European Union News - Regional Policy

As part of the implementation of the Structural Funds, DG Regional Policy of the European Commission is holding a series of meetings with the other skateholders involved in the issue from an economic and social view.

The Ministers of Sport of the European Union unanimously agreed to design a common policy to boost the social role and values of sport and the fight against racism, violence and doping in the first Council of Ministers of Sport

The Commission has released the the results of an opinion poll looking at how citizens perceive the quality of life in 75 major European cities.  Although responses reveal wide disparities overall, transport, heath and education services generally score well, opposite to availability of jobs and housing costs, which remain as dominant concerns

A new initiative from the Committee of the Regions (CoR) will help signatories of the Covenant of Mayors turn their commitment to cut greenhouse gas emissions into a concrete reality.

The Committee of the Regions has launched a Europe-wide consultation of regions and cities on EU rules for cross-border cooperation. Organised jointly with the European Commission, the EU Council presidency "trio" and the Interact Programme, the consultation formally kicked off with a conference in Cáceres, Spain. Its results will feed into the review of the relevant EU legislation, which is scheduled for 2011.

More than 500 European mayors will commit to cut CO2 emissions by more than 20% by 2020. By signing the Covenant of Mayors, they pledge to save energy, foster renewable energy and raise awareness among their citizens. They will sign the declaration in the presence of EU Commission President José Manuel Barroso and José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, Prime Minister of Spain.

Political representatives, academics and members of the business community will debate on innovation, with emphasis on the European Innovation Plan. The conference, jointly organised between the Spanish ministry of Science and Innovation and the European Commision, will be an opportunity to exchange views on the way forward in the field of innovation.

A three day conference will take place to mark the closure of the MED-PACT programme and kick-off the successor CIUDAD (Cooperation in Urban Development and Dialogue) programme.

The investment of €123 billion through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) between 2000 and 2006 has had a clear impact in the regions. An estimated 1.4 million jobs were created during this period, 2 000 km of motorways were built and 14 million people drink better water thanks to EU supported projects.