Territorial dialogue 2006 : making partnership work : regional and local authorities for growth and jobs.
Date: 2006-03-30
Institutions: European Committee of the Regions
Subjects: economic growth, job creation, regional and local authorities

TERRITORIAL DIALOGUE 2006 :

TERRITORIAL DIALOGUE 
2006 :

MAKING PARTNERSHIP WORK
REGIONAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES 
FOR GROWTH AND JOBS

Committee
of the Regions

The headquarters of the Committee of the Regions

Editorial
Editorial

"Lisbon  needs  the  Regions  as  much  as  the  Regions
need Lisbon." This  statement by José Manuel Barroso,
President  of  the  European  Commission,  applies  equally
to the local level. The need for increased ownership at
all levels of government has been recognised as one of
the key factors for success of the Lisbon Strategy. 

The  Lisbon  reforms  must  involve  EU  regions  and  local
authorities to a greater extent and at an early stage of the
governance  cycle.  The  recently  published  2006  Annual
Progress  Report  of  the  European  Commission  reiterates
the need for partnership with the regional and local level. 

M. DELEBARRE, President of 
the Committee of the Regions

The Committee of the Regions has committed itself to contributing in the monitoring
of the local and regional involvement in the Lisbon process and implementation of
the reforms for growth and jobs.

To support the partnership building process, the Committee has undertaken a number of
activities: a European-wide survey on the involvement of local and regional authorities
in the development of the Lisbon National Reform Programmes and the launch of
a ' Lisbon Regional Scoreboard', the latter serving both as a quantitative exercise and a
platform for exchange of information and practice until the year 2010. These activities
provided the basis for a joint declaration by the Economic and Social Policy Commission
(ECOS)  and  the  Commission  for  Territorial  Cohesion  Policy  (COTER),  which  will  be
presented to EU leaders ahead of the  Spring European Council on 23-24 March 2006.

Furthermore, the Committee has decided to launch an annual 'Territorial Dialogue',
which took place on 1 March 2006 with Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen
and Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner. 

The Lisbon Agenda must be owned by all stakeholders at EU, national, regional and
local levels and mobilisation is possible only if the various players feel that the policies
proposed  concern  them  and  that  they  are  truly  involved  in  the  decision-making  and
implementation process.

3

DECLARATION

DECLARATION
Adopted by the ECOS and COTER
Commissions of 
THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

“Preparing the Spring European Council:
a true partnership for jobs and growth with Local
and Regional Authorities”

In  March  2005  the  Heads  of  State  and  Government  of  the  EU  approved  the
Commission’s revised Lisbon Strategy. The relaunch of the Lisbon Strategy has two
main objectives: to deliver stronger, longer-lasting growth and to create more and
better jobs. The need for an increased ownership of the Lisbon objectives at all levels
of  government  has  been  recognised  as  one  of  the  key  factors  of  success  and  the
active involvement of local and regional authorities has been requested already by
the Lisbon European Council: "A fully decentralised approach will be applied in line
with  the  principle  of  subsidiarity  in  which  the  Union,  the  Member  States,  the
regional and local levels, as well as the social partners and civil society, will be actively
involved, using variable forms of partnership"1;

The aim of this declaration is to deliver a message to the Spring European Council
that demonstrates the logic of involving local and regional authorities in this new
governance cycle and provides recommendations for the future. In this context, the
Committee  of  the  Regions  believes  that  Member  States  and  the  Community  must
take every opportunity to involve local and regional governments in the preparation
of  the  National  Reform  Programmes  and  in  the  implementation  of  the  Integrated
Guidelines  for  Growth  and  Jobs  in  order  to  considerably  increase  the  political
ownership  of  the  Lisbon  Strategy.  The  Committee  of  the  Regions  has  therefore
launched the Territorial Dialogue in the form of an annual conference to provide a
period of reflection and discussion on the local and regional dimension of the Lisbon
Strategy prior to the Spring European Council.

4

1

Point 38 of the Conclusions.

Sir Albert BORE
CoR Member, Chair of Commission COTER,
Member of Birmingham City Council

Harry DIJKSMA
CoR Member, 
Chair of Commission ECOS CoR

The  organisation  of  this  Territorial  Dialogue  has  been  actively  encouraged  by  the
Austrian Federal Chancellor and acting President of the European Council, Wolfgang
Schüssel,  who  has  personally  expressed  the  strength  of  his  interest  in  receiving  a
contribution from regional and local authorities for the Spring Council.

1. Implementation  of  the  Lisbon  Partnership  for  Growth  and  Jobs  – 

the contribution of regional and local authorities

1.1  We regret to note that in most Member States local and regional authorities
were not adequately consulted in drawing up National Reform Programmes.
In particular, this was due to the absence of calls for consultation from national
governments. Although most local and regional authorities are fully aware of
the  National  Reform  Programme  process,  the  majority  have  expressed
dissatisfaction with their involvement in the preparation of these Programmes.
Local and regional authorities have demonstrated that they have the practical
tools to boost economic growth and employment and this is a fundamental
prerequisite to ensuring the delivery of the Lisbon strategy. We therefore call
upon  Member  States  to  actively  consult  their  local  and  regional  authorities
and to take their contributions into full consideration when implementing and
revising the National Reform Programmes in 2006.

5

1.2  Moreover, we underline that it is essential to work towards a reduction in
information  and  communication  gaps  between  the  Member  States  and
their local and regional levels of government. Consequently, the Committee
of the Regions takes up the Commission proposal to join its forces with the
European  Commission  and  Member  States  in  launching  a  targeted  joint
information and communication campaign for the local and regional levels.

1.3  We note the consensus agreement between local and regional authorities
and  national  Lisbon  coordinators  on  the  added  value  of  the  National
Reform Programmes as a means of setting clear priorities and targets. The
main concerns of local and regional authorities are – in keeping with the
four  priorities  identified  in  the  Annual  Progress  Report  2006,  associated
with issues such as the need to adapt education and training systems to new
competence  requirements;  improve  matching  of  labour  market  needs;
create  a  more  attractive  business  environment;  promote  a  more
entrepreneurial  culture  and  create  a  supportive  environment  for  SMEs.
Moreover, local and regional authorities are also concerned by the need to
intensify efforts in the field of innovation and R&D and to improve better
regulation  and  the  efficiency  of  public  administration.  We  therefore
recommend disaggregating the national Lisbon objectives to the regional
and  local  levels  and  strengthening  the  territorial  focus  of  the  National

6

Reform  Programmes  in  order  to  enhance  the  chances  of  successful
implementation.  Central  government  should  stimulate  a  bottom-up
approach involving local and regional governments and also support them
– where needed- by offering a fair budget to do so.

1.4  We fully endorse the statement in the Annual Progress Report 2006 that:
-  ‘as  the  Lisbon  strategy  is  a  medium  to  long-term  agenda  requiring
implementation on the ground, the sustained involvement of parliaments,
local  governments  and  civil  society  is  essential’.  However,  we  believe  that
the  Annual  Progress  Report  2006  falls  short  of  providing  enough
information  on  the  involvement  of  local  and  regional  levels  in  the
governance  cycle  and  that  the  overall  conclusions  and  recommendations
fail to take account of the local and regional dimension that is absent from
many National Reform Programmes. We therefore urge the Member States
to establish the means to provide a stronger recognition and analysis of the
local  and  regional  dimension  in  the  review  of  the  National  Reform
Programmes and the Implementation Reports.

7

2. Delivering Lisbon through Cohesion policy

2.1  Social, economic and territorial cohesion are all core objectives of the Lisbon
and Gothenburg Agenda. We are concerned that the majority of local and
regional  authorities  fail  to  recognise  any  cohesive  territorial  approach  in
National Reform Programmes. Therefore, it is imperative to consider, that
updates  of  the  National  Reform  Programme  provide  measures  for  the
implementation of the Lisbon agenda in all the territories of Europe, and so
that as a matter of course attention is also paid to those less advantaged
areas,  whether  for  natural,  economic  or  social  reasons.  Furthermore,  the
potential  of  cities  and  Metropolitan  areas  as  “growth  motors”  and  their
role in the economic and social development across the EU have to be fully
exploited and reflected in the update of National Reform Programmes.

2.2  We recognise that the European Council has accepted the recommendation
of  the  European  Commission  that  60%  of  national  support  programmes
falling  under  the  ”convergence”  heading  should  be  reserved  for  measures
making a particularly strong contribution to the Lisbon targets of growth and
sustainable development. European Cohesion policy has been orientated to
encourage sustainable growth in such a way as not to limit the flexibility of
support programmes to growth-enhancing measures alone in order to secure
the  process  of  convergence.  We  are  concerned  that  the  results  of

8

“Earmarking” in this way must not lead to any future exclusion or limitation
of investment assistance or other measures for encouraging growth.

2.3  We support a new Cohesion policy that also takes into account the need for
territorial cohesion and the European social model, whilst contributing to
the objectives of the Lisbon strategy. The success of this approach can only
be determined by a truly strategic programming for cohesion policy that is
based  on  partnership  principles  and  needs  that  are  identified  at
local/regional  level.  This  necessarily  presupposes  the  involvement  of  local
and  regional  authorities  in  the  preparation  of  the  National  Strategic
Reference Frameworks and Operational Programmes and the recognition of
the explicit link between these and the National Reform Programmes.

2.4.  We  support,  in  particular,  creating  links  between  the  National  Strategic
Reference  Frameworks  and  the  National  Reform  Programmes  of
neighbouring States in order to consolidate crossborder measures not just
in  the  framework  of  European  Territorial  Cooperation,  but  also  through
appropriate national measures.

9

3. Monitoring the Lisbon process

3.1  The Committee of the Regions has committed itself to contributing to the
monitoring  of  the  local  and  regional  dimension  of  the  Lisbon  process. 
It will closely follow the implementation, the annual review, implementation
reports  and  the  eventual  updates  of  National  Reform  Programmes  for
Growth  and  Jobs  in  order  to  ensure  a  proper  involvement  of  local  and
regional authorities.

3.2  The  Committee  of  the  Regions  offers  to  provide  a  platform  for  the
exchange  of  experience  on  the  multi-level  governance  of  the  Lisbon
agenda and for the dissemination of best practices by local and regional
authorities in setting priorities and targets and implementing the Lisbon
Strategy. It has launched the Territorial Dialogue, an annual stakeholder
conference of local and regional authorities to reinforce the regional and
local  dimension  of  the  Lisbon  Strategy  and  thus  make  a  strategic
contribution to the new governance cycle.

3.3  The  present  statement  will  be  addressed  to  the  European  Council,  the

European Commission, the European Parliament and the Member States.

Brussels, 23-24 February 2006

President of CoR’s ECOS Commission

President of CoR’s COTER Commission

10

Territorial 
Dialogue 2006
Territorial Dialogue 2006

The Committee of the Regions (CoR) was the setting for Europe's first-ever ‘territorial
dialogue’ on 1 March 2006, in the presence of European Commission Vice-President
Günter Verheugen, Regional Policy Commissioner Danuta Hübner and CoR President
Michel  Delebarre.  More  than  100  representatives  of  local  and  regional  authorities
from across the bloc attended the talks, aimed at highlighting the added value that
regions and cities can provide by being given a stronger role in the development and
implementation of the EU’s growth and jobs strategy. 

Speakers at the event also included Hubert Heiss, Austria's Ambassador (EU Austrian
Presidency),  Luc  Van  den  Brande,  First  Vice-President  of  the  CoR,  Alain  Rousset,
President  of  Aquitaine  and  head  of  the  French  Regions  Association,  and  Michael
Schneider, representative of Saxony-Anhalt to the German Federal Government. The
participants  backed  the  declaration,  sent  to  EU  leaders  ahead  of  the  23-24  March
Spring  Council,  calling  for  a  'true  partnership'  between  all  levels  of  government
involved in delivering the Lisbon Strategy objectives.

11

Territorial 
Dialogue 2006

Luc Van den Brande,
(First Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions)

"These National Reform Programmes were and are a
test case for the true will of the national governments
to enter into a partnership with the regional level for
the  strategic  planning  of  the  Lisbon  Strategy.  The
result is disappointing."

Dr. Hubert Heiss 
(H.E. Ambassador Dr. Hubert Heiß, 
Austrian Federal Chancellery)

"The  Austrian  Presidency  welcomes  the
readiness  of  local  and  regional  authorties  to
make their contributions to the Lisbon process."

12

Territorial 
Dialogue 2006

Günter Verheugen,
(Vice-President  of  the  European  Commission  in
charge of Enterprise and Industry)

"I  would  really  urge  you,  as  representatives  of
Europe’s  regions,  to  demand  from  your  national
governments  and  parliaments  that  you  should  be
included in the development of this policy."

"The  growth  and  employment  strategy  that  we
have developed cannot be successful without the
active  participation  and  involvement  of  the
regions and municipalities."

Danuta Hübner,
(European Commissioner for Regional Policy)

"I  would  certainly  urge  Member  States  to
involve  the  regions  more  closely  in  the
future and I count on you to get involved."

"We  should  spend  more  time  on  decoding
and demystifying Lisbon and then we will not
be  afraid  of  not  even  this  horrible,  as  I
understand,  earmarking.  But  earmarking
gives the regions all the flexibility they need."

13

Territorial 
Dialogue 2006

Dr. Michael Schneider, 
(CoR member, Representative of Saxony-Anhalt to 
the German Federal Government)

"Concerning 
the  Regions'
the  Committee  of 
Scoreboard  project…this  will  have  to  continuously
and permanently monitor, in a quantitative as well as
qualitative sense, to what extent the National Reform
Programmes match the Integrated Guidelines."

"The regions’ flexibility must not be restricted because
this could jeopardise the convergence process."

Ms. Danica Simšič, 
(Mayor of Ljubljana and member of 
EUROCITIES Executive Committee)

to 

"We  encourage  Member  States  to  share
best  practice  on  how 
consult
in  the  drafting  of  their
stakeholders 
National  Reform  Programmes.  …  The
development  of  local  and  regional  action
plans  would 
improve  the  chances  of
successful implementation."

14

MAKING
PARTNERSHIP WORK
MAKING PARTNERSHIP WORK
Committee of the Regions’
Contributions

After  the  principal  weaknesses  and
challenges  of  the  Lisbon  Strategy  were
recognised and voiced by the Kok Report2,
the  European  Council  of  March  2005  re-
launched the Lisbon Strategy focusing on
two  main  objectives:  economic  growth
and job creation. 

Further, the European Council concluded, “Alongside the governments, all the
other players concerned – parliaments, regional and local bodies, social partners
and civil society – should be Stakeholders in the Strategy and take an active part
in attaining its objectives.” These conclusions highlight the need for increased
ownership at all levels of government and the involvement of local and regional
authorities at an early stage of the new Lisbon governance cycle as key factors
for the success of the Lisbon reforms. In order to achieve the involvement of the
local  and  regional  authorities,  cooperation  between  the  different  levels  of
government  must  be  ensured  via  a  true  partnership.  To  support  a  partnership
the  Committee  of  the  Regions  (CoR)  has  undertaken  a  number  of  activities
including:  a  European-wide  survey  on  the  involvement  of  local  and  regional
authorities in the development of the NRPs, an analysis of the local and regional
dimensions in the NRPs and the start of a Regional Lisbon Scoreboard.

2

Report from the High Level Group chaired by Wim Kok, “Facing the challenge; 
The Lisbon Strategy for Growth and Employment”, November 2004.

15

aware

Survey of local and regional involvement 
The  results  of  the  European-wide
survey showed that only 42% of the
respondents had participated in the
preparation of the NRPs (the primary
reason  for  non-participation  being  a
lack  of  consultation  from  national
coordinators) and that only 17% were
actually satisfied with their role in
the  preparation  phase.  Moreover,
only 13% of all respondents stated that
the  NRPs  provide  adequate  financial
resources, and just 7% of regions and
cities  (compared  to  31%  of  national
coordinators)  say  they  offer  clear
timetable for reforms.

perceived both clear
priorities and
appropriate finance

satisfied with
involvement

participated

20

THE  GAP

40

60

80

100

% of all regions and cities responding

The  survey  also  illustrated  that  only  a  few  regions  and  cities  perceive  a  cohesive
territorial approach in the draft NRPs for regions lagging behind for natural reasons
(14%) or those lagging behind for economic and social reasons (25%). Consequently,
they call for a greater level of coherence between the NRPs and the EU Cohesion Policy
to ensure a more balanced approach in achieving the targets for jobs and growth.

Analysis of the National Reform Programmes
In December 2005 the CoR made an analysis of the NRPs in order to compare their content
with the results of the conducted survey. The outcome of that analysis was that regions and
cities  mainly  are  aware  of  the  governance  process  of  the  Lisbon  Strategy  but  that  their
contributions  rarely  appear  as  significant  in  the  NRPs.  There  is  also  a  lack  of  systematic
treatment regarding how consultation has taken place and to what extent the national
coordinators  have  involved  regions  and  cities  in  the  implementation-  and  monitoring
processes. Moreover, the main added value of the NRPs according to the survey (the setting
of clear priorities) can only be fully exploited if the whole governance cycle (that is to say,
the  strategic  planning  and  consultation,  implementation  and  monitoring  processes)  is
systematically linked to the devolved competencies of the local and regional authorities.

Investment priorities in the Lisbon Strategy are not necessarily the same for every region.
A  “modulation”  of  the  Lisbon  Strategy  according  to  specific  regional  circumstances

16

regarding  both  the  Convergence  and  the  Competitiveness  objectives  of  the  Cohesion
Policy should be encouraged as well as an active incorporation of the Lisbon Strategy into
regional development programming. Being more than a set of political objectives serving
to  focus  discussion  and  attention  in  a  particular  direction,  the  revised  Lisbon  Agenda
would require a subsequent roll-out of budgetary, legislative and administrative reforms
at different government levels. The lack of such a systematic roll-out in form of coherent
activities at various levels leads to the conclusion that the role of regions and, even to a
larger extent the role of cities, is a limited one.

As the EU regions are facing very different challenges with regard to the Jobs and Growth
Strategy, approaching the implementation of the “Community Integrated Guidelines” on
a national basis would be insufficient and lead to shortcomings or mistakes; limiting to the
national framework would hamper the building up and development of an appropriate
European response to globalisation through innovation, knowledge and better jobs. The
CoR decided to set-up a Regional Lisbon Scoreboard aiming at giving more visibility to the
role of local and regional authorities in implementing the Lisbon Strategy, which would
support them to take ownership of the Lisbon Agenda. 

Room for more involvement of local and regional authorities
The  activities  conducted  by  the  Committee  of  the  regions  have  shown  that  there  is
considerable  room  for  a  stronger  involvement  of  the  local  and  regional  levels.
Therefore, the Committee of the Regions has decided to launch an annual Territorial
Dialogue, which aims to reflect and stimulate discussion on key issues of concern for
regions and local authorities such as the stimulation of economic growth and reform
while preserving the European social model and the link between the Cohesion policy
and the Lisbon Strategy. The regional and local authorities and their associations had,
for  the  first  time,  the  opportunity  to  present  their  views  and  experiences  on  these
subjects ahead of the Spring European Council taking place on 23-24 March 2006.

For more detail please contact: 
Policy Analysis Service
E-mail: analysis@cor.eu.int
Cor website: www.cor.eu.int
http://www.cor.eu.int/en/activities/lisbon_strategy.htm 

17

MONITORING
THE JOBS AND GROWTH
STRATEGY IN THE REGIONS

MONITORING THE JOBS AND
GROWTH STRATEGY IN 
THE REGIONS
A RESEARCH PROJECT OF THE
COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS

WHY SETTING UP A MONITORING SYSTEM?

The  Committee  of  the  Regions  has  contracted  a  research  team  (Lacave  Allemand  &
Associés  in  cooperation  with  MERIT,  University  of  Maastricht)  to  set  up  a  monitoring
system. It aims at the creation of an operational tool to the benefit of local and regional
authorities  based  on  three  principles:  transparency  (through  the  follow-up  and
information  of  what  happens  at  ‘grassroots’  level  with  the  National  Reform
Programmes), benchmarking (through a better knowledge of what happens in other
countries  and  regions)  and  interactivity  (through  an  electronic  platform  and  the
creation  of  a  “community”).  It  will  thus  lead  to  awareness-raising  about  National
Reform  Programmes’  stakes  for  local  and  regional  authorities  and  can  support  the
‘bargaining power’ for local and regional authorities versus their national governments.

LAUNCHING OF THE MONITORING EXERCISE DURING
THE TERRITORIAL DIALOGUE

For  starting  the  monitoring  exercise,  a  classification  of  the  EU  regions  is  being
established with regard to the Lisbon Strategy (“knowledge economy”). Indicators
used are based on EUROSTAT data (macro-economic, micro-economic, employment).
A  provisional  classification  has  resulted  in  11  groups  of  profiles  of  regions
(Employability,  Central  Techno,  Local  Science  &  Services,  High  Techno,  Ageing
Academia,  Services  (Southern)  Cohesion,  Manufacturing  (Eastern)  Cohesion,  Rural
Industries,  Government  Services  (Low  Tech),  Nordic  High-Tech  Learning,  Science  &
Service Centre). It will be refined soon and linked to the categories of the Cohesion
Policy: cohesion, phasing in, phasing out, others. 

18

There is scientific evidence that the EU regions and groups of regions (across borders)
are  facing  very  different  challenges  with  regard  to  the  Jobs  and  Growth  Strategy.
Thus, approaching the implementation of the “Community Integrated Guidelines”
on  a  solely  national  basis  would  be  insufficient  and  lead  to  shortcomings.  The
monitoring  exercise  builds  upon  this  key  point  when  presenting  during  the
Territorial  Dialogue  8  exemplary  cases  of  Regions/Cities  aimed  at  illustrating  the
contributions of local and regional authorities to the implementation of the National
Reform  Programmes  in  relation  to  the  future  Cohesion  Policy.  This  group  of  50
regions and cities in 2006 will be systematically increased in the following years.

CREATING A COMMUNITY - THE BUILDING OF AN
INTERACTIVE WEB PLATFORM

In parallel, an interactive web platform is being set up. The interactive web platform
will rely mainly on individual files with: basic data and web links, positioning of the
Region/City  regarding  the  groups  of  regions,  data  concerning  involvement  of  the
Region/City in the implementation of the National Reform Programme, relationship
between this programme and the National Strategic Reference Framework, actions
undertaken by the Region/City on related support by Structural Funds. 
A fully-fledged monitoring system should be ready by 2007. The Committee of the
regions  expects  that  such  a  tool  will  help  to  raise  awareness  about  the  National
Reform Programmes’ stakes for local and regional authorities, but also to support
to increase ownership by local and regional authorities in the governance process of
the Lisbon Strategy.

For more information please contact: analysis@cor.eu.int

19

The  European  Commission  has  launched  a  series  of  awards  to  highlight
successful  local  and  regional  authority  initiatives  to  support  entrepreneurship.
The  awards  are  open  to  authorities  in  the  EU-25,  Bulgaria,  Iceland,  Norway,
Romania and Turkey. Each participating country will select up to two candidates
to take part in the competition.  Nominations close at the end of May 2006 and
the  winners  will  be  announced  at  an  award  ceremony  co-sponsored  by  the
Finnish Presidency and the Committee of the Regions in December.  

The European Enterprise Awards will identify and reward measures that succeed
in  promoting  enterprise  and  that  showcase  examples  of  best  practice.  More
generally,  it  is  hoped  that  they  will  create  greater  awareness  of  the  role
entrepreneurs play in society and encourage others to follow their example.

There  are  five  award  categories:  the  Entrepreneurial  Trailblazer Award  for
actions  that  promote  a  business  culture,  the  Enterprise  Support  Award for
innovative policies that promote enterprise and attract investment, especially in
disadvantaged areas, the Red Tape Reduction Award will recognise measures
to simplify administrative procedures for businesses, the Investment in People
Award will  mark  measures  that  improve  entrepreneurship  education  and
training  and  the  Responsible  Entrepreneurship  Award will  be  devoted  to
corporate social responsibility and sustainable business practices. In addition, the
Grand Jury Prize which will be given to the entry the judges consider to be the
most creative and inspiring entrepreneurship initiative.

The awards are open to local and regional authorities, cities, towns, regions and
communities, as well as to public-private partnerships between public authorities

20

and entrepreneurs, educational programmes and business organisations. To be
considered  for  the  European  awards,  entrants  will  first  have  to  go  through  a
national selection process. 

The  winning  entries  will  be  selected  by  an  international  jury  comprised  of
representatives  from  the  worlds  of  business  and  academia  as  well  as  the
European  Commission,  Committee  of  the  Regions  and  national  governments.
The  winners  will  gain  the  benefit  of  publicity  and  will  act  as  role  models  for
other  local  and  regional  authorities  in  their  efforts  to  encourage  a  more
entrepreneurial environment.

The  Committee  of  the  Regions  will  host  the  awards  ceremony  in  Brussels  on 
7  December,  in  the  presence  of  Günter  Verheugen,  the  European  Commission
Vice-President  for  Enterprise  and  Industry,  and  representatives  of  local  and
regional authorities.

The  winners  will  be  presented  with  sculptures  made  of  European  beech  and
bronze, created by Spanish artist Rosa Fuentes. The sculptures will be in the form
of a star, representing society, ecology and culture.

Links: www.european-enterprise-awards.org 
and www.cor.eu.int

21

TERRITORIAL
DIALOGUE 2006 :

TERRITORIAL DIALOGUE 2006 :

MAKING PARTNERSHIP WORK -

REGIONAL AND LOCAL AUTHORITIES FOR GROWTH
AND JOBS

Published March 2006

Produced by the Communication, Press and Protocol Division

Committee of the Regions

Committee
of the Regions

Rue Belliard 101

1040 Brussels

Tel : + 32 2/282 21.55 – Fax : + 32 2/282 20 85

Catalogue N° QG-02-23-005-EN-N
ISBN 978-92-895-1288-6
doi 10.2863/811685