The 17th European Week of Regions and Cities has been launched, with the Opening session - Regions and cities, pillars of the EU's future taking place in the European Parliament hemicycle on Monday 7 October 2019. The session was attended by almost a thousand participants, who followed a high-level debate on the future of European Union with Klara Dobrev (Vice-President of the European Parliament), Karl-Heinz Lambertz (President of the European Committee of the Regions), Elżbieta Bieńkowska (Commissioner Internal Market, Industry, Entrepreneurship and SMEs) and five young elected politicians.
The #EURegionsWeek 2019 once again provides a unique opportunity to better understand how regions and cities are using EU funds to improve citizens' daily life and how cohesion policy can help to make Europe greener, more inclusive and smarter. This year's event will bring together over 9,000 participants including more than 600 politicians who will take part in nearly 400 sessions, debates, exhibitions and networking opportunities about the different aspects of cohesion policy.
October 2019 is also a crucial time for the European Union, with the newly-elected European Parliament already starting its mandate and the new College of European Commissioners being finalised. The timing could not be better for all of us to gather and actively participate in an event during which cities and regions showcase their capacity to create growth and jobs and exchange views on planning and implementation of European Union cohesion policy. This year we will also mark the 25th anniversary of the European Committee of the Regions.
For the recording of the session, please visit the #EURegionsWeek programme webpage.