OPEN DAYS: the European Week of Regions and Cities is an occasion to proudly show Europe's success stories Michael Schneider, President of the EPP/CoR Group, underlined in his address to the thousands of participants gathered for the Opening Session in Brussels today.
"While Europe has been in a crisis response mode for many years, the OPEN DAYS are an important occasion to remind us about the every-day responsibilities that EU regions and cities carry and a possibility to proudly demonstrate what has been achieved"
Debating with EU Commissioner for Regional Policy Corina Creƫu, Research Commissioner Carlos Moedas and CoR President, Markku Markkula, President Schneider referred specifically to the success stories that have been achieved thanks to the use of EU Cohesion funds.
"Cohesion funds are essential for Europe's growth and success. One wouldn't like to imagine Europe without it. But we need to look into the future. That's why the CoR has launched the research and reflexion project on the Future of Cohesion Policy, with which it intends to have a vision on the future of the Cohesion policy after 2020, stepping into the debate at an early stage. Further simplification in the management of EU-funded projects is a necessity as well limiting the growth of administrative burdens".
Commissioner Moedas used the occasion to call on Europe's regions and cities to be "the drivers of change" and to "embrace innovation". In order to this, he announced two new initiatives: the seal of excellence for projects which are ineligible for EU funding, but which have great potential and the knowledge exchange platform.
The opening session of the 13th edition of the OPEN DAYS has marked the beginning of a week of more than 100 events on regional and urban development. The session addressed challenges and opportunities related to the EU cohesion policy 2014-2020 and its move towards smart regional specialisation strategies and "smart implementation" of the policy. Links between EU cohesion policy and EU research and innovation policy were discussed, as well as the EU’s principle investment tool which will make available up to EUR 351,8 billion to invest in Europe’s regions and cities and the current strive towards simplification.
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