OPEN DAYS 2008 - European Week of Regions and Cities
© Europa
- from: 06.10.2008
- to: 09.10.2008
- In: Brussels
OPEN DAYS - a major annual event in EU regional policy - is a communication platform and a meeting forum where local and regional authorities, the private sector and civil society can debate the development of regional, communication and decentralisation policies in Europe.
Co-hosted by the Committee of the Regions and the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional Policy, the sixth OPEN DAYS takes place from 6-9 October 2008 in Brussels. The programme for the 5,000 expected participants includes 145 seminars and workshops, as well as many other events providing an opportunity for dialogue, notably with business representatives in the Investors' Café. Throughout October some 230 local events will be organised all over Europe in our cities and regions. These local events will be a means of initiating reflection and debate and raising local awareness of EU matters, thus making Europe more accessible and closer to its citizens.
The working sessions will be grouped into four areas:
- supporting regional research and innovation policy;
- sustainable regional development: responses to climate change;
- interregional cooperation;
- the future of the cohesion policy.
Among the high-level speakers, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, European Commissioner for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner, and Committee of the Regions President Luc Van den Brande, will address the opening session. The French Prime Minister, François Fillon, is also expected to speak on behalf of the French Presidency. At the closing session, the French Secretary of State for European Affairs, Jean-Pierre Jouyet, will share the platform with EU institution representatives to draw the conclusions from the debates.
Watch the address of Michel Barnier
- Updated: 23.12.2008
