These proceedings are a compendium of reports of most of the 108 workshops held in Brussels during the OPEN DAYS 2012 – 10th European Week of Regions and Cities (8 - 11 October 2012). Jointly organised by the European Committee of the Regions and the European Commission’s Regional and Urban Policy DG, the event brought together 219 regions and cities from all over Europe, and more than 6.000 participants and 600 speakers. Presentations, speeches and videos can be found on the OPEN DAYS website: www.opendays.europa.eu European Week of Regions and Cities - Brussels of Regions and Cities Week European The OPEN DAYS is the annual platform of good practice showcasing results and projects from current ‘convergence’, ‘regional competitiveness and employment’ and ‘territorial cooperation’ programmes. The Brussels-based four-day event is a unique annual opportunity for all stakeholders to stir debates about good local, regional and cross-border governance and management of EU funding. This exchange between practitioners is mixed with input from academia and the participation of third countries, which are interested to hear and learn from European regions’ experiences in regional policy, as well as presenting their own ones. OPEN DAYS 2012 Proceedings 8 - 11 October 2012 - Proceedings Published in December 2012 Edited by the Committee of the Regions and DG Regional Policy of the European Union © European Union, 2012 Investing in Europe’s future: Regions and cities delivering smart, sustainable and inclusive growth Table of contents Organisers and partners 3 Opening session 13 Workshops Smart and green growth for all 19 Territorial cooperation: An asset for Europe 71 Delivering results 109 Erasmus for local and regional elected representatives 141 Exhibitions 143 Offi cial reception 147 Local events 151 Evaluation 155 Media strategy and coverage analysis 159 OPEN DAYS 2013 163 2 OPEN DAYS 2012 - European Week of Regions and Cities - Proceedings Organisers and partners OPEN DAYS DAYS 2012 2009 - European– European Week Week of Regions of Regions and Cities and -Cities Proceedings 3 Editorial Since it began in 2003, the OPEN DAYS has been growing not only in numbers but in reputation. This year´s evaluation by attendees shows again that the quality and content of the event continues to rise: between 91 and 100% of workshops were assessed to be either ‘excellent’ or ‘good’. If only Europe’s growth in the near future could be equally steady and healthy! This year´s edition confi rmed that the event has established itself as the major annual platform to share experience and good practice in regional policy worldwide. The OPEN DAYS 2012 was of particular importance for us – not only because we celebrated its 10th anniversary. We also live in a context of challenges times. We are in the middle of the negotiations on the next EU multi-annual fi nancial framework for 2014-2020 and subsequently, completing the negotiations on regional policy reform proposals. I believe that Europe’s regions and cities succeeded in sending out a strong message to Member States and to Europe’s legislators: that they can make a real diff erence, and that European regional policy is one of the main instruments of the Union to support investment to exit the crisis and restore sustainable growth. This message was as clear through the 43 workshops, organised under the “Smart and green growth for all” topic as it was during the 32 workshops dealing with “Territorial cooperation: an asset for Europe”. These emphasised the importance of innovation, modernisation and cooperation beyond national borders for enhancing territorial cohesion, the Single Market and the wellbeing of Europe’s citizens. And discussions held under the “Delivering results” theme helped to showcase innovative solutions and workable practices and re-focus regional policy stakeholders on the importance of even better performance for 2014-2020. One of the most important assets of OPEN DAYS is the ability to attract new audiences every year. This is certainly due to the variety of speakers and stakeholders the event brings together, and new elements which are introduced into the programme. In this respect, I found that the presentation of the RegioStars Awards, done for the fi rst time during OPEN DAYS, was one of the most inspiring moments of the event. I also took great pleasure in awarding their prizes to winners of the photo competition on regional policy that we organised, again for the fi rst time. I was once more delighted to see the involvement of the academic sector through the OPEN DAYS University, and I was pleased to see other members of the Commission, such as Vice-President Almunia or Commissioner Oettinger, taking part in the event. This is an excellent way to demonstrate the synergies between our policies, which will inevitably become more important in the years ahead. Let me use this opportunity to thank you for your commitment in participating in OPEN DAYS. It is primarily to you and the organisers that the event owes the success. I hope that it will go on in this way and I am very much looking forward to meeting you at OPEN DAYS 2013! Johannes Hahn European Commissioner for Regional Policy 4 OPEN DAYS 2012 - European Week of Regions and Cities - Proceedings Editorial In October 2012, the European Week of Regions and Cities-OPEN DAYS celebrated its 10th anniversary. The OPEN DAYS has become a landmark event on the EU agenda, placing regional policy at the heart of political and expert debates alike, whilst highlighting the importance of the role of local and regional authorities in delivering EU policy. About 6 400 attendees, including a record number of over 450 elected politicians, were actively involved in more than 100 workshops, debates and seminars between 8 and 11 October. For the fi rst time, the opening session in the European Parliament was addressed by the President of the European Council alongside the EP President, the President of the European Commission and a representative of the Cyprus Presidency of the Council of the EU. This confi rms a shared perception of cohesion policy as the key tool to contribute to Europe’s economic recovery and to achieve smart, sustainable and inclusive growth as laid down in the Europe 2020 strategy. It is at the same time a symbol of the commitment and common understanding that in time of crisis, we need Europe more than ever. In this sense, the OPEN DAYS 2012 backed up the need for a suffi cient EU budget for the 2014-2020 period, taking on board the needs and ideas of those primarily responsible to deliver: the regional and local authorities. As part of this year’s novelties in the programme, I would like to highlight the integration of the pilot project ‘Erasmus for local and regional elected representatives’, consisting of a group of 100 young politicians from several EU countries. I particularly welcome the success of the seminar series on ‘community-led local development’ conducted by the European Commission together with the Committee of the Regions, which has always promoted a decentralised and integrated approach to managing EU funds. Due to the fi rst ever ‘European Cooperation Day’, which was coupled with the local roll-out of the OPEN DAYS under the slogan ‘Europe in my region/city’, more than 350 local events took place, representing a record high. These events, which were centred on topics linked to EU cohesion policy, Europe 2020 and cross-border cooperation, were organised between September and November, ‘bringing Europe home’ to an estimated audience of some 30-40 000 citizens. Looking at the way ahead, the 11th European Week of Regions and Cities, due to take place on 7-10 October 2013, will see regions and cities fi nalising their preparations for cohesion policy (and rural development and fi sheries) programmes for the 2014-2020 period. For the EU institutions, this will present an opportunity to listen to real needs on the ground. For Europe’s regions and cities, it is the occasion to share know-how and solutions and seek guidance on outstanding issues. During the European Year of Citizens in 2013, OPEN DAYS will provide an excellent environment to showcase good practice and the fact that Europe matters. I would like to thank all partners, speakers and participants for their valuable contribution to the success of the event and hope to welcome you again in 2013! Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso President of the Committee of the Regions OPEN DAYS 2012 - European Week of Regions and Cities - Proceedings 5 Partner regions and cities 6 OPEN DAYS 2012 - European Week of Regions and Cities - Proceedings Partner regions and cities OPEN DAYS 2012 - European Week of Regions and Cities - Proceedings 7 Partner regions and cities www.opendays.europa.eu 8 OPEN DAYS 2012 - European Week of Regions and Cities - Proceedings Partner regions and cities OPEN DAYS 2012 - European Week of Regions and Cities - Proceedings 9 Regional partnerships 10 OPEN DAYS 2012 - European Week of Regions and Cities - Proceedings Regional partnerships Adriatic-Ionian Macroregion Healthy Ageing: acting for innovation at regional and local level Abruzzo (IT), Basilicata (IT), Dubrovnik - Neretva Region (HR), Emilia- Doubs (FR), Limousin (FR), Lodzkie Voivodeship (PL), Saxony (DE), Region of Romagna (IT), Canton of Herzegovina-Neretva (BA), Marche (IT), Molise (IT), Southern Denmark (DK), City of Tampere (FI) Districts of Nišava, Toplica and Pirot (RS), Puglia (IT), Sicily (IT), Republic of Slovenia (SI), Republika Srpska (BA), Sumadija-Pomoravlje Districts (RS) Innovative Regions