EPRC presentation at the 8th European Week of Regions and Cities (Open Days 2010)

Laura Polverari represented EPRC at the European Commission's 2010 'Open Days' event in Brussels, the key annual event for policy-makers and scholars involved in Cohesion policy. The eighth Open Days was held on 4-7 October and focused on the topic of 'Europe 2020: Competitiveness, cooperation and cohesion for all regions'. Laura Polverari presented a paper on 'New Partnership Dynamics in a Changing Cohesion Policy Context' at the Civil Society Forum organised by ECAS (European Citizens Action Service), in cooperation with DG Regio. Based on research undertaken in the context of http://www.eprc.strath.ac.uk/iqnet/default.cfm IQ-Net, the paper considered the horizontal dimension of partnership, particularly the involvement of non-government actors. The panel, which focused on the topic 'Principle of Partnership : mind the gap with practice' was attended by policy-makers and representatives from NGOs from across the EU. Together with Laura, other speakers included: Thomas Wobben, of the Representation of Sachsen-Anhalt to the EU (Chair); David Sweet, European Commission, (Senior Adviser to Dirk Ahner); Jan Olsson, member of the European Social and Economic Committee; and, of course, Anthony Venables, Chairman of the European Citizen Action Service.