What is it about?“Working together for Regional Growth and Jobs”

The European Week of Regions and Cities is an event for up to 2,000 regional policy experts organised by the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions and 16 groups presenting 105 European regions. The event comprises about 70 sessions, seminars and workshops dealing with the 2007-2013 generation of Structural Funds programmes.

More information: http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/opendays/

Commissioner Danuta Hübner, responsible for Regional Policy:

“OPEN DAYS 2005 will be a market place for new ideas and a platform for exchanging experiences in regional development. The EU should make better use of the unlocked potential of its regions and cities by focusing on best practices in innovation, and more knowledge-based and sustainable pathways to growth and jobs.”

Peter Straub, President of the Committee of the Regions:

“This will be our third annual OPEN DAYS and the most successful yet in terms of participation. OPEN DAYS is the premier event of its kind because it focuses on the daily, practical concerns of the regions and cities that are Europe’s engine of growth. OPEN DAYS is not a talking shop: it’s about delivering results and getting the EU economy back on track.”

Objectivestrengthen economic and social cohesion and reduce regional disparities

Instrumentsthree Objectives and four Community Initiatives; 49.5% of the population in EU25 live in areas covered byObjective 1 or Objective 2

Financial resourcesabout Euro 265 bn representing one third of the EU's total budget or 0.45% of the EU‘s GDP

Regional Policy 2000-2006

Geographical Eligibility 2007-2013 Draft April 2005, GDP/head 2000-2001-2002

Convergence objectiveRegions > 75% in EU25)

Objective RegionalCompetitiveness and EmploymentPhasing-in regions, "naturally" above 75%

Objective RegionalCompetitiveness and Employment

Convergence objectivestatistically affected regions

Regional Policy 2007-2013*

EUR 336.1 bn for EU27of which for

Convergence: EUR 264 bn

Competitiveness and Employment: EUR 57.9 bn

European Territorial Cooperation: EUR 13.2 bn*Commission proposal

Participating regions

Programme: 10-13 October 2005

66 workshops/seminars, 3 plenary sessions under 4 thematic headings:

Convergence Competitiveness and Employment European Territorial Cooperation Programme Management

330 speakers and 2,000 participants from all over Europe

See details at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/opendays/program.cfm

Programme: Schedule

Monday10 October

Thursday13 October

Tuesday11 October

Wednesday12 October

Events in partner offices

Events in partner offices

Events in partner offices

morning afternoon

15:00-17:00

Opening session

15:00-17:00

Debate at the beginning of thePlenary Session

19:00-

Official Reception

15:30-17:30

Closing session

Contact details

Conference Secretariatconference-secretariat@opendays2005.comContact for Participants: Sophie Charre Contact for Speakers: Anouk Verlinden Tel: +32 (0)2 737 95 65Fax: +32 (0)2 737 95 67

Committee of the Regionsopendays@cor.eu.int

tel. +32 (0)2 282 20 27 (Jan Blaha)tel. +32 (0)2 282 21 40 (Ulrika Lagergren)fax. +32 (0)2 282 20 85

European Commission Regional Policy DG regio-info@cec.eu.int

tel. +32 (0)2 295 53 69 (Charles White) tel. +32 (0)2 299 88 32 (Wolfgang Petzold) fax. +32 (0)2 296 60 03