Barcelona - European Centre for the Regions

About the centre

The ECR was created in 1996 through an agreement between EIPA and the regional government of Catalonia. The centre organises seminars, carries out comparative analysis between administrations, stimulates cooperation between them and disseminates best practices. In addition, it carries out training programmes for the public administrations of the Mediterranean Partners in the framework of the Euro-Mediterranean Partnership.

In 2008, EIPA-ECR operated with a staff of 20 people. Together, they realised 93 activities, including 49 seminars, which attracted 2.189 participants.

Core modules

ECR’s training, research and consultancy products are structured around three areas:

• Political influence: support for enhancing the political positioning of regions and cities within the European context, including administrative adaptation, and lobbying and networking skills.
• Multilevel governance: analysis of the tools and mechanisms for an effective participation and involvement of the LRA in the policy making cycle, adequate impact assessment, effective transposition, subsidiarity control, and implementation of laws with high territorial relevance.
• Regional development in the EU: Tools and practical experiences for using networks, policies, programmes and funds to place your region in the European landscape and contribute to its competitiveness, growth and prosperity.

Euromed and external projects

The European Centre for the Regions is also the Programme Management Unit for two regional Euromed programmes: Euromed Training of Public Administrations (2004-2009) and Euromed Justice II (2008-2010). ECR has solid expertise in assisting Neighbour and Accession countries in creating the capacity necessary for the management of European Union programmes.

Tailor-made courses

On the bases of the core modules, ECR develops tailor-made courses for clients, notably regions and cities in Europe, with which a cooperation agreement has been established. It also develops new areas of activity beyond these established fields.

Research and consultancy works

The centre is regularly commissioned by different European institutions, networks of states, regions or cities in Europe to conduct research on those new developments in the European integration process which are of major interest for the sub-state level.