The biggest event for cities and regions in Europe is getting closer. The preliminary programme for Open Days 2010 can now be downloaded, and registration is available in the event website.

The OPEN DAYS 2010 are organised jointly by DG REGIO and the Committee of Regions. They will feature more than 100 conferences and seminars in Brussels as well as 260 local events. Over 6,000 participants are expected to attend, including local, regional and national representatives as well as EU officials, academia and media. Last year, Open Days focused on climate change, cohesion, competitiveness and innovation. This one will be the eighth edition of the biggest event for regions and cities in Europe.

The preliminary programme can be downloaded at the website of Open Days. It consists of 130 seminars and workshops provided for by the regional partnerships, the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions and banks, companies and associations. Again, the 'OPEN DAYS University' will feature 14 academic sessions including the results of a 'young researchers' competition.

Online registration to these seminars is open as of 5 July. This eight edition, which will take place between 4th and 7th October 2010 in Brussels, is entitled "Europe 2020: Competitiveness, co-operation and cohesion for all regions".

Moreover, Open Days has been awarded the 'Best Event 2009' in the category of "Associations and Institutional Meetings" at the annual awards ceremony on 15 March organised during Brussels Meetings Week, a Europe-wide conference of specialists of the meeting industry.