News

Six crystal glass awards towering on the stage, no one there to raise them in sign of victory. Understandably enough, the current Covid-19 situation urged the transition to an all-digital edition of the RegioStars Awards, which took place last Wednesday. The physical absence didn’t discourage the 25 finalists - 25 EU-funded projects who distinguished themselves for their innovative approach in regional development - connected from their headquarters with Brussels' Gold Hall, everyone cheering...

Together with over 500 partners’ sessions, this week hosted most of the main sessions of the event. On 12 October, 18 young Europeans participated in a Citizens' dialogue with Commissioner Ferreira. Thirteen youngsters were on stage and five others in remote: among them, on the one hand, students from five different member states (Greece, Italy, Spain, Croatia and Bulgaria), participating to the At School of Open Cohesion (ASOC) programme; and, on the other hand, Young Journalist students. The...

Regional and local leaders shared their experience in fighting the pandemic and their proposals for the recovery with Commissioner Ferreira and President Tzitzikostas during the Opening session of 18th European Week of Regions and Cities. They debated how EU cohesion policy and its shared management could boost Europe's recovery. The EU Annual Regional and Local Barometer presented by Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions during the CoR Plenary session, shows...

Apostolos Tzitzikostas, President of the European Committee of the Regions, presented the EU Annual Regional and Local Barometer on Monday 12 October 2020, warning of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on regions and cities revenues, of growing regional inequalities and of a “COVID lost generation”. The first EU-wide Regional and Local Barometer warns that Coronavirus pandemic is heavily impacting sub-national authorities' revenues and that the up to 10% plunge in regions and cities revenues...

Whilst diplomatic ties remain cold and restrictive measures are reinforced, the shared interests of regions within the EU and Russia motivate joining forces. This is achieved through bottom-up cooperation within the Interreg format. Relations between the European Union and Russia have remained strained since the latter’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. On a press conference mainly addressing responses to the COVID-crisis within the Interreg-programs, Jean-Pierre Halkin, Head of the Unit of Macro...

What comes up to your mind when you hear Cohesion policy? Does it sound familiar at all? If not, do not worry, you’re not alone. Indeed, as reported by the 2019 Eurobarometer, it turns out that a very small part of the population of our Union is informed about such a major strategy for the development of the Regions and Cities in Europe. That’s why since April 2019 there exists a project which is trying to make a difference and show us why Cohesion Policy is crucial to our everyday life...

While the corona pandemic still sweeps the continent, Euronews staff and reporters explain why we need borderless news in volatile times. “You need to address the domestic audience, but always with a European perspective,” said EU-correspondent Elena Cavallone. Along with Political Editor Darren McCaffrey and Media Officer Jorge Liboreiro, the Brussels-based reporter Cavallone spent Wednesday morning outlining Euronews’ unique brand of pan-European journalism. Paying rapt attention were the...

On October 14th a workshop called “Before and after the coronavirus - solidarity in action with 30 years of Interreg” took place at the EU Regions Week. Interreg is a long-standing programme of the European Union which aims to support cooperation across borders at a national and regional level . Although many national borders were closed as a response to coronavirus, neighboring connections are vital for day-to-day life within the European Union. In an interactive workshop with videos and...

Two years after Antonio and Bartosz’s tragic passing in Strasbourg, a prize in their name was awarded - for the second year - to two of Europe’s most promising young journalists. Just like the host of the event Daniel Mouque said, and so agreed European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms Elisa Ferreira - who was present on stage, the Megalizzi – Niedzielski award ceremony had begotten mixed feelings. On one hand, the event held in Brussels’ Square last Tuesday was supposed to be an enjoable...

Inspiring, enlightening, rewarding. These are the terms used by the young participants of the Citizens’ Dialogue to describe the session, which occurred on 12th October 2020, during the 18th edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities. It was an inter-generational dialogue that gave the chance to young participants to debate with Elisa Ferreira, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, about how EU policies affect the young generation. The discussion, built in the form of a...