The Assembly of European Regions (AER) presented awards this week to regions that have shown exceptional results this year in three fields: Innovation, Communicating Europe, and Most Youth-Friendly European Region. The awards were presented during AER’s General Assembly 2007, which is being hosted this week by the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy.

‘This year’s General Assembly has focused on regions as ‘building blocks for Europe”, Riccardo Illy, AER President and President of Friuli Venezia Giulia, said during the award ceremony. ‘We are presenting these awards to regions that are already putting those blocks into place.’

‘Communicating Europe’ Award

AER’s first ever ‘Communicating Europe’ Award has been established to encourage regions to further promote the relevance of Europe to their citizens.

1st prize: Extremadura Region (E). The project ‘Extremadura in Europe’ – consists of five actions targeting different audiences, including journalists, business people and villagers.

2nd prize: Land Kärnten (A). The ‘Europa in Kärnten’ project includes regular TV and radio broadcasts informing citizens about Europe and neighbouring regions.

3rd prize: Sisak-Moslavina (HR). The ‘Youth Building a Path to Europe’ project targets young people in seven towns with activities such as European information corners in schools and a debating competition focusing on Europe.

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