Conferencia de Ciudades del Arco Atlántico

Grundtvig course in Galicia: Promoting minoritary languages

2012-02-29T09:00:00.000+01:00

Programme:

Site visits to observe the representation of a minority language (Galician) in the areas of law, administration, health, the countryside, environment, education and culture. Lectures by professional experts in the fields. Sharing experience and ideas between the representatives of minoritized languages.

Date of the Workshop: 09/07/2012 - 13/07/2012
Workshop Organiser: Escola Oficial de Idiomas de Vigo
Contact details: Martínez Garrido, 17 36205 Vigo ES-SPAIN
Tel.: +34 986 260 210
E-mail: eoi.vigo@edu.xunta.es // http://eoidevigo.org

Grundtvig Course in France: L’eau c’est la vie, connaissons-la, protégeons-la

2012-02-22T09:00:00.000+01:00

Programme:
Water on the planet: from the spring to the sea - Water and man, economisation of the water use, pollution - Discovering the heritage: aquatic environment (biodiversity, fauna, flora) - Study of 2 acquariums: river water and sea water - The major environmental issues, concept of eco-citizenship, resources and sustainable development, ecological footprint - educational visits to the fields - exchange of experience on living in different countries - writing a convention on the respect of water.

Date of the Workshop: 01/07/2012 – 08/07/2012
Workshop Organiser: Association pour la Mise en Valeur des Rivières et pour les Initiatives Locales : AVRIL
Contact details: L’Aquascole 1, rue le Viquet 50200 Saint Pierre de Coutances
FR-FRANCE
Tel.: 0033 2 33 19 00 35

the AQUAEXCEL project invites proposals from European research groups for scientific research

2012-02-20T09:00:00.000+01:00

On a regular basis, the AQUAEXCEL project invites proposals from European research groups for scientific research that utilises the facilities of any of the participating Aquaculture Research Infrastructures. The first Call for Access was closed in September 2011 and applications are being dealt with at the moment. The 2nd Call for Access will be announced in January 2012, with deadline 16th March 2012. Please keep an eye on this page!

The AQUAEXCEL project unites major aquaculture experimental facilities with capacity to undertake experimental trials on a selection of commercially important fish aquaculture species and system types. These facilities are made available to the research community for Transnational Access (TNA) with the support of the European Union 7th Framework Programme for Research and Technological Development (Infrastructures).

The facilities available cover the entire range of production systems (recirculation, flow‐through, cage, hatchery and pond systems); environments (freshwater and marine, cold, temperate and warm water); scales (small, medium and industrial scale); fish species (salmon, trout, sea bass, sea bream, cod, common carp etc.); and fields of expertise (nutrition, physiology, health and welfare, genetics, engineering, monitoring and management technologies).
VURH-cop23

The overall objective of the AQUAEXCEL project is to promote the coordinated use and development of these top class experimental facilities and encourage problem‐based research and knowledge transfer to more effectively support the development of a sustainable European production of high quality seafood with reduced environmental impact.

Interested researchers can propose projects that involve visits of one or two people to the chosen Research Infrastructure for periods of up to 3 months. The research work and associated travel and subsistence expenses will be paid under the project.

More info: AQUAEXCEL

International Campus of Excellence Network established for marine issues

2012-02-17T09:00:00.000+01:00

The objective is clear: promotion of synergies and coordination of joint actions amongst the different Spanish marine campuses of excellence to become a reference in Europe. The Vice-chancellors and Deputy Vice-chancellors of the promoter Universities, the Spanish Institute of Oceanography (IEO) and the Higher Council of Scientific Research (CSIC) signed the protocol today to establish the International Marine Campus of Excellence Network, namely; the CEI.MARNET, which is a tool that facilitates cooperation and participation in order to consolidate leadership in Europe for multidisciplinary training, research, and transfer in oceanography. This union will be the foundation for establishing a strong scientific grouping. “We need to be able to demonstrate that such union shall gather the strongest group of scientists as well as the biggest European and worldwide R&D grouping for marine research”, highlighted the Vice-chancellor of the University of Vigo, Mr. Salustiano Mato.

Source and more info: Campus do Mar

Grundtvig Course in Portugal: Participatory budget

2012-02-15T09:00:00.000+01:00

Programme:

Presentation of participants and guests and the program; - Participatory budgeting: introduction to the subject (history and concept) - Overview of existing experiences in Portugal and abroad - Analysis of some innovations - Design, management and evaluation of participatory budgeting: key points of this methodology - Presentation of national experiences of Participatory Budgeting-Space Debate - Study Visit - Projects conception.

Date of the Workshop: 15/05/2012 - 20/05/2012
Workshop Organiser: Activar - Associação de Cooperação da Lousã
Contact details: Rua do Comércio nº 43 3200-227 Lousã PT-PORTUGAL
E-mail: activarlousa@gmail.com // www.activar.org

Port of Lisbon continues to grow in cruise activity and new records were achieved

2012-02-13T09:00:00.005+01:00

In 2011 Port of Lisbon registered a new record in cruise activity with 502,644 passengers and 330 cruise calls. This is the first time the port welcomes more than half a million passengers and it is a great result for Lisbon. The number of cruise calls is also a record. These values represent an increase of 12% in terms of passengers (448,497 tourists recorded in the previous year) and 10% in terms of cruise calls (299 in 2010).

Should also be noted that in 2011, the port of Lisbon received the first call of 15 cruise ships, 4 of them were new buildings. The port authority would like to stress the 4th of April, the day the first cruise ship was berthed in the new pier in Santa Apolónia. The port of Lisbon has now 3 cruise terminal and more that 1900m of berthing quays, dedicated to the cruise ships, and expects to have a new building full operational by the end of 2014.

For 2012 port of Lisbon expects to top these results and continue to grow steadily.

Source: Atlantic Alliance

RegioStars 2013: applications must be submitted before 20 April 2012

2012-02-10T09:00:00.000+01:00

Have you run an innovative project financed thanks to the EU Structural Funds that you would like to let people know about? Does your project make a contribution to smart, sustainable, inclusive growth at regional level? Does it relate to the urban development sector or help communicate better the contribution made by the cohesion policy? If so, you may be able to win one of the RegioStars 2013 awards, a prize presented every year by the European Commission. Each region in Europe can submit up to five project applications.

There are five award categories for 2013:

SMART GROWTH: Connecting universities to regional growth
SUSTAINABLE GROWTH: Supporting resource efficiency in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
INCLUSIVE GROWTH: Social cohesion: creative responses to the challenges in society
CITYSTAR CATEGORY: Integrated approaches to sustainable urban development
INFORMATION & COMMUNICATION CATEGORY: Promoting EU Regional policy using short videos.

Applications may be sent by no later than 20 April 2012. The selected finalists will showcase their projects before an independent jury during the tenth annual European Week of Regions and Cities - OPEN DAYS 2012. The award ceremony will take place in Brussels in February 2013.

To register online, visit the RegioStars website.

Further information: REGIO-STARS@ec.europa.eu

Grundtvig Course in Wales: TROSI – Exploring European Cultural Identities in Wales

2012-02-08T09:00:00.000+01:00

This workshop is open to all mature adults (over 50) - especially those from vulnerable social groups, including older learners who have left education without basic qualifications. They encourage participation by older learners from communities in the country where they are living, and will invite 5 older learners from their own community to take part. Especially appealing to mature people wishing to embark on a new learning experience, the workshop will have a demonstrable potential impact on the individuals - who will have the opportunity to meet and share experiences with like-minded people from across Europe. A clear plan for language and cultural
awareness training will help learners overcome barriers. The workshop will appeal to adults with an interest in the arts and culture; it is fun, interactive and will provide an innovative experience, including activities such as storytelling, dancing, craft, music, cookery and language. Participants will be able to share knowledge and experience of their own country’s arts and cultural heritage.

Date of the Workshop: 04/03/2012 - 11/03/2012

Workshop Organiser: ECTARC (The European Cente for Training and Regional
Cooperation)
Contact details: Parade Street, LL20 8RB Llangollen,GB-UNITED KINGDOM
E-mail: ectarc@denbighshire.gov.uk // www.ectarc.com

Ireland: Our Ocean Wealth. Public consultation process

2012-02-06T09:00:00.002+01:00

Launching the public consultation Our Ocean Wealth, Minister Coveney said, “We need to change the way we in Ireland think about the sea and look for new opportunities to harness the potential of our 220 million acre marine resource.

“This government is determined to generate the momentum to drive forward a new era of sustainable economic development across the maritime sectors – we must avail of these opportunities to assist in our recovery.

“We want your help to shape our plan, to shape our future and to assist in our drive towards our nation’s economic recovery”.

This public consultation represents a significant step in a process to develop an Integrated Marine Plan for Ireland and move from generating only 1.2% of GDP from this vast and diverse marine resource, which covers an area 10 times the size of Ireland’s land mass.

Source: Corkpolitics

More info: Our Ocean Wealth

Grundtvig Course in Portugal: Say Yes to Europe: A Social Mosaic

2012-02-03T09:00:00.000+01:00

This workshop aims to broaden skills and knowledge of participants in visual arts, including photography, to promote greater social cohesion, intercultural dialogue and an active European citizenship. The main activities developed through methodologies inspired by the logic of nonformal education will consist of ice-breakers, dynamic presentation, activities for the formation of intercultural groups, creative exercises, sessions brainstorming, outputs and field visits to different areas and zones of Lisbon, interactive workshops on photographic techniques and photo-stories and personal legal persons in the urban environment. The Machine of the World Association hopes so contribute to the discussion and reflection on the present and future of civil society in Europe.

Date of the Workshop: 01/03/2012 - 10/03/2012

More Info: Associação Máquina do Mundo

Urban Forum 2012

2012-02-01T09:00:00.000+01:00

16 February 2012 - Brussels, Charlemagne Building

The European Commission's recently published proposals for new Regulations in the field of Regional Policy put a strong emphasis on integrated urban development, with a number of important suggestions to ensure that cities play their full role in driving growth in the EU. A key element in these proposals is the Commission's intention to seek a direct, long-term, interaction between mayors and Commission officials working on their regions at a European level, with the aim of identifying future urban challenges and how they can be tackled successfully at all levels. The Urban Forum will be an opportunity to discuss the new proposals, with a particular focus on the role of cities in promoting sustainable growth.

The Forum will be divided into three thematic panels, tackling respectively:

    Europe 2020 and the challenge of coordinating thematic investments in cities and promoting integrated urban development;
    Innovative actions for sustainable urban development;
    Integrated Territorial Investment: How may it work for fostering the urban dimension of cohesion policy?

Around 400 participants, including Mayors of EU cities, representatives of urban networks and associations, as well as cities involved in various EU Urban Policy initiatives are expected to attend. Participation will be only possible upon invitation.

More info: Urban Forum

Santander presidirá la red española de ciudades inteligentes

2012-01-30T09:00:00.000+01:00

El alcalde afirmó que la participación de la ciudad en esta red va a favorecer e impulsar aún más el trabajo que se está desarrollando en el ámbito de la innovación.El alcalde de Santander, Íñigo de la Serna, presidirá la Red Española de Ciudades Inteligentes que se ha constituido hoy en Logroño, con la participación, inicialmente, de un total de 16 ciudades, que intercambiarán sus experiencias en el ámbito de la innovación, impulsarán el uso de las nuevas tecnologías para mejorar y hacer más eficientes los servicios públicos y promoverán la creación de un marco de estabilidad jurídica para las empresas del sector.

Además de Santander, formarán parte de la red Logroño, Huesca, Cáceres, Pamplona, Valladolid, Palencia, Madrid, Barcelona, Sevilla, Vitoria, Burgos, La Coruña, Málaga, Castellón y Salamanca.

Más Información: Ayuntamiento de Santander

Avilés, en buena posición dentro de 'Ciudades del conocimiento del Arco Atlántico'

2012-01-27T12:09:00.000+01:00

Avilés se encuentra en una buena situación para incorporarse a la denominada sociedad del conocimiento. Es la principal conclusión de un estudio elaborado por la consultora MER Consulting dentro del proyecto europeo 'Ciudades del conocimiento del Arco Atlántico'.

La investigación fue presentada ayer por la edil Ana Concejo, que destacó que el trabajo permite que Avilés «avance en la economía del conocimiento y el talento, ámbito en el que estamos muy interesados y en el que venimos aportando iniciativas y experiencias desde hace muchos años».

Desde MER Consulting, Manuel Campa, su socio director, destacó la evolución vivida en Avilés no sólo en su transformación económica, también en otros aspectos como pasar de «estar presente en redes europeas a liderar algunas de ellas». Dentro del futuro, la investigación destaca dos proyectos fundamentales para alcanzar esa sociedad del conocimiento como son el Centro Niemeyer e Isla de la Innovación. «Ambos reflejan que el modelo de ciudad de Avilés está basado en la innovación. Es importante que sigan adelante y mantengan la proyección nacional e internacional generada», afirmó.

En el análisis se reflejan también elementos para perfeccionar, como mejorar la coordinación entre las administraciones y reforzar sus servicios estadísticos para disponer de una mayor información en la toma de decisiones.

Los retrasos en infraestructuras como Ronda Norte, la comunicación de alta velocidad con la meseta o la integración del ferrocarril con la ciudad también son elementos que lastran el desarrollo de la ciudad, según los investigadores de MER Consulting.

Por último recomiendan que se refuerce la incorporación de empresas del sector TIC a la economía local para llegar a ser un polo tecnológico, además de fomentar la presencia de agrupaciones innovadoras en la cultura y la creatividad.

Fuente: El Comercio

The role of local and regional authorities in achieving the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy

2012-01-25T21:31:00.010+01:00

The CoR has recently isued an Opinion on The role of local and regional authorities in achieving the objectives of the Europe 2020 strategy. in this document, the CoR "draws attention to its firm commitment to its proposal to establish a ‘Territorial Pact of Regional and Local Authorities for the Europe 2020 Strategy’ with the aim of ensuring multi-level ownership of the strategy through effective partnership between the relevant bodies of the European Union, and national, regional and local public authorities. This proposal is supported by the European Parliament, European Commission and European Council Territorial Pacts should focus on a few tailor-made priorities which have a special value for the region concerned".

In a direct call to local and regional entites, the CoR "calls for pioneering regions to form European consortiums integrating different capabilities to create ground-breaking societal innovations for Europe-wide use. Through its various actors, each region can become a pioneer focusing on its own needs and strengths" and "encourages the regions to move towards open innovation, within a human-centred vision of partnerships
between public and private sector actors, with universities and other knowledge institutions playing a crucial role, i.e. to modernise the Triple Helix concept".

You can read the complete document HERE.

Territorial cooperation in the Mediterranean through the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region

2012-01-23T21:18:00.003+01:00

The Committee of the Regions has recently published an opinion on Territorial cooperation in the Mediterranean through the Adriatic-Ionian macro-region. In this document, the CoR "stresses that the macroregional strategy cannot operate in all areas, but must focus on challenges and issues of this particular macroregion that the partners identify in a joint assessment; it notes that, being functional areas, macroregions have no predefined borders, but are very much shaped by the shared challenges chosen to be tackled".

The CoR also "recalls that the European Commission's ‘three no's’ (no new regulation, no new institutions and no additional funding) should be matched by ‘three yeses’: application and monitoring of existing rules in the macroregion, creation of a platform, network or EGTC and agreed use of existing Union funding.EN C 9/8 Official Journal of the European Union 11.1.2012"

You can read the complete document HERE

"Future City Jobs": innovation and creativity to boost employment - December 2011

2012-01-20T12:06:00.002+01:00

The project will run on December 15 and 16 with the Future City Game, a laboratory devised as a game to produce pilot projects.

» The laboratory will be broadcast via hashtag #fcjdss2016eu, to be used by the participants in the game and available for viewing by all citizens. We will also provide information on the San Sebastian 2016 Facebook page.

Future City Jobs, an action in which San Sebastian will participate this year, aims to reduce youth unemployment by activating the cultural and creative industries. The initiative, led by the British Council, takes its origins from the idea that these industries offer new job opportunities and play a key part in developing the European information society. Even more so, if possible, in these times of economic crisis.

San Sebastian brings the number of participants in the project to six: Glasgow (United Kingdom), Prague (Czech Republic), Södertälje/Stockholm (Sweden), Tallinn (Estonia) and Wroclaw (Poland). The six partners, of which four are municipalities and another two are non-governmental organisations with experience in the area of culture and creativity, will meet to develop and implement new initiatives intended to boost employment among young people.

Future City Jobs is backed by the European Union Programme for employment and social solidarity, Progress (2007-2013), implemented by the European Commission to help achieve EU objectives in the field of employment, social affairs and equal opportunities, thus continuing to address the EU growth strategy “Europe 2020” in these areas.

Future City Jobs represents yet another step forward in the work carried out by the British Council since its previous project, Creative Cities, focussed on developing solutions to overcome youth unemployment based on the part played by creativity and its contribution to making European cities better places to live in, work and play.

Source and more info: Cultural Capital 2016

Thanks to its participation in Future City Jobs, the city of San Sebastian has the opportunity to boost its commitment to generating development opportunities in the creative industries highlighted by the international panel last June on naming the city European Capital of culture 2016.

Territorial Cooperation : CECICN sets the marks

2012-01-18T21:15:00.003+01:00

During its two last meetings in December and January, partners of CECICN (Atlantic, Baltic, Iberian, Ionian, Mediterranean Cities and MOT) have discussed on the future of EU Territorial Cooperation. Being the only platform that gathers territorial urban European networks and that represents more than 500 cities, CECICN has a significant role to play in the definition of the regional policy post-2013.

At the meetings, stakeholders work on a position paper to present CECICN’s views, that will be published soon in the year and supported by diverse meetings with EU institutions and an European Conference to be hold in late Spring.

‘MaRINET’ initiative opens access to marine testing sites across Europe

2012-01-16T09:59:00.002+01:00

MaRINET supports testing of concepts and devices in areas such as wave energy, tidal energy, offshore-wind energy and the environment, to accelerate Europe-wide development of marine renewable energy. The funding seeks to remove financial barriers for the first time by enabling companies and research groups to access unique world-class European testing facilities outside their own country, which is generally not covered under national grant schemes.

The initiative, with at least four calls for applications, runs until 2015 and the first call for applications opened on the 1 st of December. Potential users, who must work in Europe or a country associated to the European FP7 programme, are invited to apply to access this first call.

The network consists of 42 testing facilities at 28 research centres in 12 countries. By linking these marine renewable energy testing facilities and using an agreed testing framework, this initiative now provides a clear path to commercialisation by allowing users to seamlessly progress their device through each phase of testing. All participating centres will use common standards, conduct research to improve their own testing capability and provide training to enhance expertise in the field.

Wave Energy Centre is offering its Wave Energy Plant testing facilities at Pico Island. A significant number of European companies and research groups are expected to apply to use these facilities. António Sarmento of Wave Energy Centre, called on Portuguese companies and research groups to apply for funding to access European facilities through MaRINET:

‘‘MaRINET offers a unique opportunity to access these world-class European test facilities in order to validate and progress concepts at any stage of development, and to ultimately harness the untapped renewable energy resources that are abundant around the European coastline. This is a great opportunity to advance marine renewable research testing and commercial development for both Portugal and European companies and research groups'', he said.

Interested groups should complete the online application form on http://www.fp7-marinet.eu/. The closing date for applications is 29 February 2012.

Source: EurOcean

Retour sur la journée de sensibilisation à l'autopartage

2012-01-13T12:06:00.000+01:00

Le 2 décembre dernier, la Ville de Caen a organisé, en partenariat avec Viacités et en collaboration avec la Conférence des Villes de l'Arc Atlantique, une journée d'information sur l'autopartage en présence d'intervenants experts dans le domaine des déplacements urbains.

L'autopartage se définit comme un service de location de voitures de courte durée, en libre-service, avec un accès aux véhicules simple et rapide. Le volet mobilité de l'Agenda 21 caennais, en cours de révision, met l'accent sur les modes de déplacements alternatifs, complémentaires des transports collectifs et des modes actifs.

En effet, la hausse du prix de l'essence modifie les habitudes de déplacements des citoyens. L'utilisation de la voiture devient "raisonnée" au regard du contexte économique. À l'heure actuelle, être propriétaire d'un véhicule coûte environ 5 000 € par an (assurance, carte grise, entretien, carburant,…). La voiture reste cependant le mode de déplacement le plus utilisé.

Une centaine de personnes, acteurs de la mobilité, chargés de mission environnement, référents développement durable, représentant des collectivités, organismes et entreprises ont participé aux débats de cette journée. Les modes de transports alternatifs sont souvent jugés "moins flexibles" mais ils sont néanmoins en augmentation. De nouveaux services se développent pour en faciliter et en favoriser l'usage. L'autopartage en fait partie. Son principal atout est de pouvoir bénéficier des avantages d'une voiture sans en supporter les désagréments.

Des micros-trottoirs réalisés dans les rues de Caen ont permis d'illustrer cette journée et de recueillir quelques avis sur ce nouveau service.

Source: Caen Ville Durable

How does your city cope with the financial and economic crisis?

2011-12-23T10:35:00.001+01:00

Based on the economic and financial challenges currently confronting European cities, exchanging knowledge on how to cope with these issues is very useful. That is why we ask all cities in our network to share their best practices with other cities.

E-mail us your city´s successful approach towards for example creating jobs, attracting companies and collaborating with others and we will share these with our network of cities.

In addition we ask you if you would be interested in welcoming a Dutch delegation of city politicians to show them around your city´s best practices somewhere in June 2012?

How can you participate in Ask-Your-Urban-Neighbour?

E-mail the questions you have about your urban area’s challenges and experiences to: askyoururbanneighbour@emi-network.eu . EMI will distribute the questions to its network of European cities with the request to reply within a few weeks. Send in your response to questions from other urban areas. EMI will send all cities involved a link to the complete overview of answers that will be published on the EMI-website.

Source: European Metropolitan Network Institute

Pacto Atlántico por la Eco-innovación

2011-12-19T08:31:00.001+01:00

El director general de Relaciones Exteriores y con la Unión Europea de la Xunta de Galicia, Jesús Gamallo, ha participado a finales de noviembre en el lanzamiento de un proyecto europeo para crear ecosistemas empresariales a través de la innovación. Fue durante el seminario Creando ecosistemas empresariales a través de la innovación, en el que también se aprobó el Pacto Atlántico por la Eco-innovación junto con los demás socios europeos del proyecto.

Eco-Innova es un proyecto europeo trasnacional del que es socio la Fundación Galicia Europa -de la que Gamallo es director apoderado- y en el que participan cinco instituciones más de cuatro regiones europeas: Ayuntamiento de Ourense; Associaçâo para el Centro de Incubaçâo de Base Tecnológica del Minho y Agencia de Desarrollo dell Alto Támega, por la región Norte de Portugal; Bordeaux Productic por Aquitania (Francia) y la Universidad de Glamorgan por Gales (Reino Unido).

Durante el lanzamiento que tuvo lugar el 23 de Noviembre en la sede compostelana del Centro de Estudios Económicos Caixa Galicia, se aprobó el Pacto Atlántico por la Eco-innovación, un documento de compromiso para la difusión, promoción y aplicación de la estrategia propuesta en el marco regional y local.

El Pacto Atlántico por la Eco-innovación consiste en la creación de nuevos productos, servicios y sistemas que reducen el uso de recursos y el impacto perjudicial en el ambiente, y plasma el sentir de todas las regiones implicadas en adoptar una estrategia a favor de la eco-innovación.

Los firmantes de este acuerdo se comprometen a hacer realidad la eco-innovación, ayudar a hacer una Europa basada en una economía del conocimiento y sostenible, para tratar el cambio climático y los retos derivados del uso de los recursos.

Fuente: Inmodiario

ENGAGE campaign has been launched

2011-12-16T10:42:00.000+01:00

Covenant of Mayors signatories have engaged their city to achieve and go beyond the EU “3x20” objectives. They need the support of all citizens and local stakeholders to jointly reach these targets. With ENGAGE, citizens take action for Europe!

Cities all over Europe are already in! Hundreds of citizens have given their statement to play their part in building a sustainable energy future. Over 2,000 creative posters are displayed in city halls, on market places, in schools, in banks, etc. The ENGAGE campaign is making energy and climate commitments visible! This European participative communications initiative supports the EU’s Energy & Climate Package targets.

The European ENGAGE campaign has been launched during the 3rd Covenant of Mayors Ceremony on the 29th of November in the European Parliament in Brussels. The campaign has already gained significant support from Mayors and elected representatives, including the President of the Republic of Croatia Ivo Josipović.

An original clothesline exhibition of posters from the ENGAGE cities gave a glimpse of the diversity of citizen, stakeholder and public body engagements. Not dirty laundry but positive and concrete local commitments have air-dried in the EU Parliament!

Source: Energy-Cities

Seventh report on economic, social and territorial cohesion

2011-12-14T12:23:00.007+01:00

The seventh progress report on economic, social and territorial cohesion, highlighting the urban and regional dimension of the Europe 2020 strategy has just been published. Hot on the heels of the Commission's legislative proposals for cohesion policy post-2013, the report assesses how, in the context of cohesion policy, regions and cities can contribute to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and Europe 2020 headline targets. It also measures the distance of regions from national 2020 targets proposed in the Member States.

This report shows that cities and regions are faced with different combinations of development problems and growth potential. This is one of the main reasons cohesion policy uses an integrated approach that can be adjusted to local needs and opportunities.

The report provides an important input to current discussions on the 2014-2020 period. Future cohesion policy programmes must look at how they will contribute to the EU reaching 2020 targets, and how EU investment will help them reach these goals.

Read the Seventh progress report on economic, social and territorial cohesion

Source: DG REGIO

2011 - Energy, transport and environment indicators

2011-12-12T10:22:00.000+01:00

The 2011 edition presents facts and figures from the Energy, Transport and Environment sectors, all in a single volume. With a view of the growing global political importance of issues such as climate change and energy security, the three sectors have become increasingly interconnected. This creates the need for a comprehensive approach, comprising reliable and comparable statistical data, necessary for the better understanding of the complexity of the issues, for sound policy-making and the setting of effective measures.

The indicators present national data for the 27 EU Member States, the EFTA and candidate countries. When available, the EU-27 aggregate is also provided. Data are generally available for the period between 1999 and 2009; transport mainly between 2004 and 2009.

General data offer a first macroscopic overview of the main characteristics of the EU. Energy indicators include supply, final consumption, renewable sources, and the structure of the industry; energy dependency, energy efficiency, and energy prices.

The new Directive on renewable energy sources, integral part of the Energy Package, defines the share of these sources in gross final energy consumption. This publication presents data on certain indicators, for example biofuels, relevant for the policy on the promotion of renewable energy.

Energy prices are presented in accordance with the new methodology. Transport indicators cover equipment, volume of passengers and freight transport, modes of transport and road safety.

The Environment chapter includes indicators on climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, waste generation and treatment, water resources and use, forestry, and relevant financial indicators such as environmental protection expenditure and environmentally related taxes.

Sustainable Energy Europe Awards 2012

2011-12-09T08:50:00.000+01:00

Annual awards ceremony for best-in-class projects

The annual Sustainable Energy Europe Awards reward best-in-class inititiatives that promote renewable energy or energy efficiency. The annual awards are a high point of the EU Sustainable Week and provide an invaluable opportunity to highlight the successes of the most outstanding, ambitious and innovative projects in sustainable energy and energy efficiency.

The Awards Ceremony is one highlight of EU Sustainable Energy Week and attracts media interest from across Europe. The EU Sustainable Energy Week 2012 will take place between 18 and 22 June 2012.

Should you wish to apply, please visit EU Sustainable Energy Week webpage.

Cities of tomorrow - Challenges, visions, ways forward

2011-12-07T08:45:00.002+01:00

Preface of the EU Document: "Cities of Tomorrow" by Commissioner Johannes Hahn.

This document was presented at the European Parliament on Tuesday 6th December 2011

More than two thirds of the European population lives in urban areas. Cities are places where both problems emerge and solutions are found. They are fertile ground for science and technology, for culture and innovation, for individual and collective creativity, and for mitigating the impact of climate change. However,

cities are also places where problems such as unemployment, segregation and poverty are concentrated.

We need to better understand the challenges that different European cities will face in the years ahead. This is why I decided to bring together a number of urban experts and representatives of European cities to think about the future.

This report is the outcome of that reflection. It raises awareness of the possible future impacts of a range of trends, such as demographic decline and social polarisation, and the vulnerability of different types of cities. It also highlights opportunities and the key role cities can play in achieving EU objectives – especially in the implementation of the Europe 2020 strategy. It presents some inspirational models and visions. It also confirms the importance of an integrated approach to urban development.

The ‘Cities of tomorrow’ reflection process will provide inspiration for policymakers and practitioners involved in urban development, whether at local, regional, national or European level. Looking ahead and developing visions of the cities of tomorrow is becoming increasingly important at all levels. The development of our cities will determine the future of Europe.

Santander, entre las cuatro ciudades europeas más accesibles

2011-12-06T11:24:00.001+01:00

Santander ha quedado finalista en el certamen del Premio Ciudad Accesible 2012 de la Unión Europea (UE), que se ha resuelto este jueves en Bruselas y que ha ganado la ciudad austriaca de Salzburgo por sus "planteamientos coherentes" y sus "excelentes resultados" alcanzados en la mejora de la accesibilidad.

La capital cántabra se ha alzado como finalista, junto con la ciudad polaca de Cracovia y la alemana Marburg, por su "buena planificación" en los programas de accesibilidad urbana, en la que se ha atenido a un enfoque de "diseño universal", así como por la "calidad y sostenibilidad" de los resultados alcanzados, según ha informado la Comisión Europea en nota de prensa.

Además, en esta segunda edición del Premio Ciudad Accesible, el jurado europeo también ha otorgado menciones especiales a la ciudad española de Tarrasa; Grenoble, en Francia; Luibliana, en Eslovenia; y Olomouc, en la República Checa.

En esta edición, 114 ciudades de 23 países de la UE presentaron candidaturas a este certamen, y tuvieron que presentar pruebas de sus "esfuerzos y logros" en materia de la igualdad de acceso para todos, independientemente de su edad o capacidad.

La comisaria de la UE y responsable de Justicia, Viviane Reding, ha dado a conocer la resolución del certamen en el marco del Día Europeo de las Personas con Discapacidad.

Fuente: EL Diario Montañés

EUROPEAN MARITIME DAY 2012

2011-12-02T09:28:00.000+01:00

DG MARE is happy to inform you that you can get involved and apply for organising an event during European Maritime Day 2012. Please read the Letter to Stakeholders 2012 for more information!

If you wish to organise an event to take place in the context of the European Maritime Day Conference at Eriksberghallen in Gothenburg, please submit your proposal at this link.

If you wish to organise an event across Europe, please submit your proposal at the corresponding link

You can already put Maritime Day 2012 in your diary and share this information with your networks!

We look forward to celebrating European Maritime Day 2012 with you.

The European Maritime Day Team

Los Faros de Portugal permiten visitas gratuitas los miércoles

2011-11-30T21:25:00.000+01:00

Los faros portugueses van a abrir las puertas al público todos los miércoles del año, con la realización de tres visitas gratuitas guiadas por sus respectivos faroleiros.
Las visitas se van a desarrollar a las 14h00, a las 15h00 y a las 16h00, sin necesidad de reserva previa, tal y como se ha informado desde el observatorio del Algarve de Portugal.
Esta iniciativa ha sido difundida coincidiendo con el desarrollo de las celebraciones del Día Nacional del Mar en Portugal y comprende los faros de Cabo de San Vicente, Punta de la Piedad, Punta del Altar, Alfanzina, Santa Maria y Vila Real de Santo António, en el Algarve, y Montedor, Leça, Aveiro, Cabo Mondego, Penedo de la Saudade, Cabo Carvoeiro, Berlenga, Cabo de la Roca, Cabo Espichel, Sines y Cabo Sardão, en el resto del Portugal continental.
Por lo que se refiere a Madeira, la iniciativa comprende el Faro de Punta del Pargo y ya en el archipiélago de Azores, los Faros de Herrería, Punta del Cintrão, Arnel, Gonçalo Viejo, Punta de la Garça, Contiendas, Punta de la Barca, Carapacho, Punta de la Isla, Punta del Tope, Albarnaz y Lajes de las Flores.
Otros faros permiten visitas fuera de las fechas y horarios definidos, pero se requiere de autorización previa.

Fuente: Expreso

Brest: International network of marine science territories

2011-11-28T21:23:00.001+01:00

Such is the name of the network that was born during Safer Seas, through the common will of the members of the Conference of Peripheral Port Cities and of their international partners. This initiative is based on three constatations :
- Oceans take an increasing part in global economy and are considered central in climate change issues.
- The worsening of the condition of marine environment, in particular in coastal areas, calls for an agreement of the maritime community over the development of good practices and adapted policies.
- This challenge will require the international community to cooperate in order to increase our knowledge of the oceans and develop new models of marine resources exploitation.
As a consequence, a first group of partners signed in Brest a Memorandum of Understanding where they declare their intention to join forces to create this network, design its governance and set up its work plan. Among the cities engaged in this network, one can find Vigo, Kiel, Québec, Comodoro Rivadavia, Veracruz, Qingdao, Shanghai, Haiphong, Constanza, Barcelona and of course, Brest. The first official assembly of this international network will gather in July, during the Tonnerres de Brest 2012 event.

2012 Google Model Your Town Competition

2011-11-23T11:10:00.000+01:00

Show your civic pride (and maybe win a prize) by creating a 3D portrait of your community and sharing it with the world. You have the power to get your town on the map – and there's no bigger map than Google Earth. The Google Model Your Town Competition is open to people from all over the world.

All you have to do is build 3D models of the buildings in your community. Model whichever structures you think are necessary to show the planet what's special about your town.
Be recognized by your community for doing something great.

Having a 3D model of your town in Google Earth helps residents and visitors understand it in a way that flat maps and photographs can't. You can be a local hero by making a contribution to your town's future.

Please visit Sketchup for more information.

L'Europe s'engage pour Grand Poitiers

2011-11-21T15:01:00.001+01:00

La Politique régionale européenne (également appelée Politique de cohésion) vise à développer la cohésion économique et sociale et à atténuer les inégalités de développement. Sur la période 2008-2013, les projets de Grand Poitiers, cofinancés par les fonds structurels européens représentent 10,5 M€ investis dont 4,6 M€ du Fond Européen de développement Régional (FEDER) ou du Fond Social Européen (FSE). La majeure partie concerne le Plan Local pour l’Insertion et l’Emploi qui depuis 1993 (FSE) vise l’amélioration de l’accès et du retour à l’emploi des personnes les plus en difficulté. Le FEDER cofinance les projets concernant la politique de transport, les NTIC, l’efficacité énergétique ou encore les économies de ressource en eau potable.

Les projets de Grand Poitiers cofinancés par les fonds structurels européens (FEDER et FSE)

Les taux de cofinancement du Fond Européen de développement Régional (FEDER) par projet :

•Installation solaire photovoltaïque raccordé au réseau VITALIS (2008) : 51,2%

•Etude d’opportunité et de faisabilité d’un « Schéma Directeur des Transports en Commun en Site Propre » (2009) : 50%

•Préparer le passage au très haut débit sur l’ensemble de la Communauté d’Agglomération de Poitiers (2008) : 31,5%

•Fourniture et installation de points de comptage fixes et télégérés sur le système d’eau potable de Grand Poitiers (2010) : 32,53%

Les taux de cofinancement du Fond Social Européen (FSE) par projet :

•Subvention globale FSE PLIE pour 2008-2010 : 41,12%

•Subvention globale FSE PLIE pour 2011-2013 : 48,96%

Les projets de coopération européenne

Grand Poitiers participe à différents projets de coopération européenne : le projet HerO (conservation et la valorisation du patrimoine culturel), CATALIST (transport et moblité) et le projet INTERREG IVC (transport).

Activités de réseau

Grand Poitiers développe ses réseaux notamment à travers la CVAA, le forum CIVITAS et le réseau français CIVINET

Pour en savoir plus: Grand Poitiers.

Las Palmas, una ciudad náutica

2011-11-18T15:01:00.000+01:00

Jornada: "Oportunidades de innovación en el sector náutico en Gran Canaria" (22 nov 2011, 12h., Terraza TAO, LPGC).

El sector náutico y marítimo tiene un enorme potencial de crecimiento, creación de riqueza y generación de empleo en Gran Canaria y, específicamente, en Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. En este sentido, los emprendedores y la innovación en los productos y servicios es crítica para el éxito de sus compañías y del conjunto de nuestro destino. Por todo ello y con la finalidad de apoyar a las empresas y a quiénes tengan interés en el sector náutico, el próximo martes 22 de noviembre de 2011, a las 12h. en la Terraza TAO (Jardines Alonso Quesada, s/n - Parque Romano, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria), se abordarán cuáles son las tendencias de innovación más relevantes que están implantando otras empresas y territorios, ubicados en distintos puntos de la geografía planetaria.

Esta jornada, de carácter gratuito, contará con la participación del reputado experto Carlos Romero (SEGITTUR) quién nos hablará de los “ecosistemas y las herramientas para la innovación”, presentando las últimas líneas y acuerdos destinados a la mejora de la competitividad empresarial. Por último, el Observatorio sobre la Innovación en el Sector Turístico de la Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria presentará el informe que ha elaborado sobre las citadas tendencias de innovación en el sector náutico. Todo ello, orientado a su aplicación práctica en las empresas.

Organiza: Ayuntamiento de Las de Gran Canaria, Fundación Universitaria de Las Palmas (OITUR), Red CIDE, y Turismo Innova Gran Canaria.

Pueden ver el programa aqui

Local is beautiful

2011-11-18T08:00:00.001+01:00

CEEP closed today its 14th Annual Local Enterprises Conference with a declaration highlighting the key role of local public services providers in Europe. The 16,000 local enterprises representatives gathered in CEEP called on European policy makers to take into account their added-value and specificities. Local enterprises need indeed a well balanced and effective legal environment. This can be achieved through:

1. A de minimis regulation within the state aid rules effectively addressing the needs of local operators;

2. A clear recognition that “in house” rules are treated outside the public procurement framework;

3. The acknowledgment of the need of flexible tools, adapted to local specificities and resources when it comes to service concessions;

4. A simplification of public procurement rules which limits administrative and financial burden on local actors;

5. The introduction in public procurement directives of the Institutionalised Public Private Partnerships procedure (IPPP)

The implementation of those conditions will enable even further local enterprises to be a stabilising factor in time of crisis and an engine for investments in Europe.

SEEN AT EURACTIV

Atlantic Port Cities meet in Saint Nazaire

2011-11-16T12:39:00.001+01:00

Gathering Atlantic Port Cities from Milford Haven to Faro, the CAAC task force on Port Cities met in Saint Nazaire last November 7. It was hosted by La Carène agglomeration, whose representatives were Eric Provost, Carene vice-president and Charles Nicol, from the International Relations department.

The meeting analysed the example of Saint Nazaire as a possible toolkit of urban regeneration, building from the maritime identity of the city. The success of the Motorway of the Sea Montoir-Gijon also draw the attention of the participants, who, in the afternoon, exchanged views on the different opportunities offered by renewable marine energies. Atlantic maritime projects, such as Portonovo, where Cherbourg is a partner were also analysed. The scientific field was represented by ISEMAR and the private sector by STX. Port authorities from Milford Haven, Gijon and Nantes Saint Nazaire completed the stakeholders of the working group. The next meeting will be held in Spring, focusing this time on waterfronts and heritage. The Task force also decided to issue an “Atlantic Port Cities Charter” at the next CAAC General Assembly in 2012.

Agenda and information on the working group

Presentation of La Carene Agglomeration

Presentation of the Port of Gijon on Motorways of the Sea

Presentation of CAAC on Marine Renewable Energies

Presentation of Nantes-Saint Nazaire Port

In the news:

Media Web

Presse Océan

Carene Agglomeration

CPMR (10 November)

Port of Gijon

Ce que l'Europe apporte aux territoires bretons

2011-11-16T11:17:00.000+01:00

L’objectif de ce colloque, qui aura lieu à l'ESC Brest le mercredi 23 novembre de 10h à 17h, est de mieux faire connaître les fonds européens utilisés en Bretagne et de les présenter aux élus, institutions et acteurs locaux concernés afin d'encourager l'élaboration de projets à dimension européenne.

A cette occasion, 5 tables rondes seront organisées avec les acteurs régionaux impliqués dans les domaines de la culture, l'action sociale, la formation professionnelle, le transport durable et les PME-PMI.

Pour vous inscrire à l'une des tables rondes: europedirect@maisoneurope-brest.eu ou au 02 98 46 60 09.

L'ensemble de l'équipe de la Maison de l'Europe reste à votre disposition pour plus d'informations.

European Public Sector Award (EPSA) 2011

2011-11-14T08:56:00.000+01:00

From 274 submitted applications to 15 Nominees!

The EPSA 2011 Team is pleased to announce that the high-level EPSA 2011 Jury met on 5 September last at EIPA Maastricht to proceed to the final selection of the 15 nominees (5 per theme) from among 21 applications that had been visited on-site in June and July. The 15 nominated projects come from 9 countries; 10 have been submitted by the local level of government, 4 by the regional level and 1 by the national level.

These 15 projects are still running for the 3 awards. The 3 winners will be announced during the Final Award Ceremony that will take place at the Provincial Government Buildings on the Meuse in Maastricht on 17 November next in presence of high-level political personalities.

As a result of the online evaluation and consensus meeting, the evaluators also identified a number of applications per theme that will be awarded an EPSA 2011 Best Practice Certificate. In total, 58 projects submitted by 18 European countries will receive a recognition in 2011. Since 15 of these applications have been upgraded to the status of nominees, the actual number of BPC recipients is 43 (List of the 43 EPSA 2011 Best Practice Certificate Recipients). These BPC will be handed over on 15 November in the evening at the Maastricht Town Hall by the Mayor, Onno Hoes, and EIPA's Director-General, Prof. Dr Marga Pröhl.

SOURCE: European Public Sector Award

Atlantic Area: Monitoring Committee Meeting

2011-11-11T11:01:00.001+01:00

In Dublin, last 27 and 28 October the Monitoring Committee of the INTERREG IVB programme Atlantic Area held its annual meeting in Dublin. For two days, States and Regions representatives of the five Atlantic Countries, together with CAAC as observer gathered in order to take important decisions concerning the Atlantic Arc.

After the approval of the minutes of the last session and an update on the progress of the programme, the main point of the meeting was the assessment and approval of the projects presented under the Third call of proposals, closed last March 2011.

Future challenges where also examined, building on the introduction of Ms. Fausta Corda (European Commission, DG REGIO) concerning the 2014-2020 Programming Period and the Atlantic Area Programme. The session was closed by the preparations for the Atlantic Strategy Conference in Dublin Feb. 2012 and the launch of the European Atlantic Strategy in Lisbon 28-29, November 2011.

NEA2 is a reference model for the Atlantic Maritime Strategy

2011-11-09T11:54:00.004+01:00

The first Nautic European Conference on Atlantic Area, which took place in the past 26 and 27 October in Brest, in Brittany, was marked by success, both for the project NEA, a model of cooperation between 23 partners, such as for sailing in Europe, and the know-how of Atlantic nautical sector as a critical benchmark for the Atlantic Maritime Strategy to be presented in Lisbon on 28 and 29 November.

With the designation of "Challenges and Opportunities for Sustainable Development of the nautical sector in Atlantic Regions," this conference, organized by the Regional Council of Brittany, by the General Council of Finisterre and the project partners of NEA2, with the support of the European Union, joined 300 participants from Portugal, Spain, France, Ireland, England, Italy and Belgium, which, building from the knowledge and experience gained in the NEA project, discussed the challenges and sustainable development of the sector, contributing to building a strong identity Atlantic.

The high level of this event, besides the excellent result of the NEA project, thanked to the richness and diversity of experience and knowledge of experts and agency participants.

Joan Anton Camuñas, former Deputy Minister of Sport in Catalonia, stated that this Atlantic nautical sector experience is extremely important for developing countries like Brazil or China.

William Bird, a member of the Order of the British Empire and founder and director of the company's Intelligent Health, explained that the experience of coastal and nautical activities have a clear impact on health, with proven benefits in diseases such as diabetes and chronic stress. Whereas, therefore, that the Atlantic Area is a source of health.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, President of Brittany Regional Council and the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions of Europe, Vice-Chairman of the Committee of the Regions and former Minister for the Marine of France, also reiterated the importance of projects NEA and NEA2 for the Atlantic Area, believing nautical activities as the main vehicle for the development and affirmation of a impacting maritime culture. In this context, efforts will start with the European institutions to affirm this common strategy.

Ciara Delaney, spokeswoman for Maritime Affairs of the Permanent Representation of Ireland in the European Union in Brussels since March, said the importance of the NEA project to the achievement of a sustainable maritime policy in the European Union.

Inma Valencia, director of the Government of Cantabria to the European Union and that since 2010, leads the group "maritime renewable energies" of the Atlantic Arc Commission considers that this conference was a success, both for the NEA project to as for nautical sector in Europe, since it happened about a month before the submission of the Atlantic Maritime Strategy in Lisbon. It is a project that will present an action plan for the sector in which priorities are set. For this strategy, result of the first proposal of the General Assembly of the Atlantic Arc Commission, in Santander in 2009, "the contribution of the partners of NEA can be extremely important."

EXTRACT OF AN ARTICLE OF JOAO ZAMITH, INTERCELTICA.

16th EUROPEAN CONFERENCE ON MOBILITY MANAGEMENT 2012

2011-11-07T08:04:00.002+01:00

ECOMM is looking for contributions on the new challenges for our cities. These are:

E-mobility

ECOMM will look at the important connection between e-mobility and mobility management, and how can cities can make the most of both.

Mobility Management as a regional factor

Cities can have challenging roles within their regions, often as centres of a large metropolises. The successful implementation of mobility management programmes depend on strong cooperation amongst the regional actors. How can MM facilitate and improve inter-regional cooperation?

Awareness and Lifestyle

Cities contain constantly changing lifestyle groups - in some of them, a trend away from the car can be discerned. ECOMM is looking for mobility management concepts that show how we can we engage these different groups - decision makers, the business community, the younger generation?

Socio demographic changes - migrants and an ageing population

How does MM react to these changes? How does MM address these new target groups? Can MM support the integration of migrants?

Regeneration of Cities

Many cities are in a process of re-urbanisation, regeneration and aim for making more attractive urban spaces and streets, especially in inner cities

As all ECOMMs before, the 16th ECOMM welcomes Experiences from Cooperation in European projects and aims to provide a special forum for them.

This ECOMM is also a continuation of the German conference on mobility management (DECOMM), that took place for the first time in 2011 - and is especially inviting contributions from small and medium sized cities.

Deadline for paper's presentation: November 14

More info at ECOMM website

A Coruña lighting the world

2011-10-28T09:03:00.006+02:00

The Mayor of A Coruña, Carlos Negreira, has recently met with the President of the State Ports Authority, Fernando Gonzalez Laxe, to start preparing the XVIII Conference of the International Association of Maritime Aids to Navigation and Lighthouse Authorities (IALA) to be held in A Coruña from 26 to 31 May 2014.

This is good news because until 2014 the city's image will be internationally projected and will enhance awareness and reconaissance. In 2014 we will also celebrate the fifth birthday of the Tower of Hercules as a World Heritage Site. It's a great prize to the Tower ", said Negreira.The event, which is expected to involve about 600 experts, will include lectures, debates and exhibitions relating technology to the world of lighthouses and navigation. An executive committee, consisting of 22 people will visit the city next year to prepare this international conference.

"The Tower of Hercules is the first and only lighthouse awarded by UNESCO with the title of World Heritage Site, so it fits nicely in A Coruña where the conference is held," remarked Negreira. For his part, Gonzalez Laxe stressed that the celebration of this event in A Coruña will be "another sign more international release and the projection of the city."

Source: La Voz de Galicia

CAAC goes to the University

2011-10-26T07:58:00.003+02:00

On Friday 21st October, CAAC coordinator, Ms. Tamara Guirao Espiñeira, was invited by the University of Santiago de Compostela to give a lesson on EU urban territorial cooperation for the students of the master on Regional Development and Economic Integration.

The exposition, called Atlantic Arc Cities: Territorial Cooperation at a local scale, made a comparison between the current regional policy and the last EU Commission proposals, so as to try to define the new role cities and Atlantic cities among them, have to play in the future. CAAC coordinator also presented the proposals for an Atlantic Arc Strategy that should be land inclusive and not only coastal and the San Sebastian Charter as a key document in urban development in the Atlantic Area.

Interesting topics such as macro-regions, conditionality or administrative burden allowed a debate with the students and teachers attending the meeting.

CECICN meeting in Galicia

2011-10-24T14:53:00.000+02:00

Last Thursday, October 20th, CECICN experts met at Eixo Atlantico headquarters in Vigo. The Executive Bureau of the Conference of European border and interregional networks, CECICN, met in Galicia in a session chaired by Jean Peyrony, CEO and Xoan V. Mao, general secretary of the network. The meeting was attended by representatives of the 6 networks within the organization, CECICN, Mission Operationnelle Transfrontaliere (MOT), Iberian Cross Border Network (RIET), Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities (CAAC), Forum of Adriatic and Ionian Cities ( FAIC) MedCities, and Union of Baltic Cities (UBC). These organizations represent more than 500 cities in the border territories, and over 37% of the European population.

The main topic of the discussion was the profiling of the latest draft White Paper on Cooperation, whose work, which began in Paris last July, will be completed for discussion and subsequent delivery to the European Commission, on December. The document provides the vision of cities and territories of the European borders on the development of cross-border and transnational cooperation for the next period 2014-2020. Among other things, states that in the distribution of European funds are contemplated not only the criterion of population but also the dispersion of the population. The paper also raises the need for financial and political momentum in transport, health, education and business policy in the field of border and peripheral territories and the disappearance of issues that hamper the development of these territories, such as obstacles to mobility problems or communications.

The CECICN Committee has noted with great satisfaction that some of the proposals already raised in this year and a half of existence, have been collected by the European Commission in the draft regulation that has been submitted to the European Parliament and the Council on October 6.

Serempathy a new approach to innovation. an application to forty six regions of atlantic arc countries

2011-10-21T10:50:00.000+02:00

Building on the example of the Atlantic Area (INTERREG IV) project KNETWORKS, Miguel Pesquera, Pablo Coto, Pedro Casares and Pablo de Castro, from the Cantabria University, develop a theory on Serempathy as tool to enlight complex scenarios.

Please find the complete presentation here.

The Atlantic: a source of opportunities for sustainable growth

2011-10-19T10:25:00.000+02:00

In the midst of the Open Days, last Tuesday 11th, at the Portuguese Representation before the EU, the Atlantic Arc Stakeholders gathered for a workshop on the Atlantic Arc Strategy, introduced by Ms. Teresa Almeida, president of Lisbon and Tagus Valley CCRD.

In words of Mr. Alain Cadec, European MP, the Atlantic Strategy shall drive to the opening up of the Atlantic Area. As a territory is not static, and in a context that threatens environment and economy, the Strategy shall not be limited to the Sea as a vector of development, but completed by more “Land” issues and the links between both. In his opinion, natural and long term synergies must be enhanced.

Berharnd Friess, Director for Atlantic Regions at DG MARE (European Commission), announced the Communication on the Atlantic Area for next November. This document will show the Atlantic façade as a gateway to the world and would try to explore tools that allow Atlantic coastal regions to “seize the single opportunity of its development potential.” He also presented the priorities and the schedule of the EU actions on the Atlantic Area.

José Palma Andrés, Director for Territorial Cooperation at DG REGIO (European Commission), underlined the economic importance of the Atlantic Area and their link with the markets on the other side of the Ocean. He also emphasized the necessity for a wider strategy, starting by the impact of the Sea resources in the hinterland. The definition of how the Baltic and the Danube Strategies were implemented was used as a suggestion for going ahead in the Atlantic Area through more engagement and more consensus in a wider dialogue.

The session was closed by a panel of Atlantic Arc Stakeholders who presented the diverse topics that may compose an Atlantic Strategy.

Ist Atlantic Forum on Sustainable Development

2011-10-17T16:47:00.002+02:00

Last September 30th, Vigo City Council held a major conference on the diverse issues of the Sustainable development on the Atlantic Area. The session was opened by M. Abel Caballero, Vigo Mayor, who described the protection of the environment as a protection of the future. He insisted on the importance of networks such as the Spanish Network of Cities for Climate, and the aim for a “human” city, which is sustainable and attractive.

M. Parajó explained the enormous influence of transport on the climate and proposed a “walking city” that privileges non-polluting transport means feeded by renewable sources. Custom and opinion barriers should be removed. M. García explained how the electric vehicle system is implemented in Vigo city, with 100 charging points and a important fleet of vehicles that allow real car-sharing; progressing from the “stop-auto” to a real “mobile-auto”.

Enrique Roca, from the USC and Emérito Freire, INEGA, presented practical multi-criteria and multi-stage tools for enterprises to measure and, reduce carbon impact and even give value-added concerning eco-design. Biomass should be counted on as renewable source of energy.

Other sessions focused on the reliable resources to be implemented concerning ecological tagging (APROEMA) and observatories (BIC Galicia), as well as the installations of wind energy and the limits of the current economic system.

The session was closed by Ms. Rosa Leis (ADTERRA) and Tamara Guirao (CAAC) that introduced the context of the Atlantic Arc Cities so as to present the short delivery chain managed by local authorities and the experiences of ANATOLE project as an appropiate scheme to ensure a more respectful market system concerning food.

Brittany and Wales at the heart of the Atlantic Area

2011-10-14T16:09:00.004+02:00

Last October 8th, at the Cinemaville, the Institut Culturel of Bretagne held a conference on the history and the lessons to learn on the relationship among Walles and Brittany. If the purpose of the meeting was focused on the past, present and future maritime links between Brittany and Wales, the aim was to anchor this issue as part of the Atlantic Arc. The creation of the motorway of the sea Montoir de Bretagne-Gijon was seen as a case study for future links between Brittany and Wales.
In the morning session, experts such as André Daniel, Brian Davies, André Le Person and Erwan Chartier LeFloch set the stage of a diverse and long-standing relationship among the two regions. The session was closed by a round table that brought into light the implications of this links for the future.

Gwyin Griffits and Yves Lebahy insisted on the significance of the maritime identity development for the peoples of both regions, while Yves Lainé described the technical possibilities of a sea connection among Britanny and Wales.

CAAC coordinator, Ms. Tamara Guirao Espiñeira, presented the role cities have to play in the Atlantic Area, translating the San Sebastian Charter on sustainable urban development into real actions, earmarked by the future EU strategy for the Atlantic Arc.

Multiannual Financial Framework: Going Local

2011-10-12T09:01:00.000+02:00

On October 4th, the Committee of the regions invited local and regional stakeholders to a workshop on the Multi Annual Financial Framework and its implications for territorial governance.

The session, chaired by Ms. Flo Cucas, chair of CoR's ad hoc committee on the EU Budget, presented a study on the matter: What role for local and regional authorities in the post-2013 budgetary framework? A territorial perspective on the interrelation between the Europe 2020 strategy, the Multiannual Financial Framework post-2013 and new EU economic governance" - produced by the European Policy Centre (EPC)

Preserving the role of European structural funds managed by regional and local authorities in supporting growth and employment becomes even more important during the crisis.

In the debate following the presentation, besides worries related to the growing contradiction between means and ends of the next programming period, the CoR emphasised the opposition of local and regional authorities to any form of macroeconomic conditionality linking structural funds to national debt levels. Thus, the debate concentrated on the issue of conditionality, and representatives of the Commission described it more as a “nuclear bomb” never to be used than a corrective compulsory measure.

CAAC, after attending the meeting, is currently preparing its own contribution to the CoR’s work, based on the key role cities have to play, the option of macro-regions as a source of efficiency and the prevalence of cohesion and subsidiarity principles.

MORE INFO: Committee of the Regions

French mayors on the crisis

2011-10-10T16:08:00.001+02:00

Dominique Voynet, Philippe Duron, and Alain Maurice, the mayors of major cities gathered in the town hall of Paris for the annual conference of the AMGVF speak on the current crisis. They point to fiscal discipline, the failures of the tax reform, or the persistence of poor distribution of powers between levels of gouvernance. The role of the state, authoritarian while impecunious, is once again strongly criticized by local officials.

Thus, Mayors support the creation of a funding agency for local governments, which would provide three-quarters of public investment. This agency, called "strategic" by the President of the Association of Mayors of France (AMF) Jacques Pélissard (UMP), should come next year and allow communities to have reliable resources.

Moreover, French mayors also want urban policies to become a national priority, with "substantial financial resources while making savings on its administrative organization." They call to adopt the principle of a second urban renewal program. They want to fight against the phenomena of ghettoization.

Finally they suggest to better take into account the traditions and cultural practices and religious diversity, "while still demanding respect for the principles and values of the Republic."
The AMGVF, founded in 1974, consists of 97 cities or groups of municipalities of at least 100,000 inhabitants.

Source: LaGazette des Communes

Gijon - Saint Nazaire: Happy Birthday

2011-09-26T13:18:00.000+02:00

At the beginning of September, the Motorway of the Sea Gijón - Saint Nazaire completed its first year with excellent results. Dedicated to goods usually transported by road and passengers, the line, unites the two ports three times a week. It was created with support from the French and Spanish governments and the European Commission through a grant cofinancing to three years. Also the efforts devoted by the two port authorities in their search for a diversification of traffic are not to be ignored.

The objectives of the Motorways of the Sea are clear: to eliminate heavy vehicles on European roads with a double purpose: to reduce costs (in time and money) and encourage greater respect for the environment. Significant data are the inclusion of it in Spanish Ports Act or the reduction of travel in ten hours.

The success of the line involved using a larger ship than expected, the Norman Asturias, 186.46 meters long and 26 wide, a maximum speed of 24 knots and a capacity for 800 passengers and 400 vehicles. When forecasts were of 60% in the first year, the figures round 90% in the new ship.

As new challenges, boost the load on the French port, enhance the transport of unaccompanied trucks and new cars, and if the market is favourable, increasing frequency.

These results and other components of the success of the Motorway of the Sea Saint-Nazaire-Gijón will be discussed at the Port Cities meeting organized by the CAAC next November 7^th in Saint Nazaire.

The external action of local governments: the internationalization of cities

2011-09-21T14:29:00.000+02:00

Meeting in Madrid at the invitation of the FEMP, a large and successful group of panelists from both the private and public sectors and within the representatives of both political and technical level, reviewed the main issues revolving around the internationalization of cities , as the political leadership in the external strategy of local governments, the use of it in the promotion and development of cities, the so-called city marketing, the socio-cultural dimension of the international projection of cities, development cooperation, multilevel governance, European level as focus of external action outside; all of them enclosed in the mainstream of globalization as a framework.

Regarding the development of an internationalization strategy, the key is the need to observe the external action of the city as another public policy. awareness should, therefore, be raised among all stakeholders while ensuring the implementation of their planning, management and evaluation. For example, through local councils, specific master plans or being included in the strategic plans of the city. A strengthening of political leadership has also been proposed. The external strategy should pivot on the Mayor of the city in order to achieve transversality.

The growing importance that the "urban agenda" is having on European and international fora has been also discussed, so that the international strategy of local governments must have a multidimensional approach. Determining factor when designing the strategy of the city, the European level should not be limited solely to the receipt of funds, but go a step further and utilize the full potential of Europe when internationalizing the city.

As another instrument, development cooperation must also be configured as public policy. In a context of crisis, the thought must come to giving entry to new players and small and medium enterprises and to explore public-private partnerships for development. In this regard, the need to seize all assets of cities, including networks was stressed

Another cross-cutting issue was the need to well communicate the city's international strategy. In this sense there was a consensus on the hitherto existing deficits that call for a significant improvement in both aspects related to European issues as in development cooperation.

As a suggestion to the organizers of the conference, the usefulness of this tool leads to propose this exchange to be repeated with the required regularity.

Enrique Rodríguez Martín

Técnico Superior especialista en iniciativas Internacionales

Ayuntamiento de Gijón (España)

CECICN: Bureau meeting

2011-08-30T16:01:00.000+02:00

CECICN’s political Bureau held its meeting last July 23th in Paris, at MOT headquarters. President Mr. Bugallo handed in his resignation, as he is not the Mayor of Santiago de Compostela any more; so there is opportunity for the other networks to present their candidates for the Presidency. After a short exchange between members there was an agreement about re-electing Mr. Bugallo as President of CECICN, so as to ensure current works until the next Bureau meeting. Regarding the General Secretariat, CECICN members agreed on the proposal of spliting it in two bodies:

- Executive Direction: MOT was elected for this position. Mr. Jean Perony will be the Executive Director of CECICN.

- General Secretariat: RIET was elected for this position. Mr. Xoan Vázquez Mao will be the Secretary General of CECICN.

Both bodies are at equal level and share responsibilities and tasks.

Due to the end of this year, CECICN is preparing a position paper on the importance of Territorial Cooperation, so as to prepare its future after 2013. All networks agreed on the importance of keeping the balance between cross-border and transnational experiences, as well as between all European areas.

The next October, the new secretary general is expected to hold a round of talks in Brussels with the President of the Commission on Regional Policy of European Parliament's, Danuta Hubner, the European director for Cooperation, José Palma Andrés and the new director General for Regional Policy, whose appointment is expected in the fourth quarter, following the retirement of the current postholder, Dirk Ahner.

Among priorities, the organizing a European Conference on Territorial Cooperation in Denmark, the country that will hold the rotating presidency of the Union during the first half of 2012. This conference aims to set priorities for cooperation policy in the period 2014-2020 and defending co-operation of second generation.

Santander : Smart and Sustainable

2011-08-19T12:35:00.000+02:00

Santander Mayor, Iñigo De la Serna, has recently announced the creation of the Spanish network of Smart Cities, composed by cities of the Atlantic Area such as Vitoria, Logrono or Santander among others. De la Serna stressed that these cities are "involved" to become members of the Smart Cities Network, which will be "hugely positive" for the quality of life of the citizens thereof.

Thus, he considered that given the current economic climate, this network of cities may, in addition to improving services, "optimizing public resources, saving costs, improving energy efficiency and display an image of the cities according to the present time of modernity ". Improving public services is made through a commitment to "new technologies and innovation," something that will affect "a positive effect on employment generation and wealth of the municipalities," as this "path "captures" new business opportunities. "

Santander Major also pointed out that the "challenge" of smart cities is "totally transform the city by changing the way of providing public services and making human participation is dwindling," and getting the machines that are made "an exchange as autonomous as possible" to improve efficiency. De la Serna emphasized the crucial role of the projects' SmartSantander 'and AutoSmart', aimed at developing energy efficiency programs, traffic control, building management, public transport and waste treatment, among others.

At the same time, Santander has been accepted as part of the World Bank Network of Sustainable Cities. World Bank has showed its interest, at several occasions, in the experience that has involved cleaning up the bay of Santander, the implementation of Local Agenda 21, the management of water service and sewer in the Municipality of Santander, the strategy for the Conservation of Biodiversity, the Framework Agreement on climate change, actions taken to recover degraded areas and policies for citizen participation in the care and promotion of the Environment.

Urban dimension of macro-regions

2011-08-01T12:31:00.000+02:00

The fifth report on Cohesion Policy highlights both the role of cities as well as the specific problems derived from the geography, orography and position of certain territories.

An ex ante evaluation of the sector policies will facilitate that the territorial cohesion objectives are integrated in the corresponding European and national policies with territorial impact, in order for it not to be necessary to use the financial resources to compensate the negative effects of the sector policies. A possible response to this challenge could come from the current and future development of the macro-regional strategies which include an strong urban dimension.

This strong urban dimension has been defined an analysed by CAAC at its General Assembly, and it is now open for comments and dialogue with interested stakeholders.

PLEASE FIND THE DISCUSSION DOCUMENT HERE

CITIES PROJECT. CREATIVE INDUSTRIES IN TRADITIONAL INTERCULTURAL SPACES

2011-07-07T10:23:00.001+02:00

CITIES Project is a joined initiative generated by 9 partners from 6 different European countries: Lithuania, Italy, Portugal, Hungary, Slovenia, and Spain. Klaipeda City Municipality as the main project initiator performed the Lead Partner role. INTERREG IV C Programme is a Priority 1, sub-theme: entrepreneurship and SMEs.
From the beginning of the Project, on October 2008, to the end, September 2011 CITIES project focuses on promotion of entrepreneurship on creative and cultural sectors through interregional cooperation, including the development and introduction of new strategies. The establishment of creative network with the use of instruments and tools at regional or local level provides support for the entrepreneurship in creative and cultural industries.
Regarding the Project Results. Project Communication and Dissemination includes the Project website design and maintenance, Newsletters containing the carried out and planned activities, leaflets, publications and media.
Concerning the Exchange of Experiences. It was completed through organization and participation in Workshops, Study visits, Seminars, Staff exchanges and Interregional Conferences.13 Best Practices were identified within the Creative and Cultural Industries and they were collected in CITIES Project Best Practice Guide/ Final Report.
Related to Pilot Actions Implementation and Evaluation. These pilot actions are taking place in Modena, Italy and Celje, Slovenia by a specific methodology.

During June 14 and 15, 2011 the Final Conference of CITIES Project:” Creativity and Partnership for Cities´ Urban Regeneration "took place in Klaipeda, Lithuania.
Project partners made a statement of the creative industries in their cities and the achievements of the project. Various experts spoke about creative industries at European level, as Ele-Mall Vainomäe, Taillin Creative Incubator (Estonia); Neil McInroy, Centre for Local Economy Strategies (CLES), Manchester (UK) and Andrew Missingham, CITIES Project Creative Expert. Finally, there was a conference-debate with all the participants at the event.

More info: Cities Project

Call for papers Portus Plus: Deadline 15/07/2011

2011-06-30T11:31:00.000+02:00

The “Call for papers” for Portusplus is finalized towards the collection and diffusion on the web of interdisciplinary scientific documents, focused on the many themes of interest concerning port cities and urban waterfronts. The objective is to satisfy the demand for knowledge and for the diffusion of new research studies, policies, processes and actions in order to stimulate the interdisciplinary debate.

The call for papers is open to articles from the world of science, academics and culture, from experts and technicians, from contributors who operate within institutions and research centers and in general from anyone who in any position has knowledge and experience in the various disciplines that deal with the following themes:

A. The contemporary port city and the new models of port-city relationships

B. The regeneration of urban-port waterfronts

C. Teaching the port city

D. The Latin-American port city

The papers submitted will be evaluated by a “Review Committee”, composed of prestigious international experts in the field, and, if they are considered worthy, will be published in the Portusplus digital magazine. The articles which are considered to be of particular interest will also published in an abridged version in the printed magazine Portus.

Please contact RETE

General Assembly of MOT

2011-06-24T00:00:00.000+02:00

The 2011 Annual General Meeting of the Mission Opérationnelle Transfrontalière (MOT) took place on 16 June at Reims (France), on the invitation of the Champagne Ardenne Region, member of MOT for several years. Chaired by Michel DELEBARRE,a Conference-Debate was organized the day before, on 15 June 2011 focusing on the subject of cross-border cooperation: from national strategies to territorial projects.

In this Conference, Marie Therese Sanchez Schmidt from The European Parliament, mentioned that Atlantic and Danube are macro-regions in the making. Although the structure EGTC may seem appropriate, it is not ready yet and is too heavy. The main aim to be achieved is to provide mechanisms for participation of civil society in these integrated strategies while symplifying procedures.
More Info: MOT

THE ATLANTIC REGIONS come to the rescue of European solidarity

2011-06-14T01:44:00.008+02:00

The General Assembly of the Atlantic Arc Commission of the Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) was held on 9 and 10 June 2011 in La Rochelle (FR), at the invitation of Ségolène Royal, President of Poitou-Charentes Region (FR).

The European Strategy for the Atlantic was at the heart of the debates. As confirmed by Paul Nemitz (Head of Unit within DG MARE) during his speech, this strategy will be presented by the European Commission in the autumn.

Laurent Beauvais, President of the Atlantic Arc Commission and of Basse-Normandie Region (FR) emphasised the closeness to, and the projects that should emerge from, the Atlantic Strategy, by calling upon the European Commission for the Regions to be involved during the presentation of the Communication.

The meeting particularly focused on the sectors that could benefit from the implementation of this strategy, including renewable marine energies, transport, marine research and nautical tourism. In her speech, Ségolène Royal, President of Poitou-Charentes Region stated that the Atlantic Strategy must speed up the ecological transformation of the Atlantic Regions and proposed an “industrial project, shared by the whole Atlantic, for example for the renewable marine energy sector”.

Jean-Yves Le Drian, President of the CPMR and of Brittany Region, invited the Atlantic Regions to take action with a view to the new Regulations that will govern Regional Policy post-2013, “The action taken needs to be continued so that the Atlantic Strategy is included amongst the priority areas for the definition of the future macro-regional strategies.”

On Regional Policy, Alain Rousset, President of Aquitaine Region (FR) underlined the need to link the Atlantic Strategy and the negotiations on the future of Structural Funds, especially the ESF. “Thanks to this support, it is possible to give youth a chance; they are currently hit hard by unemployment.”

Finally, Alain Cadec (EPP-FR), MEP, announced that the European Parliament would present an own-initiative report on the actions to be carried out in the framework of this strategy. Mr Cadec also confirmed the creation of an Atlantic Forum to feed into the discussions on the content of the Strategy.

Safer Seas : The wave arrives to Brest

2011-05-15T17:38:00.001+02:00

Safer Seas is a major event organized by Brest Métropole Océane, in coordination with the Technopôle Brest Iroise science park and the Pôle Mer marine competitiveness cluster, under the auspices of the International Maritime Organization (IMO), United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), European Union and French government. It was held the last May, from 10th to 13th.

Represented by its president, M. Philippe Duron, CAAC was chairing the closing seminar, a session that underlined the innovative potential that lies within institutional cooperation, international networks of scientific research, science parks, regional maritime clusters and networks of professionals. The round table was composed by personalities of the International maritime policy, such as Ester GONZALES, director of SASEMAR, Laurent BELLAVANCE, director of Technopôle Maritime du Québec or M. Victor ALVARADO-MARTINEZ, Minister for Environment of Veracruz.

Port Cities in the Atlantic Area :

2011-05-01T17:16:00.009+02:00

The seminar "Urban-Port Waterfronts. A new generation of sustainable projects and activities », organized by the Port Authority of Santander in collaboration with RETE and CITAP and was held on 14, 15 and April 16, 2011. The meeting was dedicated to the analysis in the context of the dynamics of change currently evident in the port cities, on the "new generation" of reconversion of sea-port waterfronts, whose common denominator is the paradigm of sustainability; and to reflect on how they have begun to transform the principles and policies that until now have based this type of operation.

CAAC was represented by its coordinator, Ms. Tamara Guirao, to present a document on “Atlantic Port Cities: looking back to the Sea”, published by the magazines Portus and Portus Plus. Following the request of the European Council in June to the European Commission to lay the groundwork for an integrated maritime strategy for the Atlantic Area; the Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities is mobilized to define the port-city relationships in this space. Thus the article pretends to define the influence of ports in the development of the Atlantic Arc Cities, as well as the links with other issues such as climate change. The aim is to develop a field reflection, establishing good practice and future actions, thus providing a common vision that leverages the synergies between the various stakeholders.

Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities

2010-04-11T22:31:00.002+02:00

Faced with the specific characteristics of the Atlantic area and the shared expectations of its cities, the Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities lobbies to contribute towards the balanced development of the European territory by promoting the principle of territorial cohesion, to gain recognition of the essential role cities play as drivers in regional development, and to establish a joint urban response to the objectives fixed by the Community on an economic, social and environmental level.

Moreover, the Atlantic cities express their desire to carry forward the vocation of the Atlantic area to establish a new strategy based on sustainable development and define a new “green” urban model. CAAC’s mission as defined in the Rennes and San Sebastián Charters may be resumed as follows: " To establish in the Atlantic area a forum for cooperation between cities based on key issues such as seeking best examples in environmental matters, sustainable and innovative economic development, strengthening social cohesion and diversity, developing more open, effective and ambitious cooperation and supporting and enhancing the shared identity of Atlantic cities and their maritime heritage, all with the prime objective of making Atlantic cities areas of influence and attractiveness through networking."