iconannual 2015 - The European Business and Investment Magazine

Foreword
and
opportunities
In this context, the Commission is launching now a
number of initiatives, such as a Platform on Smart Specialisation
on Energy, which will facilitate cooperation
on energy topics; or granting a priority to strategic cooperation
across borders, in order to "make contacts to
contracts", as you so aptly put it as the motto for your activities.
We are convinced that regions' comparative advantages
depend not only on their own action and assets,
but also on the strengths of the regions around, on creating
joint value chains and building more competitive
transnational clusters for new business opportunities.
In this respect, EU countries and regions should
make the widest use of the possibility to support joint
initiatives, demonstrators and pilots from ERDF and IN-
TERREG Operational Programmes, in particular in the
framework of macro-regional strategies, such as the EU
Strategy for the Danube Region.
But all of this starts by getting to better know each
other and share visions, strategies, goals and roadmaps,
which is exactly the purpose of this conference. I wish
you rich and fruitful discussions and every success in
future projects.
Corina Cretu
European Commissioner
for Regional Policy
Foto: European Commission
The European Business and Investment Magazine iconannual 19