EURADA - European Association of Development Agencies

Regions & Cities call for a rethink on the EU’s post-2027 budget 💬🇪🇺 Recently, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) issued a clear message: the current proposal for the EU’s long-term budget could undermine cohesion and regional influence. Key concerns include: 🔸 The proposed merging of Cohesion Policy and agricultural funding into a single “large fund” risks pitting regions, cities, and farmers against each other. 🔸 A shift towards centralised control under national governments could erode multi-level governance and local oversight, sidelining regional and urban authorities. 🔸 Without stronger legal guarantees, there is a real danger that not all regions will retain access to cohesion investments. The CoR is now working on a detailed opinion on the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF), to be adopted in March 2026, aiming to promote a more decentralised, place-based, and democratically accountable budget. Why it matters for regional development 🌍 A strong, place-based Cohesion Policy is the bedrock of regional competitiveness, social inclusion, and sustainable growth. If regions are sidelined, the reform could weaken the EU’s ability to address territorial inequalities and ensure balanced development. ➡️ EURADA supports this call: regional voices must be at the table when EU investments are designed. Let’s stand together for a future EU budget that empowers, not sidelines, our territories. 💪🤝 #EUBudget #CohesionPolicy #Regions #MultilevelGovernance https://lnkd.in/dzDz7xtY

🌊 Strengthening cooperation with our island member Recently, our members from the Gozo Regional Development Authority visited Brussels, and it was a pleasure to welcome them to EURADA’s premises for an insightful exchange and update on their ongoing initiatives. Our colleagues from Gozo are addressing several key island challenges, including climate resilience and adaptation, as well as inter- and intra-island transport connectivity with Valletta. They are also advancing data-driven regional policies, supporting the development of a smart and sustainable local economy. Given that several EURADA members represent insular territories, the EURADA Secretariat is currently exploring the creation of a dedicated Working Group on Islands and Insular Development, planned to be launched in 2026. This initiative aims to foster knowledge exchange, joint projects, and innovative approaches to strengthen regional development across Europe’s islands. #RegionalDevelopment #Islands #Innovation #Sustainability

🌍 The EU unveils a new international strategy for a clean and resilient transition The European Commission has presented a new International Strategy to strengthen Europe’s global role and drive the transition towards a clean, secure, and sustainable economy. This vision seeks to consolidate Europe’s international leadership in clean technologies and sustainable cooperation. The strategy outlines key actions to: ✅ Strengthen the competitiveness of European industry and support resilient investments; ✅ Connect European businesses to global markets through joint investments and the diffusion of European technologies; ✅ Expand green and resilient value chains via trade agreements and strategic partnerships; ✅ Advocate for the reform of global financial institutions to back the energy transition and enhance Europe’s commitment to climate security. 💡 This strategy is particularly relevant for EURADA and regional development agencies across Europe, as it opens new opportunities to foster innovation, sustainable investment, and international collaboration, all of which are key drivers of regional economic growth and resilience. https://lnkd.in/dhGcYejY

Promoting Circular Solutions for Local Communities 🔄🌱 In the framework of the Circular Cities and Regions Initiative (CCRI) Knowledge Hub, EURADA organised an online workshop on circular waste management on 28 October. Held as part of a tailored mentoring and capacity-building programme, the session was primarily targeted at the Municipality of Roskovec (Albania), while also welcoming other stakeholders interested in exploring local waste management solutions. In addition to discussing Roskovec’s challenges in advancing its circular transition, EURADA shared insights on its engagement in circular economy projects and initiatives. ♻️ We were also delighted to have SODENA, represented by Legarda Campos Bernal, present the Navarra Zirkular initiative, a great example of how the Navarra region is embedding circularity across its regional ecosystem and business community. 🌍 #CircularEconomy #Sustainability #RegionalDevelopment #WasteManagement #Innovation

A fruitful exchange on S3, I3 and Gender Equality 🌍🤝 This week, we were pleased to welcome our Vice President, CRISTINA OYON from Spri-Emprendimiento, together with Aitor Mintegui, representative of the Basque Regional Government in Brussels, for a catch-up at our premises. Our discussion reflected on the successful event recently organised by the EURADA Secretariat on the Future of Smart Specialisation Strategies (S3) and the I3 instrument, exploring how to better mobilise our network to seize this funding opportunity 💡 We also reviewed the progress of the EURADA Working Group on Gender Equality, co-led with SPRI, which has shown remarkable growth since its launch, not only in the number of participants, but also in the depth of engagement and contributions from our members 🙌. Together, we discussed the timeline for the development of the GEP toolkit and brainstormed next steps for the Working Group, including possible collaborations with other gender equality-focused initiatives 💬. We are grateful for Cristina’s and Aitor’s continued engagement and valuable insights, which help strengthen EURADA’s activities and community spirit 💪✨. #RegionalDevelopment #SmartSpecialisation #I3Instrument #GenderEquality #Innovation #Collaboration

Last week, we had the pleasure of hosting a group of journalists from Zadar County, Croatia 🇭🇷, kindly brought to our premises by our member Agencija za razvoj Zadarske županije ZADRA NOVA 🤝 It was a wonderful opportunity to share more about EURADA’s work as an association based in Brussels 🇪🇺, and to explain how we collaborate locally with our member from Zadar County to foster regional development 🌍, innovation 💡, and stronger European connections 🌐.

A new generation of Euroclusters is taking off to strengthen Europe’s industrial resilience! 🚀💪 Sixteen new Euroclusters, backed by €42 million, will support Europe’s green 🌱, digital 💻, and resilient 🔄 transition. Starting in October 2025 and running for up to three years, these Euroclusters bring together 107 organisations from 26 countries 🌍, covering all 14 European industrial ecosystems 🏭. Funded through the Single Market Programme, they represent a strategic instrument to boost SME competitiveness and promote the sustainable and digital transformation of Europe’s industry. Over €30 million will be channelled directly to SMEs through open calls 📢 managed by the consortia, supporting projects aimed at: ✅ stimulating innovation and the adoption of advanced technologies, ✅ strengthening production capacity in strategic sectors, and ✅ fostering the transition towards a sustainable, digital, and resilient economy. The Euroclusters’ activities will also include training 🎓, internationalisation 🌐, and knowledge exchange 💡, expanding SMEs’ innovation potential and promoting new cross-border collaborations 🤝. The 16 Euroclusters are divided into two main strands: 1️⃣ Focused on zero-impact technologies ⚙️ and critical raw materials ⛏️, 2️⃣ Dedicated to other strategic value chains 🔗. https://lnkd.in/dxbumyuT

What an intense October! 💪 This month, we carried out numerous activities both in person in Brussels and online, including a meeting of the EURADA Working Group on Consortia for Projects. Our members had the opportunity to engage directly with European Innovation Council and SMEs Executive Agency (EISMEA) and discuss two exciting funding opportunities: 1. Interregional Innovation Investments (I3) Instrument 2. European Innovation Ecosystem (EIE) A special thanks to Erik Hengmith for his comprehensive presentation on the I3 Instrument, and to Radostina Tsenova and Oliver Kozak for presenting the HORIZON-EIE-2022-SCALEUP-02-01: Expanding Investments Ecosystems call. We would also like to acknowledge our members Ioana Dragoș, Marija Dušević, and Thomas Lainé for their five-minute pitches and for sharing their inspiring project ideas. We are delighted to be able to connect regional practitioners, first and foremost with EU policy officers, and secondly among themselves, fostering collaboration and building new consortia to apply for European funding opportunities. 🌍

Our member SODENA is organising a Cluster Meet Regions event titled “Strategic Autonomy in Action: How Regions and Clusters Drive Europe’s Industrial Future.” Don’t miss this great opportunity to discover the Navarra ecosystem, which boasts a strong industrial tradition, particularly in automotive, renewable energy, health, electronics, and agri-food. This makes it the perfect setting to discuss how regions and clusters can work together to strengthen Europe’s strategic autonomy.

🌍 Join Us in the upcoming CCRI Knowledge Hub on Waste Management! As partner of the CCRI Knowledge Hub, EURADA is pleased to invite you to the upcoming CCRI Knowledge Hub Workshop on Waste Management. 📅 Date: 28 October 2025 🕒 Time: from 12:30 to 14:00 CET 📍 Location: On-line Highlights from the Agenda include: ✅ Opening remarks from Dr. Athanasia-Maria Tompolidi, Policy and Project Officer at EURADA;  ✅ Insights into EURADA’s involvement in supporting circular economy transitions, presented by Cristina Sanz Rutherford, Policy and Project Officer at EURADA;  ✅ Showcase of regional best practices with a representative from the Navarra Zirkular Initiative; ✅ Discussions on the local waste management challenges and opportunities for circular solutions with a representative from Roskovec Municipality. 👉 Do not miss this opportunity to be part of the conversation, and secure your spot today: https://lnkd.in/dmDbJW3S #CCRI #CCRIKnowledgeHub #Workshop #WasteManagement #CircularEconomy #ClimateAction