About: European Regional Development Fund
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networX. Inspiring Rural Europe
networX was the largest gathering or rural development stakeholders in the current EU programming period. Over 400 participants from the EU and beyond gathered in Brussels for two days celebrating the results of the past ten years of rural networking...
EU regions defend cohesion policy as a driving force for innovation
The EU should strengthen regional investment in innovation through cohesion policy to compete with the US and China, regional leaders said during the European Innovation Summit in Brussels this week.
‘It’s been an eye opening experience’, Luisa says after travelling around Europe for a month
Louisa (26, Germany) is a pedagogue, passionate about music and environment, whose goal is to raise awareness on the need for sustainability on the music festival scene. For a month, she has been one of the travellers of the Road Trip Project financed by the European Commission.
‘I have a new look on life’, Louis says after travelling around Europe for a month
Louis (21, Belgium) works as an educator for people with mental and physical disabilities during the day and writes rap music the night. For a month, he has been one of the travellers for a Road Trip Project financed by the European Commission.
EU-funded eco market becomes symbol of circular economy in Brussels
L’Abattoir, one of the biggest urban markets in Europe, built in an old slaughterhouse, could well be seen as a symbol of circular economy as it has become a source of income for the poor while promoting sustainable farming on its rooftop.
Culture Zone in Katowice: Welcome world, farewell locals?
Over the past decade, Katowice – capital of Poland’s Silesia region – has transformed from a coal and steel city into a booming centre of business and culture. Its Culture Zone hosts major European and international music, cultural and business events and boasts unique architectural pearls.
Future EU regional policy – less funding for East Germany?
The EU budget for 2020 onward is not yet fixed but the German federal states already fear cuts in the funding for promotion of local projects. East Germany is especially concerned - a lot is at stake because many regions benefit greatly from EU subsidies. EURACTIV Germany reports.
EU regions need to specialise for competitiveness, policymakers say
Every European region needs to explore and exploit its competitive strengths in order to survive economically and push Europe back towards growth, EU policymakers say.
Regions reject linking EU funds to budget rules
Local government leaders have spoken out against plans by the European Commission to suspend the payment of EU funds to countries that fail to rein in their national budget deficits and keep a lid on public debt levels. They claim that it is unfair to punish regions for decisions taken at national level.
EU-backed project lights up energy savings in England
Looking for ways to reduce the amount of energy it uses for lighting streets and public spaces, the town of St Helens in North-West England decided to work with partners in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands. This partnership provided the basis for a five-year project called BLISS, which is being supported by the EU.
Budapest Mayor: Cutting regional funds could harm EU social equality
Any future cuts in EU regional funds could damage the ability of local and regional bodies to balance economic development with vital social and environmental changes, according to outgoing Budapest Mayor Gabor Demszky.
Cutting EU funds could harm growth, says Budapest mayor
Future cuts in EU regional funds could damage the ability of local and regional bodies to balance economic development with vital social and environmental changes, outgoing Budapest Mayor Gabor Demszky told EURACTIV in an interview.
Commissioners urge Barroso to streamline EU funds
In a letter seen by EURACTIV, four EU commissioners call on their president, José Manuel Barroso, to bring key EU funds under the same umbrella from 2014, in order to cut out overlap and ensure better strategic spending.
Make EU cross-border programmes more specific, says report
A recent European Commission report pinpoints a number of weaknesses in one of the European regional funding programmes and calls for priorities to be more specific in future. EURACTIV France reports.
Berlin’s ‘creative boom’ finds backing from EU
Although Germany's capital is short on big businesses, small enterprises are abundant, with creative industries in particular blossoming faster than in other cities. In Berlin, this creative boom is aided by a project which helps SMEs to deal with the bureaucratic procedure of obtaining EU regional funds. EURACTIV Germany reports.
Mayor urges local commitment to ‘Europe 2020’ plan
Local leaders must be given the freedom to create tailor-made solutions for making the 'Europe 2020' growth strategy work, but must likewise take more responsibility for doing so, Lodewijk Asscher, acting Mayor of Amsterdam, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Amsterdam mayor: Cities can play their part in Europe 2020 plan
Local leaders must be given the freedom to create tailor-made solutions for making the 'Europe 2020' growth strategy work, but must likewise take more responsibility for this task, Lodewijk Asscher, acting Mayor of Amsterdam, told EURACTIV in an interview.
Experts: Regional policy ‘can’t do everything’
A report evaluating European regional policy from 2000-2006 paints a generally positive picture, but experts said errors had been made and urged EU lawmakers to be realistic about what regional funds can and cannot achieve in future.