1. What is it about? Working together for Regional Growth and Jobs The European Week of Regions and Cities is an event for up to 2,000 regional policy experts organised by the European Commission, the Committee of the Regions and 16 groups presenting 105 European regions. The event comprises about 70 sessions, seminars and workshops dealing with the 2007-2013 generation of Structural Funds programmes. More information: http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/opendays/

2. Commissioner Danuta Hübner, responsible for Regional Policy: OPEN DAYS 2005 will be a market place for new ideas and a platform for exchanging experiences in regional development. The EU should make better use of the unlocked potential of its regions and cities by focusing on best practices in innovation, and more knowledge- based and sustainable pathways to growth and jobs.

3. Peter Straub, President of the Committee of the Regions: This will be our third annual OPEN DAYS and the most successful yet in terms of participation. OPEN DAYS is the premier event of its kind because it focuses on the daily, practical concerns of the regions and cities that are Europes engine of growth. OPEN DAYS is not a talking shop: its about delivering results and getting the EU economy back on track.

4. Objective strengthen economic and social cohesion and reduce regional disparities Instruments three Objectives and four Community Initiatives; 49.5% of the population in EU25 live in areas covered by Objective 1 or Objective 2 Financial resources about Euro 265 bn representing one third of the EU's total budget or 0.45% of the EUs GDP Regional Policy 2000-2006

5. Geographical Eligibility 2007-2013 Draft April 2005, GDP/head 2000-2001-2002 Convergence objective Regions > 75% in EU25) Objective Regional Competitiveness and Employment Phasing-in regions, "naturally" above 75% Objective Regional Competitiveness and Employment Convergence objective statistically affected regions Regional Policy 2007-2013* EUR 336.1 bn for EU27 of which for Convergence: EUR 264 bn Competitiveness and Employment: EUR 57.9 bn European Territorial Cooperation: EUR 13.2 bn *Commission proposal

6. Participating regions

7. Programme: 10-13 October 2005 66 workshops/seminars, 3 plenary sessions under 4 thematic headings: Convergence Competitiveness and Employment European Territorial Cooperation Programme Management 330 speakers and 2,000 participants from all over Europe See details at: http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/opendays/program.cfm http://europa.eu.int/comm/regional_policy/opendays/program.cfm

8. Programme: Schedule Monday 10 October Thursday 13 October Tuesday 11 October Wednesday 12 October Events in partner offices morningafternoon 15:00-17:00 Opening session 15:00-17:00 Debate at the beginning of the Plenary Session 19:00- Official Reception 15:30-17:30 Closing session

9. Contact details Conference Secretariat conference-secretariat@opendays2005.com Contact for Participants: Sophie Charre Contact for Speakers: Anouk Verlinden Tel: +32 (0)2 737 95 65 Fax: +32 (0)2 737 95 67 Committee of the Regions opendays@cor.eu.int tel. +32 (0)2 282 20 27 (Jan Blaha) tel. +32 (0)2 282 21 40 (Ulrika Lagergren) fax. +32 (0)2 282 20 85 European Commission Regional Policy DG regio-info@cec.eu.int tel. +32 (0)2 295 53 69 (Charles White) tel. +32 (0)2 299 88 32 (Wolfgang Petzold) fax. +32 (0)2 296 60 03