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OPEN DAYS 2010: "Objective 2020: Competitiveness, cooperation and cohesion for all regions"

The 8th OPEN DAYS – European Week of Regions and Cities will be held in Brussels between 4 and 7 October 2010. Together with the EU institutions, more than 200 regions and cites will contribute to a programme of 100 seminars, workshops, debates, exhibitions and networking opportunities for around 6,000 participants.

The OPEN DAYS brings together political representatives, decision-makers, experts and practitioners of regional policy as well as stakeholders from business, banking, civil society organisations, academia and EU institutions to discuss common challenges for European regions and cities and debate possible solutions. It provides a platform for capacity-building to those involved in implementing EU cohesion policy and in managing its financial instruments. Furthermore, the event aims at facilitating co-operation and networking among regions and cities on good practice in regional development, and encourages debate on the European cohesion policy of tomorrow in a wider context involving recent research as well as views from third countries and international organisations.

In 2010, the OPEN DAYS will concentrate on three key themes: competitiveness, co-operation and cohesion. Regions and cities will play a major role in the discussions on "EU2020" agenda, on the budget review, and on the future of EU cohesion policy post-2013. The OPEN DAYS are an ideal framework for them to showcase good practice in the field of strengthening regional competitiveness, territorial co-operation and social and economic cohesion, to share experiences with others and to impact on the political debates among EU institutions and Member States.

Would you like to become an event partner?

If you would like to contribute to the OPEN DAYS 2010 programme and become an event partner, please find below more information on how to apply:
Information Pack for potential event partners
Application Form for regional partnership
Application Form for partnership in the Meeting Place
Application Form for Local Events (independent partners)
Local Events:  Europe in my Region/City – good practice examples
Presentation of the Kick Off meeting organised on 11 December 2009

Deadline for applications for Regional Partnerships is 22 February 2010. Applications for Regional Partnerships should be sent by post (or be delivered) to the Committee of the Regions, OPEN DAYS, Rue Belliard 101, B-1040 Brussels.

Regions and cities: How to participate? 

Regions and cities can apply for partnership at the OPEN DAYS, by becoming members in a Regional Partnership. Regional Partnerships consist of five to twelve European regions or cities from at least four different countries, grouped around a shared theme. For more information on how to apply and under which conditions, please see the Information Pack for potential event partners .

If your region or city fills the OPEN DAYS partnership requirements, but you do not yet have the necessary partners to form a Regional Partnership, you can contact opendays@cor.europa.eu to publish your partner search here.

Regions looking for partners:
Picardie, France (FR)
South-East Hungary (HU)
Flanders (BE)
Podlaskie (PL)
Swietokrzyskie Voivodship (PL)

How to showcase Structural Funds co-financed projects

For OPEN DAYS 2010, regional partnerships have been asked to provide at least one project co-financed by the Structural Funds. The project description form found here should be completed. Projects can be showcased in various ways.

Workshop presentation
The project promoter or representative from the city/region where the project has taken place could be given some time in the workshop(s) organised by the regional partnership to briefly present the project. The venue where the workshop takes place could also be used to exhibit the project, if space permits, through a stand or video.

Registration tent:
As with OPEN DAYS 2009, a registration tent will be set up in order to hand out the badges to the Open Days participants (more than 6000 last year). The tent as well as the two buildings where DG REGIO is located will have an exhibition area where regions can show the results of their work with Structural Funds. This can be done either through a photo exhibition, stand, video or multimedia presentation. The deadline for applications is 22 February 2010. By then we would ask you to send us a short description of what you have in mind. Detailed planning will be adapted to your proposal and will start in March.

Please contact Ms Melanie Kupper (Melanie.Kupper@ec.europa.eu) for more information.

Open Days Stage:
As last year, the Open Days Stage will be set up in front of the main entrance of the Berlaymont. Regions who would like present their best practises through music, dance performaces and theater can send their application until 22 February 2010. As for the exhibition proposals, please send us your draft proposal in order to help us to start with the planning.

The performances of Open Days Stage were one of the highlights of the 2009 edition OPEN DAYS. For a look back, please go to "OPEN DAYS 2009 Stories"

Please contact Ms Melanie Kupper (Melanie.Kupper@ec.europa.eu) for more information.

Meeting Place in the Committee of the Regions
Open to all the OPEN DAYS 2010 accredited participants, the Meeting Place will provide facilities for thematic exhibitions, networking opportunities and exchange among representatives from regions, cities and associations and from the private and financial sector. There will be a large exhibition area where Meeting Place partners (both local/regional authorities and businesses) will showcase projects, demonstrate best practice, present public-private partnerships along the themes of regional green economy, sustainable green solutions and territorial cooperation. If the Structural Funds co-financed project falls under one of the two themes of the Meeting Place, then it can be showcased there.

Please contact Ms Judith Sorensen (Judith.Sorensen@cor.europa.eu) for more information regarding the Meeting Place.