Regions For Economic Change – Sharing Excellence

The aim of 'Regions For Economic Change' is to address core issues facing Europe by building a stronger link between the
exchange of good practices in EU networking programmes (INTERREG IV C and URBACT II) and the main body of EU cohesion funding in national and regional operational programmes. To achieve this aim, Regions For Economic Change has introduced four elements: identification of priority themes focused on the Lisbon Agenda, emphasis on a two-way bridge between thematic networking and the mainstream programmes, an enhanced joint communication eff ort and a ‘fast track’ option, where the Commission will offer its expertise to a number of networks.

This brochure has been produced as part of the Commission’s work under the third element above. It formed part of the second annual Regions For Economic Change spring conference, 25-26 February 2008, where more than 500 participants from regions throughout Europe met to discuss how European regional policy can help regions to learn from one another and translate network outputs into action through mainstream programmes. It describes the progress made in implementing Regions For Economic Change in 2007, and includes summaries of the 26 short-listed candidates for the 2008 RegioStars Awards, which were presented during the conference.

European Commission: DG Regional Policy: Regions for Economic Change: Exchanging good practice between Europe's regions http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/cooperation/interregional/ecochange/index_en.cfm

European Commission: DG Regional Policy: Regions for Economic Change: Sharing excellence, Conference proceedings, 25-26 February 2008 http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/conferences/excellence/doc/pdf/post_conf_excellence_en.pdf

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