Region Västra Götaland participates actively in several European regional organisations. In these organisations, our regional politicians bring out and push those issues that are important to Västra Götaland. The EU’s regional policy, maritime and environmental affairs, communications and lifelong learning are among the most important of these.
Here you can read more about the European organisations and networks in which Region Västra Götaland participates.
The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is a political cooperation organisation for European regions. The organisation has 270 members from 33 countries.
Contact: Peter af Wetterstedt, the International Coordination Unit
Website: www.aer.eu
Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions (CPMR) is a political cooperation organisation for Europe’s peripheral coastal regions. The organisation has 161 members from 28 countries. Region Västra Götaland is the coordinator for Sweden’s 11 member regions.
Contact: Lisa Belfrage, the International Coordination Unit
Website: www.crpm.org
The European Association of Regional and Local Authorities for Lifelong Learning (EARLALL) is a political cooperation organisation that currently consists of 23 municipalities and regions in Europe. The aim is to cooperate on and influence European education policies.
Contact: Göran Fock, Knowledge and Competence Development
Website: www.earlall.eu
The Sweden Emilia-Romagna Network (SERN) has approximately 54 members from among Sweden’s municipalities and regions and Emilia-Romagna in Italy. The aim of the network is to promote exchanges of experience and initiate and support innovative cooperation projects. In Västra Götaland there are about 10 members.
Contact: Peter af Wetterstedt, the International Coordination Unit
Website: www.sern.eu
The Environmental Conference of the Regions of Europe (ENCORE) is a network for “regional environment ministers” where they discuss work on sustainable development and current environmental issues. ENCORE tries to influence environmental policy and legislation in the EU and a conference is held every two years. About a hundred regions around Europe are members of ENCORE.
Contact: Per Hörberg, the Environmental Secretariat
Website: www.encoreweb.org
European Network of Cities and Regions for the Social Wconomy (REVES) is a European network to promote the social economy. Its members come from local authorities and the social economy in 13 EU countries, Morocco and Russia.
Contact: Maria Johansson, the Department of Trade and Industry
Website: www.revesnetwork.eu
Innovating Regions in Europe (IRE) is an innovation network funded by the European Commission. Region Västra Götaland has been one of approximately 235 members since 1999.
Contact: Marcus Nordanstad, the Department of Trade and Industry
Website: ec.europa.eu/enterprise/ire/Innovating-regions/www.innovating-regions.org
The Committee of the Regions (CoR) is an advisory body whose task it is to assess the European Union’s legislation and policies in a local and regional perspective. Two of Västra Götaland’s members of the Regional Executive Board are represented on the CoR.
Contact: Peter af Wetterstedt, the International Coordination Unit
Website: www.cor.europa.eu/pages/HomeTemplate.aspx
The European Health Management Association (EHMA) works with development matters in health and medical care at the European level and has 200 members form both the public and the private sectors.
Contact: Robert Sinclair
robert.sinclair@vgregion.se Mobile: 073-66015 00
Website: www.ehma.org
ERY, European Regions for Youth is a network consisting of eleven regions that are working to strengthen young people’s participation and influence. The aim of the network is to exchange experience and create meeting places for young people and for international projects.
Contact: Eira Högforsen, the Cultural Affairs Secretariat
Website: cm.regione.emilia-romagna.it/ery
European Network of Local and Regional Authorities for the Implementation of the European Landscape Convention (RECEP/ENELC) is a European member organisation for regions that works with the European Landscape Convention, comprising planning, co-determination, preservation and development of all kinds of landscape in towns and cities and the countryside. Region Västra Götaland has been a member since 2008.
Contact: Tomas Olsson, the Cultural Affairs Secretariat
Website: www.recep-enelc.net
Les Rencontres is a European member organisation for cultural matters. Region Västra Götaland has been one of 160 members since 1999.
Contact: Tomas Olsson, the Cultural Affairs Secretariat
Website: www.lesrencontres.eu
The European Cultural Tourism Network (ECTN) is a European member organisation for regions that develops questions relating to cultural tourism. Region Västra Götaland has been one of the driving forces since 2004.
Website: www.ectn.eu.com
WHO/Regions for Health Network is a network that currently consists of 29 regions around Europe and the WHO’s European office. The network is based on interregional co-operation on methods to implement health policy ambitions of which the overarching one is to reduce inequality in health between and within regions in Europe.
Contact: Göran Henriksson, the Public Health Committee Secretariat
goran.henriksson@vgregion.se Mobile: 070-994 85 43
Website: www.euro.who.int/rhn