European Union News - Regional Policy

The European Commission has presented a Proposal of Decision in order to designate 2012 as European Year for Active Ageing. The initiative aims to help create better job opportunities and working conditions for the growing numbers of older people in Europe, help them take an active role in society and encourage healthy ageing.

The EC has extended until the end of 2010 the liquidity support scheme for banks in Slovenia.

Directorate-General for Regional Policy has launched a tender to establish an expert evaluation network delivering policy analysis in the European Union.

The European Commission approved in August 2010 an aid scheme that allows to grant compensation for the damage caused in Poland by the floods of May and June 2010. The measure is in line with EU state aid rules and is available only to cover the material damages effectively caused.

Compiled by the European Commission, the aim of the 'World and European Sustainable Cities' report is to encourage a shift towards a culture of economic, social and environmental sustainability.The publication examines how continuous urbanisation can be reconciled with sustainable and inclusive growth.

The Commission has welcomed the Municipality of Lloret de Vistalegre on the island of Majorca as the 5.000th authority to sign up for the Internal Market Information (IMI) system. The system is currently being used for administrative cooperation in the context of the recognition of professional qualifications and the provision of cross-border services under the Services Directive, providing service for those modules to 870 and more than 4.800 authorities respectively. 400 authorities and IMI coordinators have access to the system for both legislative areas.

The Directorate-General for Regional Policy has launched a tender to study the relevance and the effectiveness of ERDF and Cohesion Fund support to regions with specific geographical features.

The European Union has published in the EU Official Journal of 24 July 2010 a notice addressed to intermediaries aiming to provide micro-credits or guarantees supporting micro-credits, about the implementation of the Guarantee Action under the European Progress Microfinance Facility. Among the 100 M€ channelled through Progress Facility, 25 M€ will be allocated to this Action Guarantee.

In order to support the testing phase for the reference framework for sustainable cities, the Commission intends to contract technical assistance to organize the services and procedures in this phase, which will involve between 50 and 70 selected cities. Interested parties may submit their proposals to the Commission until September 15.

Speaking at the European Commission's two-day conference on the future of the CAP post-2013, President of the Committee of the Regions, Mercedes Bresso, highlighted the need for territorial impact assessment for all parts of future CAP. These assessments should not only address rural development issues, but also those related to agricultural production.

The President of the Committee of the Regions, Mercedes Bresso, has called on all regional and national governments to form a "coalition" with the CoR to defend the subsidiarity principle. This proposal comes after the Committee opinion about the possible breach of  subsidiarity principle which could arise from the Commission's proposal to impose sanctions on countries with excessive deficits.

The new Calls for Proposals on ESPON Projects for potential beneficiaries will be presented during an event which will take place in Brussels on 8th September 2010.