EWRC 2018: Republic of Srpska active in Regional Cooperation
As every year, the Republic of Srpska actively participated in the 16th edition of the European Week of Region Cities 2018 organized by the Committee of the Regions and the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) during the period October 8/11 in Brussels.
Within the framework of the main event, the conference "The role and the challenges of cultural heritage" was held on 9 October organized by "Castilla y Leon Region partnership", where the Republic of Srpska took the role as a partner and contributor among many other regions from Spain, Portugal, Germany and Croatia. The aim of the event was to discuss current challenges and projects under the topic of cultural heritage.
The main event programme consisted of over 160 workshops and debates under the headline of 'For a strong EU Cohesion Policy beyond 2020' during the European Week of Regions and Cities. Many regions and cities from over 140 countries joined efforts with the European Committee of the Regions, European Commission DG Regional and Urban Policy and over 13 other Directorates-General and 3 executive agencies of the European Commission, plus private and institutional partners, in order to make an interesting and enriching event.
The European Week of Regions and Cities is an annual four-day event during which cities and regions showcase their capacity to create growth and jobs, implement European Union cohesion policy, and prove the importance of the local and regional level for good European governance.
The event was created in 2003 when the European Committee of the Regions invited Brussels-based local and regional representations to the European Union to open their doors to visitors simultaneously. One year later the European Commission's DG for Regional Policy also joined the adventure.
Developing from the initial concept, the event has become a European networking platform for experts in regional and local development. Exchange of good practice in economic development and social inclusion, cross-border cooperation, public-private partnerships, regional innovation and community-led local development have become some of its many topics.
Over the years, the event has grown into the key event on EU Regional Policy. It welcomes some 6.000 participants in October each year (local, regional, national and European decision-makers and experts) for more than 100 workshops and debates, exhibitions and networking opportunities.
In addition to the Brussels-based workshops, local events are run from September to November all over Europe.