As the European Commission's science and knowledge service, the Joint Research Centre will contribute its scientific expertise, data and analysis to support informed decisions and advance knowledge-based approaches to territorial development.
During the week, the JRC will host and participate in five sessions bringing together scientists, decision-makers, researchers, practitioners and representatives from local authorities to highlight how research and innovation can contribute to regional competitiveness and resilience, support sustainable development, and help address complex policy challenges.
This year JRC will also join the EURegionsWeek Close To You programme, bringing the conversation home to JRC Brussels in the CDMA building on the afternoon of 13 October. The half-day event will explore two pressing issues for Europe’s regions: the role of women in building stronger, more resilient and innovative territories, and housing challenges in cross-border regions.
Participation in the sessions and the satellite event is free of charge. Separate registration is required for each session and the satellite event via the links below.
To explore the full programme of the event, visit the EWRC website.
- regional cooperation | regional policy | regional development | water policy
- Tuesday 13 October 2026, 14:30 - Wednesday 14 October 2026, 18:30 (CEST)
Programme
- 13 Oct 2026, 14:30 - 17:30 (CEST)Crossing borders, closing gaps New evidence on housing and gender equality across EU regions
What makes a region thrive? Understanding what drives regional prosperity and where challenges and opportunities lie is essential to design tailored solutions. This satellite event of the European Week of Regions and Cities showcases how the Joint Research Centre’s (JRC) research and data can reveal regional differences and unlock untapped potential, helping policymakers design more place-based responses.
Through two expert sessions focusing on women’s contribution to regional economies and cross-border housing markets, the event explores how people, places and policies interact to create stronger, more resilient communities.
- 14 Oct 2026, 08:00 - 18:30 (CEST)[Stand] EU regions and cities unpacked: interactive data for stronger territories
Resilient territories start with strong data. Visitors will explore interactive visualisations on population projections, local climate action tackling greenhouse gas and food-related emissions, socio-economic trends in rural areas and along EU internal borders, and more. Data-driven insights help decision-makers and communities anticipate change and design place-based solutions that work for each region and city.
More information and registration
- 09:00 - 10:30 (CEST)[Workshop] Urban – Rural: Mind the gap!
Does your postcode shape your future? This session focuses on how socio-economic conditions differ across urban and rural areas. It explores how housing efficiency and access to services shape the attractiveness of territories. This workshop also looks at how competitiveness and demographic change differ across places, influencing long-term development prospects. It further examines territorial resilience and how different types of areas are adapting to these challenges, with particular attention to cities and rural areas. With a strong analytical and evidence-based focus, the session brings together the latest innovative work from Eurostat, OECD, DG REGIO and JRC.
- 11:00 - 12:30 (CEST)[Workshop] Navigating demographic change: A science-policy dialogue on regional attractiveness
The 'Right to Stay' is vital for EU territorial cohesion as regions adapt to the demographic challenges such as departure of young talent. Using regional population projections, the panel examines regional demographic dynamics and its interlinkages with access to services in functional urban and rural areas. Drawing on expertise from the Talent Booster Mechanism and regional insights on 'shrinking smartly', the dialogue addresses how regions can develop strategies to sustain viability and competitiveness.
- 16:00 - 17:30 (CEST)[Workshop] Mapping the Geography of Choice
The workshop contributes to the European Commission’s 'Right to Stay' agenda. It presents new territorial delineations designed to capture people’s daily movements for work and access to services, with a particular focus on Functional Rural Areas. Moving beyond administrative borders, these geographies help identify where territorial conditions support the right to stay and where structural gaps constrain it. The discussion will explore the policy relevance, international comparability and practical use of such geographies for territorial diagnostic and rural and regional development.
- 16:00 - 17:30 (CEST)[Political/policy debate] Testing the waters – transformative place-based innovations for water resilience
The session will explore the early experimentations of EU regions that test innovative, place-based transformative approaches to designing tangible water resilience policies. The water resilience example illustrates how co-creation and collaboration within regional innovation ecosystems framework provides model that can be applied to challenges in other sectors.
Practical information
- When
- Tuesday 13 October 2026, 14:30 - Wednesday 14 October 2026, 18:30 (CEST)
- Where
- Brussels
- Languages
- English
Description
Co-organised by the European Commission's Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), the 24th edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities (EWRC) will bring together participants from across Europe in Brussels to exchange experiences, explore innovative solutions and discuss how regions and cities can address shared challenges and seize new opportunities. As a flagship European gathering, the event provides a unique opportunity for dialogue, cooperation and shaping the future of Europe’s territories.
Contact us
JRC Events Team: JRC-EVENTS
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (JRC-EVENTS[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)