New challenges for Europe’s cohesion: the 20th edition of the #EURegionsWeek is ready to start
Today the 2022 edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities starts off in a hybrid format, after a very demanding year.
The #EURegionsWeek wants to encourage participants to take part in the discussion on the challenges emerging in Europe at regional and local level following the war in Ukraine. The ongoing conflict has an extensive impact on societal matters such as elevated energy prices, migration flow management as well as on the four thematic anchors of this year edition: green transition, territorial cohesion, digital transition and youth empowerment.
This 20th edition will last four days, from 10 October to 13 October. Along with Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, and Vasco Alves Cordeiro, President of the European Committee of the Regions, over 1000 speakers from all over the EU will be taking part in 386+ hours of interactive conferences and more than 80 video clips of testimonials and concrete projects will be shown, centred around the four main themes of the #EURegionsWeek.
In the spotlight will be the new Cohesion Policy, the new generation of EU programmes for 2021-2027 as well as the recently deployed Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE) which supports Member States and regions in providing emergency assistance to people fleeing from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
The #EURegionsWeek will be opened on the 10th of October, at 11:00, with a press conference held by Commissioner Elisa Ferreira and CoR President Vasco Alves Cordeiro. They will address the EU strategy in tackling current challenges through cohesion policy. On the 11th of October at 15:00, President Cordeiro will also present the EU Annual Report on the State of Regions and Cities.
As regions and cities, their local communities and our youth are key figures in addressing these hardships, the #EURegionsWeek is all about dialogue and participation. Thus Commissioner Ferreira will debate on-stage at the Citizens’ Dialogue with 8 young Europeans (Youth4Regions Alumni) on the 11th of October, 19:00, highlighting examples of EU support across European regions.
Finally, on the 13th of October, Commissioner Ferreira and the CoR President Cordeiro will host the closing ceremony of the event.
Other highlights of the #EURegionsWeek will include the Megalizzi-Niedzielski Awards Ceremony, which rewards remarkable young European journalists, as well as thematic media workshops on cohesion policy reforms, helping refugees from Ukraine, fighting unemployment, energy transition and the new online platform Kohesio.