Biggest event on European Regional Policy

OPEN DAYS 2011 starts Monday

Thousands of people will arrive Monday in Brussels to pick up their accreditation badges and attend one or several workshops of OPEN DAYS 2011. The 9th edition of the European Week of the Regions and Cities is the biggest event on European Regional Policy with more than 750 speakers, 110 Workshops, 5,500 participants and about 250 accredited journalists.

On 6 October, Commissioners Johannes Hahn and Lazlo Ándór presented the European Commission's proposals on new cohesion policy regulations for the period 2014–2020, which will be discussed during the OPEN DAYS Opening Session on 10 October to which more than 1,000 participants are expected. The session can be followed live on the web between 15.00 and 18.00.

The European Commission has adopted a draft legislative package which will frame cohesion policy for 2014-2020. The new proposals are designed to reinforce the strategic dimension of the policy and to ensure that EU investment is targeted on Europe's long-term goals for growth and jobs ("Europe 2020").

Through Partnership Contracts agreed with the Commission, Member States will commit to focussing on fewer investment priorities in line with these objectives. The package also harmonises the rules related to different funds, including rural development and maritime and fisheries, to increase the coherence of EU action.

Foto: opendays.eu