The European Week of Regions and Cities shows the state of cohesion in the union

Did you know that a third of the EU’s total budget for the 2021-2027 program period has been set aside for Cohesion Policy funding? This represents a figure of 392 billion euros – a significant part of which will go to making the energy transition in the member states not just greener but also more just.

In the past two decades, countries that have joined the EU have seen a substantial increase in GDP per capita, from 52% to 80% of EU average - a trend that clearly shows the positive impact of Cohesion Policy.

Cohesion Policy is thus EU’s main investment policy. Keeping this important fact in mind, Economic.bg will head out to the 22nd European Week of Regions and Cities, taking place from 7 to 10 October in Brussels.

Over the years, this event has turned into the flagship gathering platform that brings together policymakers, experts, and stakeholders looking to discuss the key challenges facing Europe’s regions and cities.

What to expect from this year’s edition

The European Week of Regions and Cities is organized by the Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) of the European Commission and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR).

This year, the hosts expect some 5,000 participants to attend the almost 200 sessions that span the entire range of Cohesion Policy topics – from regional growth through innovation to citizen engagement in the local context.

The Regiostars Awards will be a highlight of the event, and something the organizers are keen on promoting as they celebrate EU-funded projects that demonstrate innovation and inclusiveness in regional development. Through its focus on solutions to common challenges and seizing key opportunities, Regiostars has inspired regions to deliver ever more impactful EU regional policy.

Economic.bg will send its reporting team to follow and report on the Just Transition challenges and opportunities faced by European regions these days. We will seek out to put on display both the commonalities and unique features that define this key process in the journey to a greener and fairer Europe of the future.

Stay tuned and check in regularly to stay informed on the way Just Transition is transforming Europe.

Co-Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the Managing Authority. Neither the European Union nor the Managing Authority can be held responsible for them.