This event will be held in Brussels on 6-9 October 2008. OPEN DAYS 2008 is the biggest annual gathering of EUi and regional policy-makers, experts and representatives of banking, business and civil society groups operator in the regional policy sector. OPEN DAYS, organised by the Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Commission's Regional Policy Directorate Generali, is centred in Brussels from 6-9 October 2008 and also involves more than 200 linked events throughout October in the Member States.

As in previous years, the regions and cities have divided themselves into thematic conglomerates. Partners from 26 Member States are represented while others come from Turkey, Croatia, Norway, Switzerland and – for the first time – Bosnia-Herzegovina and Iceland. The highest number of regions and cities come from France (22), Italy and Spain (19), the United Kingdom
(18), and Poland (17).

Conferences, seminars, workshops and debates at the Open Days willl be organised around four themes:

• Innovating regions: Promoting research, technological development and innovation
• Sustainable developmenti: Regional responses to climate change
• Cooperation and networking: Exchange of best practice in regional development
• Looking forward: A European cohesion policy for tomorrow

For further information visit: http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/conferences/od2008/index.cfm?nmenu=1