Brussels, 24/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - Any region, department or city in the 27 member states of the EU can submit their candidacy until 31 July for competing in the 2008 European regional championship prize. The Committee of the Regions (CoR) announced that it is supporting this competition, which is organised by the Regional Review and TheParliament.com publications. The CoR explained that the competition aims to identify and demonstrate the best examples of innovation and best practices all the different regions of the EU by highlighting programmes and projects that can serve as examples to other regions. The competition consists of the following categories: champion in regional communications, culture, employment, energy, environment, innovation, intercultural dialogue, maritime, social policy and transport. The CoR affirmed that the list of selected candidates will be put to the vote, open to all CoR members, on 22 September 2008. Voting will close on 24 October and the prize will be awarded on 19 November. This ceremony will take place at the CoR centre in Brussels and will be attended by representatives from this body, the European Parliament and European Commission.
CoR explained that last year's winner of the transport category regional championship prize was the Loire region with its initiative “Destinéo - mobile regional research service in the Loire”. Info: (http: //http://www.theparliament.com ou http: //http://www.cor.europa.eu ). (G.B./trans/rh)