The AER Awards 2007
AER honours innovative, communicative, and youth-friendly regions

The Assembly of European Regions (AER) presented awards this week to regions that have shown exceptional results this year in three fields: Innovation, Communicating Europe, and Most Youth-Friendly European Region. The awards were presented during AER's General Assembly 2007, which is being hosted this week by the Friuli Venezia Giulia region of Italy.

'This year's General Assembly has focused on regions as ‘building blocks for Europe'', Riccardo Illy, AER President and President of Friuli Venezia Giulia, said during the award ceremony. 'We are presenting these awards to regions that are already putting those blocks into place.'

'Communicating Europe' Award

AER's first ever 'Communicating Europe' Award has been established to encourage regions to further promote the relevance of Europe to their citizens.

1st prize: Extremadura Region (E). The project 'Extremadura in Europe' - consists of five actions targeting different audiences, including journalists, business people and villagers.

2nd prize: Land Kärnten (A). The 'Europa in Kärnten' project includes regular TV and radio broadcasts informing citizens about Europe and neighbouring regions.

3rd prize: Sisak-Moslavina (HR). The 'Youth Building a Path to Europe' project targets young people in seven towns with activities such as European information corners in schools and a debating competition focusing on Europe.

Further details about the winning projects available at:
http://www.aer.eu/en/home-en/main-issues/communication/aer-communication-award.html

Innovation Award

The Innovation Award honours regions that foster innovation – the award aims to promote best practices and demonstrate how regions contribute to economic prosperity.

1st prize: Land Niederösterreich (A). The RIS NÖ project – 'continued improvement of the Regional Innovation System in Lower Austria' – supports the innovation requirements of regional companies and contributes to increasing the region's economic strength.

2nd prize: Comunitat Valenciana (E). The RUSINET project – 'Regional University-Industry Strategies Network' is applying the best practices of cooperation between universities and industry to support the development of regions throughout Europe.

3rd prize: Land Oberösterreich (A). The Strategic Program 'Innovative Upper Austria 2010' aims to strengthen regional wealth by applying three strategic principles: consolidating existing strengths, taking advantage of new opportunities, and applying leverage and practicality to stimulate the economy.

Further details about the winning projects available at:
http://www.aer.eu/home-en/main-issues/economic-development/aer-innovation-award.html

Award for the Most Youth-Friendly European Region

The Romanian County of Vrancea (RO) was presented with the 2007 Award for the Most Youth-friendly Region following its efforts to encourage greater participation of young people in the wider community. Thanks to the establishment of networks between the County Council departments, youth organisations and NGOs, young people in this region are enjoying greater education, training and leisure opportunities.

Further details about the winning projects available at:
http://www.aer.eu/main-issues/youth/most-youth-friendly-european-region-award.html

The Assembly of European Regions (AER.eu) is the independent organisation of the regions in wider Europe.
Bringing together more than 260 regions from 33 countries and 14 interregional organisations, AER is the political voice of its members and a forum for interregional lobbying and co-operation.

AER Contacts:
Richard Medic: Spokesperson / Director of Press and Communications, r.medic@aer.eu - Tel (mob) +33 678 695 235
Francine Huhardeaux, Press & Communications Officer, f.huhardeaux@aer.eu - Tel. +33 3 88 22 74 49