERRIN in this event, would like to take the opportunity to invite all member regions either to engage in the different sessions or to present their proposals before the 20th of September. This event can provide regions with valuable inputs regarding EU research and innovation policy and can contribute significantly to helping them develop successful projects and thus raise their profile at the EU level.

 

Please, note that both deadlines (projects submission and participant registration) might be closed ahead due to capacity constraints.

 

Check the official website to get more info: http://www.errinh2020pdw.eu/node/35

 

Photo credits: @ERRIN http://www.errinh2020pdw.eu/node/35

 

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Apply now for a LIFE Action Grant!

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The submission deadlines for LIFE Calls for proposals is getting closer! The LIFE 2017 Info Day and Networking event,  a side session of EU Green Jobs Summit within the EU Green Week, took place between May 29th and June 2nd. Several other partner events, such as the ‘Green is the new smart. Green jobs boosting regional economy’ (organised by the Pomorskie Regional EU Office), were also held during the EU Green Week.

AER is pleased to share some useful information and tips with you to succeed in the application process.

Why important?

Since circular economy and green jobs are a core topic of these events, AER got deeper insight on May 31st and June 1st. Both events referred to the opportunity for Europe having a leading role in paving the way for a transition to circular economy as well as pushing for more ambitious standards. For instance, Montpellier’s Master Degree Programme in Water Sciences contributes effectively to a more environmental friendly society by raising awareness about the challenges and opportunities that this green transition can bring.

3 projects as good examples were introduced during the event:

The Life 2017 Info Day and Networking Event, organised by the European Commission, was aimed at providing both information and the opportunity of networking for your project. On the other hand, the event of Pomorskie Regional EU Office took place to highlight the importance of green jobs in boosting regional economy, presenting business opportunities for local and regional economies and creating cleantech jobs.

How to get involved?

Firstly, you can apply for several calls for proposals which are already open as well as other funding opportunities such as Horizon 2020, COSME, InnovFin and EFSI. Secondly, AER has already published a partner search of E-Vai project which will be submitted for one of the LIFE Calls. If you are interested in this project, please contact the AER Secretariat for more information. Thirdly, two competitions were promoted during the EU Green Week: the 2020 European Green Capital and 2019 European Green Leaf Awards (the application is still open for both of them).

To get inspiration for designing a LIFE project, please check out the LIFE Project database. Or you can also contact the AER Secretariat and our partner network, ACR+, working on linking local and regional stakeholders in the field of circular economy. You can check out also the Circular economy industry platform launched by Business Europe for innovative solutions contributing to circular economy in Europe.

The Circular Economy Stakeholder Platform will have a coordination group in order to provide guidance, reinforce interaction between stakeholders on exchanges of good practices regarding the transition to circular economy. A call for expressions of interest to become a member of of this coordination group is open until August 31st. In addition to this, you can also share your best practices and/or learn more about smart specialisation boosting interregional collaboration. Therefore, please do not hesitate to register for the 2nd edition of the ‘Grow your region’ conference which will take place in Valencia (Spain) on November 8th and 9th.

The next EU Green Week Conference on ‘Green Cities for a Greener Future’ will be held in Brussels between May 22nd and May 24th 2018. More details on the programme will be announced soon.

What is new in LIFE Calls 2017?

After the introduction of the Climate Action Policy Priorities and the responsibilities of EASME, funding opportunities for traditional projects were explained.

Encouraging the delivery of results from research projects such as Horizon2020 is an additional point to get more scores. In this sense, some new elements were introduced to these new LIFE Calls, such as:

  • Defining and welcoming ‘close-to-market’ projects
  • More specifications regarding quantifiable impacts/benefits
  • Transferability and Replication Plan is mandatory deliverable for certain Calls
  • Sustainability: Exploitation Plan as part of the After-Life Plan as well as Business Plan for ‘close-to-market’ projects are mandatory deliverables for certain Calls
  • Focus on more concrete activities developing new tools to put into practice
  • Control on double-funding and value-added vs previously funded programs.

Within the framework of the LIFE Programme, the European Commission launched the 2nd Call for preparatory project proposals to support the European Solidarity Corps.

More tips for the application?

If so, please just click on this link to find key information.

Photo credits: @2017 Pixabay https://pixabay.com/en/hohenschwangau-alps-alpsee-munich-532864/

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Would you like to join the E-VAI 3.0 LIFE project?

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FNM E-VAI 3.0 project is a LIFE Close-to-market proposal, delivering improved environmental solutions, capable of being widely taken up by the society and economy in particular. FNM SpA (Lombardy, Italy) is looking for a partner to join. The proposal will be submitted for LIFE Environment & Resource Efficiency.

What is this project about?

The project aims at E-car sharing innovative solutions for medium and small urban areas and outside the metropolitan areas where car-sharing has proven to be successful, integrating it in a railway station. Electric car sharing services will be innovated in railway stations of the Lombardy Region, run by E-Vai public company.

The E-Vai model which tends to maximise its use during the day by integration of other mobility services already existing in the hub.

The following activities will be undertaken:

  • Innovative service model co-design with business and private involvement (i.e. use of latest generation electric vehicles sharing in charging points with other modalities, pooling)
  • Creation of a technology platform and an app for businesses and individuals for e-car booking, crew creation (car-pooling), service promotion, users community creation, rewarding system
  • Implementation of the service at the pilot sites (purchase of vehicles, charging points, photovoltaic panels, bike parks).

Why is it interesting to join?

This model ensures sustainable mobility helping your region to use all your capacities to the fullest in transportation resulting in zero polluting emissions, and therefore, to improve the level of pollution.

What partner they are looking for?

They are waiting for a region, especially from France or Germany. This partner will demonstrate that E-VAI 3.0 business model can be adapted even if there is no car-sharing operation in place today. Partner regions will be pilot areas to certify the viability of the business model.

The deadline for environment & Resource Efficiency Call for Proposal is 12th September at 16:00 (Brussels time).

If you are ready to express your interest, please send an e-mail to the AER Secretariat by 10th of August.

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ACI Regional Airports’ Conference & Exhibition

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The Airports Council International Europe (ACI EUROPE) 10th Annual Regional Airports’ Conference & Exhibition will take place from 15 to 17 May at the Cork Airport in Ireland. This year, the event will attract over 200 delegates from over 25 different countries and 25 different airports and airport operators. Three exciting days to exchange best practices, discover latest trends and enjoy experts opinions!

Conference of opportunities

AER is once again supporting ACI EUROPE! Indeed, regional airports play an important role in building up regional development. Improving the regions’ connectivity and outreach, airports are truly a springboard for regional economies.

For the participants, the event is especially relevant to share knowledge, good practices and discuss key challenges facing the aviation industry. Therefore, it is a great networking opportunity!

By joining, AER members will get the chance to benefit from:

  • Being presented as a supporter of the ACI EUROPE’s Regional Airports’ 2017 Conference & Exhibition
  • Two free delegate passes to attend the conference
  • Reduced conference rates for your members
  • 150-word organisation profile on the event website & in the official Event Guide
  • Organisation branding  on all marketing and promotional material including displayed in the Conference room, on conference website with corresponding links and on conference and exhibition signage at the official venue

Practical information

For further details, please contact ACI or the AER Secretariat.

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Outermost regions’ work in AER and worry about Guyana

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It is with great worry that the Assembly of European Regions follows the situation in its French outermost member region, Guyana. After two weeks of unrest and the region’s activity put to a standstill, we look upon the start of the negotiations with the French government with trust and confidence.

AER President Hande Özsan Bozatli : « I want to address to the President Rodolphe Alexandre and the people of Guyana the solidarity of the members of AER and the wish that a positive solution to this grave crisis will be found soon. AER will remain an ally of all Spanish, Portuguese and French outermost regions and wants to cooperate more with them ».

These territories are of huge importance for Europe. Leaders in terms of blue growth and innovation, their strategic location opens Europe to the world thanks to their territorial waters and continental borders with some of the South American giants.  

At the occasion of the Outermost regions forum in Brussels this week, AER Secretary General Mathieu Mori met with the Presidents of the AER outermost members Alfred Marie-Jeanne (Martinique-FR); Ary Chalus (Guadeloupe-FR), Miguel Albuquerque (Madeira-PT), Vasco Cordeiro (Azores-PT) and Didier Robert from non member region La Réunion (FR). These encounters were the occasion to congratulate Madeira and the Azores for the opening of their regional office in Brussels and their continuing involvement in AER Eurodyssey programme. The opportunity also to talk about potential topics of further cooperation. A specific topic has been pinpointed with Guadeloupe and a joint event will be organised for the benefit of all outermost AER members and beyond. 

In light of the coming strategy of the European Union- to be released end of the year – the outermost regions reached a common agreement and handed in a memorandum to the President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker and Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Cretu.

 Pictures

Alfred Marie-Jeanne, President of Martinique (FR)

Miguel Albuquerque, President of Madeira (PT)

Ary Chalus, President of Guadeloupe (FR)

Vasco Cordeiro, President of the Azores (PT)

Didier Robert, President of La Réunion (FR)

 Marc Lemaître, Director General for Regional Policy (European Commission)

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Breakfast Briefing on Urban mobility

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At a Breakfast briefing at the Spring Plenaries in London last week, we had the pleasure to listen to Mr Philipp Rode, Director of LSE Cities and joint Research Director of the “Towards New Urban Mobility” paper.

Mr Rodd presented the report ‘Towards New Urban Mobility: The case of London and Berlin’ which provides insight into how urban transport policy can better leverage new and emerging mobility choices in cities.

Today the policy makers must embrace an increasing number of alternatives, including cycling and walking as main modes of travel, bike and car sharing, multimodal travel options and electric vehicles, as changes in urban mobility patterns no longer follow traditional patterns of motorization. Smartphone applications now support people’s travel decisions as they move through the city, opening possibilities of combining public transport, taxi services and shared car use.

Policy interventions more likely to result in changes

This study identified six mobility attitude groups, where the attitudes towards travel, the environment, technology use and residential preferences were used to identify mobility attitude group.  Attitudes and values are key factors in the choice of transport modes since they reflect group specific needs, constraints and preferences in travel.

This report argues that policy interventions sensitive to group attitudes are more likely to result in behavioural change towards transport alternatives. This includes understanding which transport alternatives are more acceptable to each group and how best to target communication.

This report ties very well to the Action Plan from the working group “Transport and Mobility ” Committee 1,  Knowledge sharing on “Nudging”.

Update Regional Airports

The next speaker at our breakfast briefing, was our AER expert on Regional Airports, Mr Roger Estefors. He gave us an update on the current changes in regulation concerning regional airports and the usage of ERDF and regional airports.

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Not your usual plenary meetings

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The AER Committees are the R&D lab of AER where experiences are shared, discussed, transferred to other regions, transformed, brought back in the network and adopted by yet other regions. However, the plenary meetings don’t always do justice to the wealth of ideas and initiatives regions are implementing or want to implement.

Just do it!

Spring is coming, and at AER, spring is Action plan preparation season.

On 22 March at the AER Spring Plenaries in London, members of the three thematic Committees will develop jointly their action plans. The main idea is the following: if you want to carry out something within the network, just do it! Any idea is welcome!

The actions members can implement via the committees are diverse: project development, organisation of a workshop, seminar, international conference, study visit, brokerage event, breakfast briefing, webinar, collection of good practices, elaboration of a political report based on the experience of regions etc. To have it included in the AER Action Plan, regions should share their idea at the relevant Committee plenary meeting, explain how they are going to implement their action and get support from other regions.

How this will be done

Participants will be seated around round tables, where each table will work around 1 topic (or set of related topics). They will share their own ideas & develop jointly actions on the different topics the Committees are working on:

Committee 1:

  • Cohesion policy: Task Force on Cohesion post 2020, contribution to the survey, dissemination, awareness raising, lobbying…
  • business SMEs & investments:
    -involvement of regions in the Silver Economy Awards (SEED project)
    -Follow-up on photonics: what should be done next?
    -E-health innovation, innovative SMEs: after the e-health event, what should now be done?
    -The different new models of economy: collaborative, social and solidarity savings, circular, post cop21
    – New forms of tourism economy: e-tourism: renting by private persons (Airbnb, …) solidarity tourism….
    – Smart regions
    – Other proposals
  • rural development: should something specific be developed this year? If so which region would like to take the lead? Lobbying with the European Countryside Movement, other proposals…
  • energy, climate change & the circular economy: suggestions are welcome! Dissemination of the report on energy security, collaboration with the R20, with other stakeholders, projects…
  • transport & mobility: good practice sharing on connectivity, the use of big data, sustainable transports…

Committee 2: Inclusion, social entrepreneurship & inclusive entrepreneurship, digital transformation in health, leadership for change management in health, integrated e-care systems, child healthcare & prevention, follow-up for the MOCHA project, cooperation within EIP-AHA, involvement in the Silver Economy Awards (SEED project)

Committee 3: Cultural heritage (developing a project), culture for inclusion of migrants (handbook), School dropouts (dissemination of the handbook), youth policies, mobility & youth employability, youth wellbeing & inclusion, youth participation, youth entrepreneurship

The 3 plenary meetings will be held separately and consecutively so that members are able to participate in all meetings, allowing for synergies & cooperation between Committees
Members of the AER Youth Regional Network, the Summer Academy and the Eurodyssey programmes are invited to join the process as well so that they can provide ideas on how their work could integrate and feed the work of the committees.

At the end of the session the different actions will be brought together on a flip-chart and organised according to the 3 main categories:

-Lobbying

-Projects

-Good practice exchange

This document will then be adopted as the Committee’s action plan.

Get involved!

In order to get involved AER members can

  • ask to join the AER Committees online communities in order to already share ideas with other members
  • identify the needs they have in their region which could be addressed via AER
  • define an activity they would like to carry out in the Committees, think about how other members could contribute and benefit from this activity, share the idea at the plenary meeting
  • support other members proposing joint actions via the online communities and at the plenary meetings.

 

photo credits: Jakob Owens @unsplash https://unsplash.com

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INTERREG North West Europe – Fifth call for project proposals!

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On 14th February 2017, an Info Day on the INTERREG North-West Europe Programme was organised by the Brussels Capital Region, Brulocalis (the Association of the City and Municipalities of Brussels) and the Secretariat of the INTERREG North West Europe Programme, at the offices of the Region.

This Info Day, addressed to public and private actors – such as regional organisations, local authorities, associations, companies and universities, gave an overview of the funding possibilities offered by the INTERREG Europe North West Programme.

The INTERREG North West Europe Programme supports cooperation projects between actors based on eight countries: Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, The Netherlands, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The activities that can be funded are exchanges of good practices, especially operational projects including pilot and innovative projects. It focuses on three main areas:

• Innovation (including social and entrepreneurial innovation);

• Reduction of carbon emissions (including mobility);

• Rational use of materials and natural resources (including circular economy).

The next deadline for applications is on 24th May 2017 (being the opening on 18th April 2017).

To begin with, a presentation concerning governance, budget, themes, objectives and results of the Programme was given. It was followed by suggestions and good practices for successful INTERREG projects. Then, two beneficiaries of the programme spoke about their experiences: Bruxelles Mobilité (Brussels Mobility) and the City of Liège. Finally, individual interviews were held during the afternoon for potential project promoters.

The next Project Ideas Lab will take place on 28th March in Luxembourg.

To get more information on the Info Day, presentations are available.

If you wish to submit a project proposal within this call and you need to network with partners, get in touch with AER Secretariat!

Please find below a report on the Info day written by Gianmartino Contu, and translated by Susannah Go.

 

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Urban Mobility: join the AER Breakfast Briefing in London!

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On 23 March AER and LGIU are hosting a Breakfast Briefing with the presence of Philipp Rode, Executive Director of LSE Cities and joint Research Director of the “Towards New Urban Mobility” paper.

Urban mobility

On the occasion of the AER Spring plenary meetings in London on 21-23 March 2017, policy makers will have the opportunity to exchange views on the topic of urban mobility, a topic of particular interest to AER members. Participants will in particular look into the findings of the “Towards New Urban Mobility” paper and its impacts for policy makers.

The report ‘Towards New Urban Mobility: The case of London and Berlin’ provides insight into how urban transport policy can better leverage new and emerging mobility choices in cities. Drawing on the LSE Cities/InnoZ household survey of 1,000 residents each in Berlin and London, it investigates how people’s attitudes towards transport modes, technology and travel frame their willingness to adopt new and more sustainable forms of transport.

Urban mobility was also the topic of the roundtable “reinventing urban mobility” organised in September by AER and Revolve Media in Brussels, which featured good practices from Östergötland, Brussels Capital and Geneva.

The breakfast briefing will also be an opportunity to get an update about current changes in regulation concerning regional airports.

Smart mobility

The themes the AER Working Group on Transports currently focuses on include:
-connectivity and permeability, in particular intelligent transport systems, seamless transport services
-freight management & data
-smart green infrastructure
-financing of infrastructure
-follow up of the regulation of state aid and regional airports

Last November the AER Committees gathered around the topic of sustainable mobility on the occasion of the AER Autumn 2016 plenary meetings, sharing experiences around new forms of transport and exploring potential opportunities for joint projects. The above picture shows AER members in Izmir, just before they biked along (a part of) the 40 kilometer bicycle road right next to the shore.

Collective knowledge

What the working group on Transport & Mobility wants to achieve is increased collective knowledge on current topics. This helps members to act at regional, national and European level. Sharing experiences feeds policy-making in the regions.
With its focus on mutual learning AER provides a particularly dynamic environment to further develop this work on transport and mobility.

 

Frequently Asked Questions:

-What is the procedure to join the working group?

Any AER member region can join the AER Working Group on Transports by sending an e-mail to Anna Lindberg: [email protected] or simply by joining the AER online community on Slack.

-Is the group for civil servants or politicians?

AER working groups are aimed at policy-makers, these can be elected representatives or civil servants

-When will be the next meeting of the AER Working Group on Transports?

During the AER Spring plenaries 21-23 March in London

-How should I prepare for the next meeting?

First step: make sure to join our online community. This community is for AER members only and will enable you to engage in meaningful discussion with peers and fullytake advantage of the networking experience on the spot. Moreover the online community will enable you to access all information related to transports & mobility in AER without the pain of having an overloaded mailbox. To know more about how this community works you can check our article on the AER online networking experience.

If you are intending to launch a new project or are faced with a particular challenge in your region, this would be very beneficial to share with the working group members. Anna Lindberg, the Coordinator of the working group is available for exchanges in the Slack Community, so make sure to register to our online community (see link above).

-Who is the Chairperson of the AER Working Group on Transports?

Martin Tollén, County Councillor from Östergötland (SE) is currently the Chairman of the working group

Links

AER Spring 2017 plenaries and registration form

More information on the work in the AER Committee on Economy & Regional Development

Registration link for the AER online community on Slack

Related articles

Sustainable mobility: the way forward

AER’s Committees meet in Izmir for talks on sustainable mobility

Regions lead the way to sustainable mobility

AER answer to EC consultation on State aid to airports

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AER answer to EC consultation on State aid to airports

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The AER working group on mobility & transports has long been involved in the defense of regional airports as they constitute often one of the only sustained connection with other territories for remote regions. They have therefore a crucial economic development role which justifies the support they get from governments. While regions are nowadays also working on developping alternate and less polluting forms of transports (as exemplified during the joint plenary meetings in Izmir last November), regional airports are still vital for the regional development of many of them, as was underlined in the AER position on regional airports in 2013.

Roger Estefors, the AER expert on regional airports acting on behalf of the AER working group on Mobility and Transports, therefore answered the European Commissions invitation for comments to the consultation on exempting certain investment to ports and airports by extension of the General Block Exemption Regulation (state aid)

As Roger Estefors explains:

Background

In accordance with the EU State aid rules, Member States in principle have to notify State aid measures to the Commission before implementation. The measures can only be implemented once the Commission has approved them. The Commission can exempt measures from this obligation, provided that certain conditions are fulfilled, which ensure that the measures are compatible with the internal market. With respect to those conditions and rules the European Commission adopted during 2014 a new General Block Exemption Regulation (GBER), as an integral building block of State Aid Modernisation (“SAM”).

This initiative aims to simplify the application of State aid rules, thus reducing administrative burden and costs and speeding up the implementation of projects, by including aid measures for different sectors as Culture and Heritage conservation and Local Infrastructure into the GBER, Member States will no longer have to notify the measures to the Commission and wait for the approval of the Commission before they can start implementation as long as the amount of aid and other conditions are within the frameworks and thresholds stipulated by the Commission. This means that there will not be significant impacts on the amount of State aid allowed under the EU State aid rules.

Examples of sectors already included into the GBER concerning State Aid are:

Access to finance for SMEs

Aid to innovation clusters

Aid to process and organisational innovation

Research, development and innovation

Disadvantaged workers and for workers with disabilities

Environmental protection

Broadband infrastructure

Culture and heritage conservation

Investment aid for Local infrastructure

Aid for sport and multifunctional recreational infrastructures

 

Consultations

During March 2016 the Commission announced an invitation for comments on draft provisions exempting certain investment aid for ports and airports from prior Commission scrutiny under EU state aid rules. By including aid measures for ports and airports into the GBER, The consultation was announced during March 7 until May 30 2016. The target group, welcome to contribute to the consultation, consisted of all citizens, organisations and public authorities. The consultation relates to the amending Regulation (EU) No 651/2014 declaring certain categories of aid compatible with the internal market in application of Articles 107 and 108 of the Treaty

AER did not take part in the first consultation due to misunderstandings in the procedure of appointing someone responsible for summarizing an AER position.

In front of the second consultation it was noticed that the answers concerning airports from the 1:th consultation indicated a clear trend towards an increase of the upper limit in the direction of 500.000 yearly passengers for being exempted from the notification requirement. Even the opinion of including operational aid seems to have the same tendency. Originly the Commission open the first consultation by limiting the aid solely to investments in combination to a maximum number of 50.000 yearly passengers. For the second consultation the number of passengers had expanded to 150.000 yearly concerning aid for investment. The Commission did not make any indication to open up for a discussion, during the second consultation, concerning operating aid.

The AER position in front of the second consultation is fully in line with today’s AER position concerning Regional Airports. The work with the Regional Airport has been continuous discussed within the working grope since 2010. In this second consultation AER did solely concentrate on issues related to airports.

Links

2013-09-AER-position-regional-airports
2016-11-AER position General Block Exemption

Related articles

http://aer.eu/sustainable-mobility-way-forward/
http://aer.eu/regions-lead-way-sustainable-mobility/
http://aer.eu/ensuring-that-regional-airports-and-economies-are-sustained/
http://aer.eu/airports-regions-welcome-fresh-clarity-on-eu-state-aid-rules/

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Committee elections in Izmir

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The AER Committees were in Izmir from 7-10 November for the Autumn Committees Plenaries at which time elections took place for the open positions. We would like to congratulate Mr Martin Tollen (Östergötland-SE), Mr Kenneth Johannesson (Värmland-SE), Mr Michiel Rijsberman, (Flevoland-NL)and Mr Damir Zobenica (Vojvodina-RS) for their election.

The Committees are now composed of the following politicians:

AER Committee 1 for Economy and Regional Development

President: Jean-Luc Vanraes, Political representative of the Government, Brussels-Capital (BE)
Vice-president for Rural development, Energy and Environment: Kenneth Backgård, County Councillor in Norrbotten (SE)
Vice-Presidency for Economic Development and Mobility: Damir Zobenica (Vojvodina, RS) (elected in Izmir)
Chair of the working group on Investment, Business and SMEs: Jean-Luc Vanraes, Political representative of the Government, Brussels-Capital (BE)
Chair of the working group on Mobility and Transports: Martin Tollén, County Councillor, Östergötland (SE) (elected in Izmir)
Taskforce on Cohesion Policy post 2020: Michiel Rijsberman, Flevoland (NL)

Representatives for the Equal Opportunities Group
We are still looking for two representatives (1 woman & 1 man) from Committee 1 to join the Equal Opportunities Group

AER Committee 2 for Social Policy and Public Health

President: Agneta Granström, County councillor, Norrbotten (SE)
Vice-President for Social Inclusion: Mihai Ritivoiu, County Councillor, Timis (RO)
Chair of e-Health Network: Agneta Granström, County councillor, Norrbotten (SE)
Head of the focus group on Prevention and Child Healthcare: open position

Representatives for the Equal Opportunities Group
Mr Kenneth Johannesson (Värmland-SE) (elected in Izmir)
We are still looking for 1 representatives (woman) from Committee 2 to join the Equal Opportunities Group

AER Committee 3 for Culture, Education and Youth

President: Sonja A Steen, Fylkesordfører (President), Nordland (NO)
Vice President: Dag Rønning, Chairman of the County Council, Hedmark, (NO)
Chair of the Sub-Committee on Culture: Nina Björby, County Councillor, Västerbotten (SE)
Vice Chair of the Sub-Committee on Culture: Christer Kax Sundberg, Chairman of the County Council, Sörmland (SE)
Chair of the Sub-Committee on Education and Training: open position
Chair of the Sub-Committee on Youth: Marta Vilalta, General Director For Youth, Catalonia (ES)

Representatives for the Equal Opportunities Group
Mr Dag Rønning (Hedmark-NO)
We are still looking for 1 representatives (woman) from Committee 3 to join the Equal Opportunities Group

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Sustainable mobility: the way forward

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The modernisation and democratisation of means of transports have radically changed how we perceive distances and the world in general. At the same time resource scarcity, climate change and geopolitical stakes have obliged us to re-think models of mobility.

Sustainable mobility: a brand new world

From 7 to 10 November AER members are gathered in Izmir (TR) on the occasion of the Fall Plenary meetings of the 3 AER thematic Committees. The overarching theme of this series of meetings is sustainable mobility, because mobility is first of all access – to work, education, goods and services including health, friends and family. Choices in mobility therefore directly affect the competitiveness of territories but also rural-urban relations, territorial and social cohesion, fairness in terms of health or education, energy security, the circular economy etc

An energy intensive sector

According to the Fifth Asessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, transports account for 14% of global greenhouse gas emissions. Trends in transport are impacted by population growth and changes in demographics as well as by changes in the structure of the economy. The shift to a service economy among other things considerably  increases the weigh of transport in greenhouse gas emissions as for instance retail and other services depend on energy-intensive infrastructure.

Connectivity: essential for regional development

For regions, connectivity is an essential element for economic development. For Europe this is also a question of territorial cohesion, a matter for which AER has consistently been lobbying. This is why members in the working groups on transports and energy have focused on different aspects of connectivity including railway, regional airports, and electric vehicles.

“Sustainable”, what’s in a word?

Defining mobility as sustainable refers to the ability of individuals to provide for their needs without compromising the same ability to future generations. To minimise the negative impact of greenhouse gas emissions, individuals need information, motivation and/ or incentives to promote more sustainable solutions for instance public transport or bicycles, instead of individual cars. The key challenge is to meet environmental, economic and societal sustainability. With the new role of subnational entities and organisations, after COP21, regions more than ever have a crucial role in implementing environmentally responsible and sustainable policies.

Regions: the way forward

Sustainable transports and mobility therefore require a holistic approach which goes far beyond the remit of spatial planners. But more importantly sustainable mobility requires mutual learning and experience sharing because the time is now. Regions have a tremendous potential to make the change happen and they are doing it already.

 

More Links

IPCC report on Transport
EC Studies on sustainable transport

Photo credits Tambako The Jaguar @Flickr http://tinyurl.com/jbmxbsx

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Horizon 2020: partner search for a project on water systems

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Ambling Ingeneria y Servicios SL, an experienced Spanish company in water handling, is searching partners for a project on the improvement of water system and services which will be submitted in the framework of Horizon 2020 – Water in the context of circular economy b) Towards the next generation of water systems services large scale demonstration projects (2017).

Currently transport infrastructures do not have integrated water reuse systems even though they have large areas for collection. This project aims to collect rainwater through transport infrastructures for its treatment, storage and reuse.

In order to complete the consortium the lead partner is looking for European research centres with experience in water management, new materials, and monitoring and sensor systems, as well as companies specialized in the management and maintenance of transport infrastructures, in monitoring and sensor systems, and in environment, including water management, energy efficiency and environmental impact.

AER is happy to share this opportunity within its member regions and their stakeholders, therefore if you are interested to join and/or to have more information, get in touch with AER Secretariat by 24 October.
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Horizon 2020: funding opportunities for smart cities and communities

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Smart cities and communities are a key challenge for the society that more and more needs a sustainable development of urban areas. This requires integrated approaches and new, efficient, and user-friendly technologies and services, in particular in the areas of energy, transport and ICT.

In order to get the latest news on funding opportunities that could address this challenge and that regions and their stakeholders could actually use, AER attended an info day in Brussels on the Horizon2020 calls on Smart Cities and Communities. This event was the occasion to learn more about the call content and the application procedure and AER is happy to share them with it member regions and partners.

Please, find below all relevant documents:

– 2016-2017 Horizon 2020 Work Programme titled ‘Cross-cutting activities’ 

– 2017 call

– agenda, recoding and presentations of the info day

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