ESPON at the European Week of Regions and Cities 2016


Venue

Brussels, Belgium

9 October 2016 to 12 October 2016


1120 Brussels
Belgium
Email: [email protected]
Web: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/regions-and-cities/2016/register.cfm

logo_ewrc_2016_white_bgThe European Week of Regions and Cities (OPEN DAYS) is an annual four-day event during which cities and regions showcase their capacity to create growth and jobs, implement European Union cohesion policy, and prove the importance of the local and regional level for good European governance.

It takes place between 10 and 13 October 2016. 

ESPON will contribute with a joint workshop and speeches in cooperation with other EU Institutions and Programmes.

(1) Workshop "Pathways to a circular economy in cities and regions"

When12 October 2016, 09h00 - 11h15

Venue: Committee of the Regions, Jacques Delors, Atrium 5, Brussels

Workshop code: 12A61. Organisers: ESPON, INTERACT, INTERREG EUROPE, URBACT III

The transition to a circular economy is a priority of the European agenda. Policymakers seek to encourage the shift from traditional linear ’take-make-consume-throw away’ economic patterns to a more sustainable closed-loop system of production, distribution and consumption, and at the same time to develop the green economy in their cities and regions.

ESPON, INTERACT, Interreg Europe and URBACT have joined forces to explore and share with participants in an interactive session:

  • The European diversity of challenges and potential for moving to a circular economy
  • The practical meaning of circular economy for cities and regions
  • Good practices in circular economy approaches.

(2) Speech at the Workshop "Spatial Data Requirements for Effective Spatial Policy"

When: 13 October 2016, 09h00 – 10h45

Venue: European Commission, Charlemagne, Room Jenkins, Brussels

Workshop code: UNIV13C112. Organiser: EWRC University

Recent years have seen an increasing policy emphasis on the local dimensions of economic growth and competitiveness. Fostering the development of regional and urban economies is also an effective means of securing national economic objectives, such as an improved rate of national growth, productivity advance and trade performance. To devise effective ’evidence-based’ policies requires a ‘fit-for-purpose’ database. While national level data are relatively rich in range and detail, the economic data available for sub-national areas remain limited in scope and range. This session will consider the state of regional and city data, and the major information gaps that exist.

(3) Speech at the Workshop "Urban Impact Assessments - A tool for better law making"

When: 13 October 2016, 09h000 – 10h45

Venue: Committee of the Regions, Jacques Delors, Room 53, Brussels

Workshop code: URB13C119. Organiser: Committee of the Regions - COTER Commission

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) is engaged actively in promoting and carrying our territorial and urban impact assessments with an aim of having a better and more efficient EU legislation, that takes into account the needs and unique characteristics of EU’s regions and cities. As the large majority of the EU population lives in cities, it is important that the impacts of EU legislation on urban areas are carefully assessed.

In November 2015, the CoR, in cooperation with the European Commission’s DG REGIO, Eurocities, CEMR and ESPON carried out a pilot Urban Impact Assessment (UIA) of the "Energy performance of building" Directive (2010/31/EU) in view of its ongoing evaluation and a possible revision. The assessment gathered energy efficiency experts from cities administrations, representing different types and sizes of European Union’s cities. This assessment detected both positive and negative asymmetric territorial impacts at the urban level, even within the same member states proving that there is a concrete need to evaluate EU legislation on a sub national level.

The workshop will present the findings of our pilot studies and we will discuss the plans for the future of the CoR, the European Commission and ESPON.

Registration

Registration is open until 30 September 2016 at 17h00 (extended deadline) via the official website of the EWRC

Useful links and more information

Official website of the EWRC.

Contact Piera PETRUZZI, e-mail: [email protected]