The European Week of Regions and Cities 2018, the annual four-day event in Brussels, runs from today to October 11, where officials from regions and municipalities, as well as experts and representatives from the academic world, can exchange good practices and knowledge on Regional and Urban Development. The meeting is also a recognized platform for political communication on EU cohesion policy, raising awareness among policy makers on the importance of regions and cities in shaping EU policies. Find out everything about this great event on the European Week of Regions and Cities website.

In May PO SEUR will participate in the initiative EU in my Region, an European Commission campaign that encourages citizens to discover European projects in the area where they live and to share their images and experiences. To celebrate Europe Day, on May 9th, during this month some co-financed projects will be with Doors Open to be visited by the general public, making contact with the results of European funds more close and direct. Check out all the projects at www.euinmyregion.eu.

To address the financing of clean energy for all Europeans, the European Parliament and the European Commission co-organize a high-level Conference on 7 November between 9.30 and 6.30 CET in Brussels. Among the themes of the conference that will take place in the European Parliament are the role of EU funding in the energy transition, investment in large energy projects including cross-border transport infrastructures and electricity production infrastructure from renewable energies.

With a view to strengthening the single market as part of a continuous effort to stimulate investment in the European Union (EU), the Commission has presented an initiative to carry out public procurement more efficiently and in a sustainable way while at the same time making full use of digital technologies to simplify and speed up procedures. Public procurement represents a substantial part of our public investment: EUR 2 billion a year, which represents 14% of EU GDP. Ensuring that taxpayers' money is spent efficiently and effectively is in the common European interest.

Until 22 September European citizens will have a full week dedicated to sustainable mobility. The aim of this initiative is to facilitate a broad debate on the need for behavioral changes in relation to mobility, specifically regarding the use of private cars. The National Campaign shares the European objectives for the recovery of the environmental quality of cities. Learn more about the various initiatives here.

This guide covers potential beneficiaries of European Union (EU) funding and aims to familiarize the reader with EU funding. For more detailed information, you can consult the website of the European Commission. The Guide is available for download directly here or through the Documentation - Community Guidance Documents tab.

With the celebration of another Europe Day, an initiative since 1985 celebrating peace and union among the peoples of Europe, Portugal will offer you numerous activities. Between shows, workshops and seminars, many projects supported by funds of the European Union will be opening doors to. You can also participate in the Treasure Hunt, in the Photography Contest or Blogs Contest and qualify for prizes. The campaign Europe in my Region 2016 runs throughout the month of May, as part of the Europe Day celebration.

Today, May 9, Europe Day, we thanks Europe and all Portuguese by celebrating the success of implementation of structural funds, with the display of a spot in RTP 1, RTP Madeira and RTP Açores which will help share the existence of future projects and verify that regional disparities were ameliorated with its implementation.

The European Commission launches today the first "Europe in My Region" campaign to encourage citizens to discover and learn more about EU-funded projects all around Europe. Organised by Commission's Directorate-General for Regional Policy with the support of Managing Authorities and the Commission's Representations, "Europe in My Region" will run from 29 April to 11 June in 23 EU countries involving over 1,200 events with thousands of citizens expected to attend.

If you would like to know what the European Union held in 2015, the General Report ' The EU in 2015 ' answers this and other questions. In this document you can find out what progress the EU has made in the implementation of its priorities, the measures taken to boost employment, growth and investment and the role it played in the agreement reached in Paris on Climate Change.

The Juncker Commission's top priority is to get Europe growing again and to increase the number of jobs without creating new debt. The European Fund for Strategic Investments (EFSI) - the heart of the Investment Plan for Europe - and European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) both play a crucial role in creating jobs and growth. 

From June 14 to 16 the EUSEW - Sustainable Energy European Week takes place in Brussels, at which, under its Policy Conference, the European Union is asking for contributions to the edition 2016 until 22 February 2016. It is a good opportunity to help shape the energy landscape and play a role in the activation of the European Energy Union. Watch the video to learn more about EUSEW.

Today marks the launch of the RegioStars Awards 2016 by the European Commission's Directorate General for Regional and Urban Policy.
The objective of RegioStars is to identify good practice in regional development and to highlight original and innovative projects which could be inspiring to other regions and project managers.

Now available here is a Practical Guide (in portuguese) for which the European Commission is responsible, on public procurement to assist administrations and beneficiaries to take full advantage of EU investment. The Guide is one of the action elements of the plan for public procurement, which is part of a broader initiative launched by Commissioner for Regional Policy, Corina Creţu, to help Member States and regions to improve the way to invest and manage the cohesion policy funds.

The European Commission recently launched its new publication "Ten priorities for Europe - a new start for Europe: the European Union's agenda for jobs, growth, equity and democratic change" as part of the collection "Understanding EU policies". The European Union is facing unprecedented challenges, from high unemployment, slow economic growth, economic uncertainty and a huge lack of investment, to migratory pressure and challenges in environmental and safety as well as the instability of its neighbor countries.

There are been elaborated some small films about projects supported under the National Strategic Reference Framework in the 2007 to 2013 programming period. These video pieces aimed to disclose the impact that European Union Funds have in lives of Portuguese people. With duration between one and fifteen minutes, this short films could be watched at AD&C youtube canal.

Today, the Commission adopted a Communication on the contribution of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESI Funds) to the EU's growth strategy, the Investment Plan and theCommission's priorities over the next decade. The report also includes the outcomes of the negotiations with all the Member States on Partnership Agreements and programmes and the key challenges per country.

6 weeks have passed since Commissioner Ms Corina Creţu launched a public consultation on overcoming obstacles in border regions. We are now halfway through the consultation period and we need your help in getting as many replies as possible to the questionnaire! You can find it here. 

As a first step following the European Citizens' Initiative Right2Water, new rules adopted by the Commission today provide flexibility to Member States as to how drinking water quality is monitored in around 100 000 water supply zones in Europe. This will allow for more focused, risk-based monitoring, while ensuring full protection of public health.

It was recently published by the European Commission (EC) the Pocket Guide on the initiative "Innovation Union" under the Europe 2020 Strategy, which aims to create a Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth. The future of Europe is linked to its innovation capacity. The solution is the "Innovation Union", a rich initiative in actions which aims to a Europe that favors innovation.

Now, in early September, an European Commission Report was published presenting Eurobarometer 423, with the results of surveys to citizens about the impact of European regional policy. The study was conducted in June 2015 and presents data relating to the 28 Member States about the perception of citizens on the impact of policies. The full report can be found here.

The website for the Curator of the Beneficiary of European Structural and Investment Funds is already operating. The Curator's mission is to receive and consider complaints from beneficiaries of European funds and make recommendations on them, and to propose the adoption of measures to contribute to the improvement on management of Portugal 2020.

The study by Francisco Manuel dos Santos Foundation, coordinated by Augusto Mateus, analyzes in detail the development of Portugal over the first three decades of European Union integration.