The European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) gathered yet another year decisions-makers, experts and variety of stakeholders from business, civil society and academia together to discuss the topical issues of cohesion policy, common challenges and cooperation. First time after the pandemic, the theme week was fully physical with a total over 220 workshops, 500 speakers and 7000 participants.
In the middle of spring in Brussels, Northern Sparsely Populated Areas (NSPA) and the Arctic Five university alliance hosted an event with roundtable discussions under the title The role of the Arctic in the EU's research agenda 2025 onwards. The event was put together to discuss the role of the Arctic in the EU’s future research agenda, current status of The EU’s Arctic Policy and a more holistic approach to Arctic issues.
In March 2023, the NSPA Steering Committee approved a position paper on the European Commission’s initiative on EU Talent Pool. The NSPA welcomes the Commission's consultation and puts forward its views regarding the initiative that aims to strengthen EU’s attractiveness to skilled workforce and help employers to find workforce they need.
In February 2023, the NSPA Steering Committee approved a position paper on the Horizon Europe Strategic Plan 2025–2027 as part of the Comission's consultation on the past, present and future of the EU’s Horizon research and innovation programmes 2014–2027. The NSPA welcomes the Comission's consultation and puts forward its views regarding the future Strategic Plan of the Horizon Europe for the period 2025–2027.
EU Arctic Forum gathered high-level representatives from the EU and Arctic region to discuss recent developments and challenges in the far north.
