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The ‘Cross-border pilot projects to boost innovation in the health system through data sharing’ workshop was held on Wednesday 12th October as a part of the 20th European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels, Belgium. The workshop presented the results of three Interreg V-A Italy-Slovenia pilot projects funded by the EU Cohesion Policy programme 2014-2020. They were aimed at improving interregional collaboration, data-sharing, and efficacy in treatments in the health system through a digital...

If not now, when? The Erasmus+ Programme offers exclusive travel possibilities dedicated not only to students but also to other age groups. The three key actions that will be mentioned help to identify opportunities that could be more interesting for potential participants, from either educational institutions or organisations. The key actions The first key action focuses on the learning mobility of individuals. It includes exchanges for students, teachers, staff from educational institutions...

Liveable town, streets filled with children and games for all ages. The URBACT project of the European Union shows that countries and cities can gain inspiration and implement ideas from good practices present in other contexts. A small city in the northwest of Ireland is a great example of that. The Irish city of Sligo, despite its less than 20.000 inhabitants, is a popular destination for tourists. Its attractivity is due to the great cultural opportunities and the connection to the famous...

The European Union tried to address the inequalities in Ukraine with its Cohesion Policy since 2014. With Putin’s war and its consequences, the challenges get even harder. There is yet at least one positive effect to be hopeful about. One thing was clear from the start. “It’s impossible to predict what the future in this war looks like”, said Davide Luca, Associate Professor University of Cambridge, considering the new attacks on Kiew from the Russian military only two days before. On Wednesday...

What's the meaning of cohesion? How the EU is implementing this concept on the ground? How do these institutions and bodies work? All these questions and more were addressed by the Youth4Regions programme for aspiring journalists, which is being held in Brussels (Belgium) from October 8th to 14th. This culturally rich experience gathers young professionals coming from more than 20 countries from the EU and beyond. Workshops and intensive courses are being held, as well as networking sessions in...

In a workshop held during the European Week of Regions and Cities, experts and politicians talked about the achievements and challenges of cohesion funds. The European Union has no competence in dealing with the administrative systems of member states, but there are tools with which they can improve the chance that funds will reach the regions where they are most needed. After the welcome session and the political opening of the EU Regions Week in Brussels, the first workshop on the 11th of...

As the 2022 European Year of Youth comes to an end and the 2023 European Year of Skills begins, one way to build a bridge between them is the EU’s concerted effort to include young people in Research and Innovation (R&I) policies. Anna Panagopoulou, Director for European Research Area & Innovation for the Directorate General for Research & Innovation at the European Commission, points out that integrating young scientists into R&I shapes the field’s future sustainability at an environmental...

This week has seen further escalation of conflict in Ukraine, with Russia bombing Ukrainian cities and damaging civilian infrastructure, leaving 19 people dead and 105 wounded. The bombings also had a great cost on the average Ukrainian – 301 settlements have stayed without electricity as a consequence of damage to civilian infrastructure. As normality of life is again threatened by the escalation of war, Europe must prepare for a new wave of Ukrainian refugees. But as in chaos lays opportunity...

One of the most vulnerable groups in the labour market is the youth. After the so-called corona crisis, inflation and war are looming over European economics, as unemployment among young people is increasing. What can regions and small cities do to fight against this problem? More than 71 million young people live in the EU nowadays. From all of them, 5 million are currently seeking for a job without succeeding. Meanwhile, employers try to attract them with more and more sophisticated methods...

Brussels - The EU Regions Week officially started on Monday afternoon, gathering hundreds of representatives from local and regional institutions and entities in the European Parliament’s Hemicycle. This first event was a way to reflect on regions and cities’ achievements and to prepare for upcoming challenges and crisis. The Political Opening was held after Monday morning’s Russian missile attacks in Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities, where more than 10 people died and severe damages were...