EU zoekt de ondernemende regio's van 2014 (en) - Montesquieu Instituut

The deadline for submission of applications for the 2014 edition of the European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) label competition is 25 October 2012. The call was launched by the Committee of the Regions on 25 June on the occasion of its meeting of the Commission for Economic and Social Policy (ECOS). The label rewards EU regions with outstanding entrepreneurial visions, irrespective of their size, wealth and legal status.

The regions with the most convincing and forward-thinking strategy will be granted the label "Entrepreneurial Region of the Year". The aim is to create dynamic, green and innovative regions throughout Europe, to encourage entrepreneurship, to implement the "Small Business Act for Europe" (SBA) and to contribute to the Europe 2020 strategy at regional and local level.

Since the first edition in 2009, the label has been awarded to nine regions: Land Brandenburg (Germany), County Kerry (Ireland) and Murcia (Spain) for 2011; Catalonia (Spain), Helsinki-Uusimaa (Finland) and Trnava Self-Governing Region (Slovak Republic) for 2012; Nord-Pas de Calais (France), Southern Denmark and Styria (Austria) for 2013.

To apply, regional authorities are required to submit a vision plan, an action plan including implementation measures and proposed communication activities. They should demonstrate that the EER strategy is backed by a political commitment, for instance by the regional assembly, the regional government or other authorised bodies. Regions should demonstrate clearly which institutions and actors will be responsible for implementing the these measures.

Applications will be evaluated by the members of the EER Jury, composed of CoR members, as well as representatives of the EU institutions and socio-economic partners. Every year, a maximum of three regions will be awarded the EER label.

Check the application form as well as further information.