Brussels, 13/09/2005 (Agence Europe) - At the Open Days 2005 European Week of Regions and Cities in Brussels on 10-13 October organised by the European Commission's Directorate General for Regional Policy and the Committee of the Regions (CoR), the European Parliament and 106 European cities and regions from 26 countries will host 66 workshops and seminars focussing on regional development issues and cooperation. The European Week of Cities and Regions events are being supported by the British Presidency of the Council of the EU and some 2000 people are expected to attend. The aim of the Open Days is to help Member States and regions prepare for the new generation of EU regional programmes and instruments under the Structural Funds 2007-2013, explained European Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hubner and CoR President Peter Straub on Friday.
The opening event of the European Week of Regions and Cities, on 10 October, will focus on the strategic guidelines and Financial Perspectives for regional policy for 2007-2013. The keynote address will be made by the President of the European Commission, Jose Manuel Barroso, with other main speakers including the President of the European Parliament, Josep Borrell, the UK Minister of State for Industry and the Regions, Alun Michael on behalf of the British Presidency, and Danuta Hubner and Peter Straub. The latter commented: 'We are delighted that the Commission President has confirmed his participation in the opening session of the European Week of Regions and Cities. It demonstrates not only his commitment to the partnership for regional growth and jobs, but also his support for strong cooperation between the Commission and the Committee of the Regions as the meeting place of regional and local authorities in Europe'.
The Committee of the Regions' plenary session will take place on 12 October with a debate on the theme of regions and cities as key players of regional policy and the Lisbon Strategy. Speakers include Danuta Hubner, Peter Straub, Gerardo Galeote Quecedo, the President of the European Parliament's Regional Development Committee, and UK Deputy Prime Minister John Prescott.
The closing session of the European Week of Regions and Cities on 13 October will focus on regional policy as an effective tool for delivering the Lisbon and Gothenburg goals. One of the speakers will be the President of the European Investment Bank, Philippe Maystadt, joined by Hubner and Straub.