The European Week of Regions and Cities is the key annual event for regional and local authorities. Organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), the European Week of Regions and Cities has become a unique stakeholders' communication and networking platform for regional policy, bringing together regions and cities from all over Europe and beyond. Over the last 16 years it has done much to promote policy learning and the exchange of good practices for the implementation of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF).

In 2019 the 17th European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) took place from 7 to 10 October in Brussels and consist of more than 300 working sessions, exhibitions and networking activities, with over 9000 participants, 1000 speakers and 200 journalists.

The Directorate for EU Affairs with Union of Municipalities of Turkey, Union of Provinces and MoEU-DGLA took part for the first time in the 17th EWRC as the “Town Twinning between Turkey and the European Union” (TWIN) Project. The TWIN Project has been attended to the event by installing a stand which was named “Town Twinning: Connecting Turkey and Europe” in the 'Agore Village' exhibition hall inside 'Building SQUARE' where many of the EU Region Week activities have took place.

Town Twinning: Connecting Turkey and Europe Booth Area (TWIN Stand) activities have been carried out as part of two main activities.
• TT Tool Promotion Activities: Promote TT Tool to participants through some activities
• TWIN Experience Sharing: Grant projects sharing their experiences with participants

REGIONS AND CITIES: PILLARS OF THE EU'S FUTURE 

2019 has been marked by the European elections and the continuation of the inter-institutional negotiations on both the EU budget and the cohesion policy package for 2021-2027. In this context, EU regions and cities can play a key role in building a strong cohesion policy for the future, by emphasising the achievements of the policy over the 2014-2019 term and capitalising on them to feed into the debates with new ideas and projects. And this was where the 17th European Week of Regions and Cities could be a powerful sounding board, in particular for the newly-elected Parliament. 

Building on the 8th Summit of Regions and Cities in Bucharest in March 2019, the European Week of Regions and Cities should have been designed to attract regional and local politicians. It meant that  heavyweight politicians (such as current presidents of regions), young elected politicians as well as members of the European Committee of the Regions. 

Regions and cities can build on an impressive record of tangible achievements in 2014-2019. Staying true to its roots, cohesion policy has continued to ensure that no region and nobody is left behind, and is ready to seize the opportunities of being part of the world's largest internal market. It supports economic, social and territorial cohesion in all EU regions, empowering them through over 120 smart specialisation strategies, which are helping them to identify their competitive advantages and find new growth opportunities, in many cases by boosting industrial transition. It has joined forces with the Juncker Investment Plan to accompany SMEs on their way towards a carbon-free economy and facilitated integration of migrants. The EU Solidarity Fund has provided tremendous support for regions hit by natural disasters, and strong efforts have been made to overcome obstacles to cross-border life and work. But this is not all: EU regions and cities have also become essential actors in simplifying cohesion policy, especially in the context of the work of the High-level Group on Simplification for Beneficiaries or the various partnerships of the Urban Agenda for the EU. 

The challenge for the 17th EU Week of Regions and Cities is to capitalise on these exceptional achievements to demonstrate why cohesion policy must continue to be a pillar of the EU's future, as called for by the #CohesionAlliance. While the Commission proposals for 2021-2027 set the targets for our continent for the next decade, the EU Week in October 2019 should discuss the best way to translate these targets into tangible projects and ideas, and then into the achievements that are the landmarks of this policy. Stakeholders' contributions will be invaluable in cohesion policy for 2021-2027. 

The 16th EU Week in October 2018 turned out to be the largest gathering ever of cohesion policy practitioners, with over 7 000 Partners coming to Brussels, following the opening by Mr Juncker. A similar gathering of knowledge, experience and good practice, albeit one more open to citizens, particularly in Brussels, and regional and local politicians, can really make a difference in building a strong cohesion policy for the future. 

TOWN TWINNING: CONNECTING TURKEY AND EUROPE 

TWIN Stand- Timing of Activities:

The TWIN Stand has been installed in the 'Agore Village' exhibition hall inside 'Building SQUARE' where many of the EU Region Week activities have took place. The stand was open from 11:00-21:00 hours for four days and TWIN Stand activities, all, have been performed between these hours. TWIN Project delegation have also participated in all EU Regions Week activities between the same hours.  

*Face to Face Meetings:

Face to face meetings at the TWIN Stand have been served, first and foremost to promote the TT Tool and the TWIN project and the Grant Scheme. The stand has been equipped with LCD screens to promote as well as to air online presentations about the TT Tool. Participants had enjoy their drinks and food during presentations as well as promo gifts. All times other than TT Tool promotion activities were free for exchange.

*Introductive Videos and Electronic Visual Presentations

In order to increasing visibility of the Town Twinning: Connecting Turkey And Europe stand several materials has been designed. Within the rule of EWRC’s paperless promotion rule, all materials has been prepared in electronic format. On the other LCD screen, there has been rotating e-posters to announce Town Twinning: Connecting Europe and Turkey Stand Activities as well as other promotion features. Electronic posters have been prepared are as follows: 

• TT Tool promo poster
• TWIN Project promo poster
• TWIN Experience Sharing Announcement Posters – 1 for each of the 10 Grant Projects

Click here for more photos from the EWRC 2019.