OPEN DAYS Key Issues and Themes

Updated: 10th October 2009

OPEN DAYS Key Issues and Themes

> Open Days News > Open Days Key Themes > UK Financial Progress,Cohesion Policy

Restoring growth: innovation in Europe's cities and regions

With a budget of €347 billion over the period 2007-2013, representing over a third of the EU budget, Cohesion Policy is now the largest slice in the Community budget. The Cohesion Policy programmes will invest €230 billion in projects designed to boost growth and jobs, with some €86 billion specifically targeted at innovation.

• Research and innovation activity tends to be highly concentrated. Such a concentration risks exacerbating social and economic disparities and also undermines Europe's economic performance vis-à-vis its global competitors. Across the EU, 86 regions have an innovative performance below the Union's average. Reducing this innovation deficit is, and must be, a top priority for Cohesion Policy investment.

• Given that innovation is critical to achieving and maintaining a competitive advantage in global markets, this massive investment from Cohesion Policy has the capacity to transform the economies of the whole EU, including the most disadvantaged regions.

• With innovation essential for sustainable growth, investment in science and research is a critical element for tackling the economic downturn. Creating an environment that encourages research, development and innovation is of the highest priority for European regions. Learning from good practice elsewhere in Europe and learning how to maximise EU funding available will be at the forefront of the Open Days discussions.

2. Regions and Climate Change: Europe's way to sustainable regional development

• Regions throughout Europe are increasingly confronted with the impacts of climate change, and new challenges in terms of energy provision and efficiency. These challenges will vary depending on the region. While 7% of the Union’s population live in flood-prone areas, around 9% live in areas with over 120 days a year without rain.

• The combined impacts of climate change raise serious questions in relation to quality of life for the EU's citizens, but also pose more specific sectoral challenges in some EU regions, for instance in tourism and agriculture.  Debates and discussions will examine some of these challenges and look at ways in which regions can respond.

• Taking place in the weeks before the UN Copenhagen Climate Summit, the OPEN DAYS provided a platform for regions to demonstrate the role they are playing to help to reach the ambitious EU targets.

• Well-known US economist, author and commentator Jeremy Rifkin will address the Open Days with a video message. Rifkin has written 17 books on the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, society, and the environment. Regions throughout Europe are increasingly confronted with the impacts of climate change – Rifkin is renowned for his visionary ideas on how Europe can lead the way in radically overhauling the way we use energy in our society to trigger a post-carbon "Third Industrial Revolution".

3. Territorial Cooperation: working together across borders

• Cooperation and sharing experience between regions can be a key trigger in stimulating a dynamic, forward-looking regional development process. The EU has an important role to play in brokering and supporting such partnerships.

• The Open Days provided an excellent opportunity in particular to hear first-hand about the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, adopted by the Commission in June.

• EU Cohesion Policy already has a long tradition in developing interregional, transnational, cross-border cooperation. However this is the first time that such a comprehensive strategy in Europe targeting a "macro-region" has been developed. The approach is being closely followed in other parts of Europe. If it works in the Baltic Sea Region, why not in areas such as the Alps or the Danube basin? 

• The main challenges are to diminish the pollution of the sea, conserve fish stocks in a sustainable way, reduce the risk of oil spills, limit the impacts of climate change, harness all opportunities afforded by the single market, promote entrepreneurship, improve transport and energy links and increase maritime safety and security.

• The strategy involves a many key players in the region: Member States, regions, cities, inter-governmental and non-governmental organisations, international financial institutions, the private sector, interest groups and the general public.

• The Member States will be charged with the implementation of actions, with support from the European Commission. Regional and local authorities, Inter-Governmental and non-governmental bodies will be officially involved in the decision-making process and in the implementation.

4. Achieving results, looking ahead: EU cohesion policy's evaluation and future prospects

• In October, the new European Parliament will be in place and a new European Commission will be on the brink of taking up office. Debate on the future EU budget of which Regional and Cohesion Policy is the biggest slice will be well underway.

• European Cohesion Policy programmes cover the period 2007-2013.  However, the shape of the post-2013 Cohesion Policy is already under discussion. Seminars will offer a chance to feed into reflections on the future Cohesion Policy. Would we like to see a radical shift in priorities? Open Days will offer a sounding board for participants to share their views on these issues and many more.

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