The preparations for the Local Councils' Association participation in the Open Days 2008 are in full swing. The Open Days is an event organised by the Committee of the Regions and the DG REGIO of the European Union in order to foster co-operation between regions in Europe. More than 6000 participants will attend the event being held between the 6 - 9 th October 2008 in Brussels. The Open Days consists of three main components:
- thematic seminars on various subjects;
- the investors cafe, the marketplace for regions and municipalities;
- the business area, reserved for international companies.
On Friday 19th September, the Executive Secretary of the LCA attended the final meeting called by the Communications Division of the Committee of the Regions and DG Regio. During the meeting the last preparations were annoiunced and discussed. All persons attending in these events are required to register on the Open Days website.
The Local Councils' Association is participating in this year's Investors Cafe - under the theme MALTA - THE SMART ISLAND. Malta has been allocated two prominent stands on Floor 6 and will be numbered 115/116. The stand will provide information on Malta Enterprise, National Tourism Organisation, The Smart Island Startegy, Valletta Cruise Terminal, DataTrak and Local Councils. During the Open Days sessions use will also be made of PC's and Plasma Screens to present various DVD provided by the co-operating partners from Malta. This is the first time that the Local Councils' Association has embarked on such a an ambitious project.
A typical stand on the Investors Cafe
The Open Days event will be launched by the French Prime Minister Francois Fillon. Other speakers will be Jose Manuel Barroso, President of the European Commission, Danuta Hubner, Commissioner for Regional Policy and Luc Van den Brande, President of the Committe of the Regions. The Investors Cafe will be officially opened by the latter two speakers on the 6th October 2008 at 1900hrs. During the event, Eurochambers will present the Regional Competitiveness Atlas 2008.
On the 8th October, between 1400 & 1700 hrs, the Local Councils' Association is organising a seminar in Room JDE 70 on the 7th Floor of the Jaques Delors Building, Rue Belliard 101. For the event, the Association has invited the President and First Vice-President of the Committee of the Regions, the Heads of Delegation of all countries members in the Commitee of the Regions and other high office holders. The seminar will focus ona business presnetation by the local company DataTrak, a leading ICT company in Malta. The theme of the Seminar is "Innovation at the service of Local Governments". The seminar will also be addressed by the President of the Association Mr. Michael Cohen and the Parliamentary Secretary for Information and Dialogue Dr. Chris Said, who will be representing the Maltese Government in this important event. A reception will then follow and those present will be entertained by the internationally renowned singer La Barokka
There are a number of limited places still available for those wishing to attend the seminar. Those interested may email the Open Days Driver on jmagro@lca.org.mt
