The European Week 
of Regions and Cities 

The European Week of Regions and Cities is an annual event during which cities and regions showcase their capacity to create growth and jobs, implement European Union cohesion policy, and prove the importance of the local and regional level for good European governance. 

This year, in response to the COVID-19 crisis and restrictions put in place around the world and to limit the spread of the virus, the European Week of Regions and Cities will be held as a virtual-only event. The 18th edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities will be fully digital, with an agenda featuring 500+ online sessions, and it is spread over three weeks, from 5th to 22th October.

This month: 

The European Week of Regions and Cities

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Webinar: Caring services for the elderly in rural areas

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IrRADIARE is also this year taking an active part in the event. We and our projects will participate in different sessions on the third week of October, that will revolve around the theme “Green Europe”.

Join us in our EU talks! 

•  “Alentejo Green Deal” 
19th October 2020 
16:00 - 17:30 CET 
An event that is open for debate with all the EU Regions having the Green Deal objectives embedded into their regional strategy.

•  “Greener Housing, opportunity for Green Europe” 
20th October 2020 
17:00 - 17:30 CET 
This talk aims to present to the audience the project of the town of Lourinhã and its comprehensive vision with regard to understanding the social dimension and its proper framing in the urban space of cities and regions. 

•  “SmarTomorrow, co-designing a greener future!”
21th October 2020 
11:00 - 13:30 CET 
Beyond showcasing best practices, this event will provide a unique meeting opportunity for innovators in the energy sustainability and digital innovation field to gather, exchange and co-design creative solutions in the regions. The event will disseminate ideas for Smart Villages in Europe and ultimately contribute to balancing urban and rural possibilities for all Europeans.

The Sustainable Development Goals and COVID-19 

The Sustainable Development Goals are a part of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. Adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in 2015, these 17 goals seek to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030. 

However, the COVID-19 crisis represents a turning point for the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, due to its devastating consequences at the political, economic, and socio-cultural level in the 21st century. These Goals must continue to be the frame of reference for the international community, national governments and civil society in a post-coronavirus world that is seen as changing and complex, because they are the commitment and the guarantee that a better world is possible. 

Here you have some concrete data on how the crisis will affect some of the objectives: 

•  Objective 1: “No poverty” 
The COVID-19 pandemic will push an estimated 71 million additional people into extreme poverty. 

•  Objective 3: “Good health and well-being” 
The COVID-19 pandemic has interrupted childhood immunization programmes in around 70 countries. 

•  Objective 8: “Decent work and economic growth” 
The COVID-19 could cause the equivalent of 400 million job losses in second quarter of 2020.