OPEN DAYS Highlights Innovation and Baltic Sea Strategy
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Baltic Sea Strategy Centre Stage
Promoting better cooperation on issues which touch regions across Europe is central not just to OPEN DAYS but also in EU Cohesion Policy.
Discussions on the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region were at the heart of the OPEN DAYS programme, most notably with a Baltic Sea Press Panel.
Several high-profile politicians from Baltic region including the Swedish and Finnish Ministers for European Affairs, Cecilia Malmström and Astrid Thors, were on hand.
Adopted by the European Commission in June, the Strategy - the first of its kind - sets out to reduce pollution and boost prosperity in the Baltic Sea region. One of the main priorities of the Swedish EU presidency, it presents a new way of working together to enable all the countries involved, regional and local authorities, pan-Baltic organisations, financing institutions and NGOs to carry out actions focused on shared ambitions. It is an approach which is being closely followed in other parts of Europe such the Danube. Projects under the Strategy will contribute to improving the environment, upgrading transport and energy networks, promoting innovation in small and medium-sized businesses, and improving emergency response at sea and on land.
OPEN DAYS University - Practitioners Joined With Academic Community
With interest from the academic world in the OPEN DAYS growing year-on-year, one significant development for 2009 has been the introduction of the 'OPEN DAYS University'. Designed to get the academic community more involved, this included a series of lectures and moderated panels with over 50 renowned academics. The Regional Studies Association has been actively involved in the organisation of the OPEN DAYS University sessions, it offered a valuable opportunity to debate the challenges facing European regions.
Creativity and Innovation At Heart Europe
2009 is the European Year of Creativity and Innovation and, as one of the main four themes of the OPEN DAYS, 'Innovation in Europe's regions and cities' is once again centre of the 2009 agenda. 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 how to maximise EU funding available will be at the forefront of the OPEN DAYS discussions.
A series of seminars and events demonstrated hands-on the benefits of working in partnership with hundreds of regions from across the EU, all keen to share ideas and chart new and innovative ways of harnessing European investment. And it is a sizeable investment – of the €347 billion worth of funds allocated to EU Cohesion Policy, some €86 billion of that is specifically targeted on innovation-related activities.
Commission's Berlaymont HQ Alive With Sound Of Music!
As well as the host of seminars and workshops on offer during the OPEN DAYS, a first-class entertainment line-up was presented. A variety of musical performances from groups across Europe which have been supported by EU funds, took to the stage in front of the European Commission HQ at the Berlaymont building over the course of the four days.
"Orquestra Geracao", a youth orchestra from Lisbon, Portugal provided the musical backdrop, The Luton Carnival of Arts (UK) took to the stage on to highlight the diversity and creativity of Carnival Arts through a performance which will include steel pan music and sounds of afro-Brazilian samba with samba drummers from Germany, Denmark and the UK. This was followed by more music from a high school band "The Botet's Band' from Manises, Valencia in Spain - a musical group which grown out of a "music for all" initiative and now performs internationally.
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