OPEN DAYS 2010 Final Programme - European Commission - Europa

OPEN DAYS Local Events: Europe in my Region/City
Europe in my Region|City
September|October|November 2010
The overall objective of the OPEN DAYS local events is to
provide a dynamic and inclusive framework for European
communication to the different regions and cities. Since it
was launched in 2006, the initiative has proven a valuable
and increasingly popular addition to the "European Week of
Regions and Cities" organised in Brussels every year. Under
the heading "Europe in my Region/City", the regional partners
together with a number of European associations, networks
and universities are given the opportunity to export the OPEN
DAYS to the cities and regions in what has by now become a
sustained move to foster the dialogue between organisations
at the EU political level and the European public.
Over 260 local events are set to take place throughout
September, October and November 2010. Events will be
organised all over the European Union as well as in Albania,
Bosnia-Herzegovina, Croatia, Georgia, Norway, Serbia, Turkey
and Ukraine, amounting to 35 participating countries in total.
Staged mainly around the three thematic priorities of the
2010 OPEN DAYS, this year's edition is expected to attract over
25,000 participants, including representatives from different
public authorities, civil society organisations and the private
sector.
The continued engagement of so many different people
ensures that the initiative of "Europe in my Region/City" firmly
lies with the people who know best how to communicate
Europe to its citizens, namely the regions and cities themselves.
Examples of local events organised as part of the 2010 OPEN
DAYS include:
• In Miskolc, Hungary, presentations and workshops on
"North Hungary in a Sustainable Europe" with focus on
innovation and employment, are scheduled to take place
in October.
• In Bremen, Germany, a public debate focusing on
'Bremen's position on EU cohesion policy after 2013'.
• In Lisbon, Portugal, organisers have planned a cultural
performance and debate on 'The future of Cohesion Policy'
• In October, Lodz in Poland will be the venue for a forum
where examples of European funded projects and
initiatives will be showcased.
• In Nantes, France, there will be an exhibition focusing on
'Europe and mobility' in the context of mobility week in
September.
• In Sofia, presentations and workshops will take place
on 'Innovation, a main instrument for knowledge based
economy – the case of Sofia'.
• The Northern Netherlands Provinces are organising a
seminar and cultural event in October entitled 'Towards a
sustainable Europe'.
• Maribor in Slovenia will be the setting of a debate on '
Cross-border, transnational and interregional co-operation'
• In Luxembourg, 'The implications of the Lisbon Treaty for
local authorities' will be discussed.
Most events take the format of seminars, workshops and
roundtables which focus on innovation, regional development
and green economic growth under the heading of
"Competitiveness". Events on "Co-operation" tackle territorial
cross-border initiatives, and macro-regions to highlight latest
developments and enhance exchange among practitioners.
Finally, regional authorities, experts and the broad public
will have the opportunity to attend events on "Cohesion" to
address territorial and social cohesion, as well as integrated
approaches to policies relevant at the local level.
More information is available on the website:
www.opendays.europa.eu
An importance was given
to the collaboration set up
with Europe Direct offices;
EU information centres in
the region/city; European
Commission Representation
in the Member States; and
European Programmes.
Indeed, the number of
offices within this European
network participating in the
organisation of local events is
increasing every year.
OPEN DAYS 2010 – European Week of Regions and Cities 59
Cohesion
33%
General EU
information
3%
Co-operation
28%
Competitiviness
36%