OPEN DAYS 2012: Europe's regions and cities: Making a difference - Montesquieu Instituut

Looking back over a decade of debates and exchanges of best practice on European cohesion policy, the 10th edition of the OPEN DAYS 2012 (8 - 11 October 2012) will be a time for positive reflection during the overall discussions on the future European cohesion policy.

By October 2012, the Committee of the Regions and the European Parliament will both have adopted their positions on the legislative proposals for cohesion policy 2014-2020. The debate will be continuing in the Council and with the Member States, driven by the overall discussion on the Multiannual Financial Framework.

With the OPEN DAYS 2012 event, over 5 000 participants from all over Europe - local, regional, national and European policy-makers and practitioners, as well as representatives from academia, the business community and the media - will again be able to raise their voice, share their views, come forward with new ideas and remain involved in the discussion.

Beyond this, the OPEN DAYS' 10th anniversary should also be the platform for a broader debate on the future of Europe and multilevel governance, showcasing the role that European cities and regions can play in times of economic crisis, affecting people throughout the EU.

OPEN DAYS 2012 - Highlights

Under the suggested headline "Europe's regions and cities: Making a difference", the OPEN DAYS 2012 will be structured around three themes:

Smart and green growth for all - How does cohesion policy contribute to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth?

Territorial cooperation: an asset for Europe - How can cooperation be used as a tool for regional development and better exploitation of regional potentials?

Delivering results - What are the main achievements of the EU cohesion policy? And how to best implement the intentions of the new regulatory framework?

Workshops and debates held during the OPEN DAYS will have to refer to one of the themes mentioned above. The event should also be an opportunity to join forces with a variety of European Commission Directorates-General to initiate a cross-disciplinary debate on topics such as community-based local development, a new feature for the European Fund for Regional Development, and the European Social Fund after 2013.