1. AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session 16 March 2010, Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

2. Opening of the meeting 1.Introduction by the President of Committee 1, Håkan Sandgren (Jönköping-SE) 2.Adoption of the minutes from the previous meeting (Sundsvall, Västernorrland-SE, 22 September 2009) 3.Adoption of the draft agenda 14:30 - 14:50 AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

3. Cohesion Policy after 2013 4.Recent developments on cohesion policy 5.AER Conference on cohesion policy to be held on 7 th December and Preparatory workshops 14:50 - 15:20 AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

4. 4. Recent developments on cohesion policy AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO Recommendations adopted in 2009: follow-up AER lobbying activities Recent developments at EU level and AER reactions

5. 5. AER Conference on cohesion policy and preparatory workshops 1 st preparatory workshop on indicators: 20 April 2010, Brussels 2 nd and 3 rd workshops to be held in June and September AER Conference on cohesion policy - 7 December 2010, hosted by Bruxelles-Capitale (B) AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

6. Economic Development & Innovation 6.Update on innovation award: 2010 edition 7.Upcoming Training Academy on innovation 8.Discussion over the Contribution of R&D (Research and Development) to Prosperity of all Regions in Europe, topic of the next AER General Assembly 9.AER upcoming activities on Women entrepreneurship in cooperation with the Istanbul region 15:20 - 15:40 AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

7. 6. Update on innovation award: 2010 edition Give recognition to regional actors stimulating, fostering and implementing innovation in their territory Priorities: Economy, people, research & development 5th edition launched in February 2010, deadline 1st June 2010 Award will be given during the General Assembly on 9 and 10 November 2010 in Istanbul. AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

8. 7. Training Academy on Innovation Targeting regional politicians and officers in charge of innovation policy How to set up / improve a regional innovation system Good practice in regional innovation (winners of the innovation award) Outlook on EU innovation policy and funding Before summer break 2010 AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

9. 8. General Assembly 2010 Research + Development = Regional Prosperity? Demands for an effective R & D Policy Main theme: Research policy Political, technical, budgetary aspects Success stories from the regions AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

10. 9. Activities on Women Entrepreneurship 25 March 2010, Istanbul: “Promoting Women Entrepreneurship in European Regions – Opening Doors to a Brighter Future“ 3 - 4 June 2010, Istanbul: Training Academy on Women Entrepreneurship AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

11. AER and EU 2020 10.EC consultation paper and AER first reaction 11.Outcome of the Conference organised with Eurochambers in Brussels in February 2010 12.New EC communication, decision-making process to take place until final adoption in June 13.AER final contribution to the debate and steps to be taken in the coming weeks 15:40 - 16:00 AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

12. 10. Europe 2020 - EC consultation and AER reaction November 2009: EC Working Document and consultation December 2010: AER reaction Avoid the mistakes from the Lisbon Strategy Need to create ownership Bottom-up approach and multi level governance Alignment with budgets and programmes > cohesion policy is an instrument but should not be subordinated to Europe 2020 Agriculture missing AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

13. 11. “Regional Actors for Growth and Innovation” 2 Februry 2010 Presentation of the AER position Presentation of good practice from member regions Vienna: Mentoring for Migrants Rhône-Alpes: Urban Bus & Trucks Lombardy: Kyoto Desk Baden-Württemberg: Business Mediators Wallonie: Technology Vouchers AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

14. 12. EC Draft Communication on the Europe 2020 Strategy 3 priorities: smart, sustainable and inclusive growth 5 targets: 75% of population aged 20-64 in employment 3% of EU’s GDP invested in R&D 20/20/20 climate/energy targets Share of early school leavers under 10% and 40% of younger generation with a tertiary degree 20 million less people at the risk of poverty AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

15. 12. EC Draft Communication on the Europe 2020 Strategy 7 flagship initiatives Innovation Union Youth on the move A digital agenda for Europe Resource efficient Europe An industrial policy for the globalisation era An agenda for new skill and jobs European platform against poverty AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

16. 12. EC Draft Communication on the Europe 2020 Strategy 2 pillars: Thematic approach through flagship initiatives Country reporting: integrated guidelines and country-specific recommendations Ownership with Member States Commission monitoring progress “National, regional and local authorities should implement the partnership,...” AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

17. 13 AER final contribution and steps to be taken 9 March 2010 European Parliament debate and adoption of resolution Spring Council (25/26 March): Agreement on overall approach and headline targets June Council (17 / 18 June): Approval of Europe 2020 Strategy, validation of EU and national targests and endorsement of the integrated guidelines  AER position to the June Council AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

18. Europe 2020 - Key points of and AER position on Europe 2020 Avoid the mistakes from the Lisbon Strategy Need to create ownership Need of bottom-up approach and multi level governance Need of alignment with budgets and programmes Cohesion Policy is an instrument but should not be subordinated to Europe 2020 Agriculture missing and should be added AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

19. AER Energy activities16:30 - 16:40 14.AER Energy study 15.AER “European Regions” Energy Day (28- 29/04/2010) 16.Other past and upcoming activities

20. 14. AER Energy Study AER survey on regional energy policy 66 regions from 25 countries Energy landscape: production, energy mix, consumption Energy policy: strategy existing, regional activity, use of EU fund, plans for the future Results to be presented at the European Regions Energy Day on 28/29 April 2010 AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

21. 15. AER European Regions Energy Day Event in cooperation with GE Energy and the region of Baden-Württemberg, to be held annually at the end of April in Brussels (in cooperation with different regions) Regional decision makers and energy experts from all over Europe Conclusion of AER’s activity on energy and information about policy solutions developed Discussion the role of regions in climate protection and energy policy and showcasing regional solutions. AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

22. 16. Other past and upcoming energy activities Sustainable Energy Week MORE4NRG Thematic seminar in Brussels 8 April 2010, Munich, Bavaria (D): Innovation in Energy and Research Policy - Study tour to GE Global Research 8 April 2010, Munich, Bavaria (D): Meeting of the Working Group on Climate Change and Energy AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO

23. European projects in which AER is involved16:40 - 17:00 17.Information on More4NRG, INTERREG IVC project 18.Information on ECREIN +, INTERREG IVC project

24. AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO 17. Information on More4NRG, INTERREG IVC project Collection of best practices towards RES and EE Peer reviews in Gabrovo (BG) and Prahova (RO) Next peer review in Abruzzo (IT) Thematic seminar to held in Abruzzo (IT), October 2010

25. AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO 18. Information on ECREIN + INTERREG IVC project ECREIN + : European Clusters and Regions for Eco-investments Network Topic: regional support to green innovation Partnership: 12 regions + AER (LP: Rhône-Alpes-F) Duration period: 1 st January 2010 - 31 st December 2012

26. AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO Rural development17:00 - 17:10 19.Next meeting of the working group on rural development. Double objective: expert input on CAP issues & experience-sharing on identified topics Next meeting in May: interested officers/politicians can contribute to the agenda Need to find a new Region to chair the working group

27. AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO Sustainable tourism17:10 - 17:20 20.Adoption of the draft AER answer to the EC discussion document on “A new framework for tourism policy in the EU”

28. AER Committee 1 Spring Plenary Session / 16 March 2010 / Alba Iulia, Alba, RO Miscellaneous17:20 - 17:30 21.Announcement of elections to be held in the next plenary meeting in October (Committee 1 Presidium) 22.Announcement of the next meeting of the Monitoring and Evaluation Standing Committee, 26 April 2010 23.Announcement of the next General Assembly, Istanbul (TR), 10-12 November 2010