Care work provided in homes and institutions is a public good that is under-valued by society. Care workers are more likely to have low earnings and precarious working conditions. About 9 in 10 care workers are women. Most unpaid care work within households is carried out by women. The 'unpaid care penalty' for women in the EU, which is equivalent to the earnings they lost because of this unbalanced distribution of care responsibilities, is estimated to reach €242 billion per year. EU action in the care sector has the potential for high returns for society. Fostering the 'equal earner – equal carer model' could generate benefits of between €24 billion and €48 billion a year.

EPRS policy podcast - What if care work were recognised as a driver of sustainable growth?

The European Union's outermost regions (ORs) qualify for special treatment owing to structural difficulties – such as remoteness, difficult topography and economic dependence on a few products – that can severely hamper their development. In addition, the coronavirus pandemic has hit their economies particularly hard. While these regions are quite different from one another, they have levels of unemployment and GDP significantly worse than EU and national averages. Article 349 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union provides for specific measures to support the ORs, including the tailored application of EU law and access to EU programmes.

EPRS policy podcast - Outermost regions of the EU

The EU has contributed to creating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), established in 2015, as part of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and takes action to implement them through its internal and external policies, as outlined in the 'Towards a Sustainable Europe by 2030' reflection paper, the European Green Deal, the European Commission's political priorities and its work programme. The Sustainable Development Goals also have a regional dimension, sometimes called 'localisation'. Achieving around 65 % of the targets is estimated to require local and regional authority participation. Numerous regions and cities, including in the EU, have expressed support for the SDGs and many have integrated them in their policy frameworks.

EPRS podcast - Policy: Sustainable Development Goals in EU regions

REGI Committee - mission to Romania

European Commissioner in charge of regional Development takes part in the plenary session - Week 18  2018 in Brussels -  Novakov report: Cohesion policy and thematic objective ‘promoting sustainable transport and removing bottlenecks in key network infrastructures’

Conference on  ' Smart Grid viewed from the regional cooperation perspective '

Younous OMARJEE (The Left, FR), and Andrzej BULA (EPP, PL) hold a press briefing on the Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (“RESTORE”) proposal. The Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (“RESTORE”) proposal allows EU countries to more easily channel European regional development funds (ERDF) and cohesion funds to disaster reconstruction. The “RESTORE” proposal was adopted by 638 votes in favour, 10 against with 5 abstentions. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Press conference by Younous OMARJEE (The Left, FR), and Andrzej BULA (EPP, PL), co-rapporteurs on the restore proposal

This infoclip shows footage of the Cukrarna Gallery opened in September 2021 in Ljubljana (Slovenia) with the contribution of the European Regional and Development Fund (ERDF). The Slovenian capital has gained a new space that serves both as a venue for exhibiting contemporary art and as a place where thoughts can be explored and contemporary art projects of all kinds – visual, intermedia, performance, sound, music and more – can be created and presented. The financial contribution from the EU ERDF is of 10,7 million euros for a total estimated value of 24,6 million euros.

Infoclip: "Cukrarna" Gallery - European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) - Ljubljana (Slovenia)

This infoclip shows the factory of Seifert Systems in Malta. The company, with more than 55 years’ experience and expertise within Industrial Thermal Management, has recently made a €12 million investment to extend their factory in Malta, benefitting from EU funds through the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Infoclip: Industrial thermal management systems - European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) – Birżebbugia (Malta)

This infoclip illustrates the extension of tramway T2 connecting the Florence's city centre (Piazza dell'Unità) with Peretola Airport of Florence. The project consists of a line of 5 km and 483 metres, a total coverage of 12 stops. It has been realised also thanks to the contribution of the Cohesion Policy, born from the synergies between local authorities, the state and the European Union, in which the EU invested € 26 million through the European Regional Development Fund.

Infoclip: Extension of tramway - European Regional Development Fund - Florence (Italy)

This infoclip illustrates the extension of tramway line no. 41 in Bucharest (Romania), thanks to the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF). Twelve new, 36 m long, modern trams were purchased, leading to lowering the travel times for commuters, raising the average speed of local public transport during rush hours and transferring a part of private car transport to the public transport sector. The total amount awarded to Romania through ERDF was 363.97 million euros, out of which 25.3 million were used for the acquisition of the trams.

Infoclip: Extension of tramway - European Regional Development Fund - Bucharest (Romania)

Keynote address at the Opening session of the European Week of Regions and Cities by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament

European Week of Regions and Cities: Keynote address at the Opening session by Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament

During the plenary session (24-25 March 2021) in the European Parliament in Brussels, Tonino PICULA (S&D, HR), rapporteur, gives a short presentation of his report on Cohesion Policy and regional environment strategies in the fight against climate change. Follows a statement by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment, Oceans and Fisheries.

Cohesion Policy and regional environment strategies in the fight against climate change: report by Tonino PICULA (S&D, HR), and statement by Virginijus SINKEVIČIUS, European Commissioner for Environment

This video stockshot provides examples of EU-financed projects in the Climate and Energy sectors. Promoting clean energy and fighting climate change are key priorities for the EU. The featured projects in Greece, the Netherlands, Austria, France, Sweden, Finland and Germany are funded by different EU instruments such as Horizon 2020, the European Regional Development Fund and the European Fund for Strategic Investments, the heart of the Juncker Plan.

Infoclip: InvestEU – climate and energy projects

Iskra MIHAYLOVA (ALDE, BG), Chair of the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) of the EP, and Corina CREŢU, Member of the EC in charge of Regional Policy, speak to the press on EU joint regional developments, during a press point in the European Parliament in Brussels.

Press point by Iskra MIHAYLOVA (ALDE, BG), Chair of REGI Committee, and Corina CREŢU, Member of the EC in charge of Regional Policy, on EU joint regional developments

Andrea COZZOLINO (S&D, IT), rapporteur, speaks to the press on the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund, during the plenary session (25-28 March 2019) in the European Parliament in Strasbourg.

Press conference by Andrea COZZOLINO (S&D, IT), rapporteur, on the European Regional Development Fund and Cohesion Fund

Antonio TAJANI, EP President patricpates at the Committee of the Regions 131th Plenary Session - Debate on the State of the Union - The view of Regions and Cities:

Committee of the Regions 131th Plenary Session - Debate on the State of the Union - The view of Regions and Cities: statement by Antonio TAJANI, EP President

Meeting of the Committee on Economic and Monetary Affairs (ECON) and the Committee on Regional Development (REGI), on the Structured Dialogue - suspension of ESI Funds,&nbsp;during the EP Plenary session (03-06/10) in Strasbourg. Statements by Corina CRETU, Member of the EC in charge of Regional Policy, Fernando RUAS (EPP, PT), Ram&oacute;n Luis VALC&Aacute;RCEL SISO (EPP, ES), Jon&aacute;s FERN&Aacute;NDEZ (S&amp;D, ES), Lambert van NISTELROOIJ (EPP, NL), Ruža TOMA&Scaron;IĆ (ECR, HR), Pervenche BER&Egrave;S (S&amp;D, FR), Burkhard BALZ (EPP, DE), Younous OMARJEE (GUE/NGL, FR), and Jyrki KATAINEN, Vice-President of the EC in charge of Jobs, Growth, Investment and Competitiveness.

Structured Dialogue - suspension of ESI Funds: extracts from the debate

The REGI Committee hosts the Opening Session of the 8th edition of the OPEN DAYS - the European week of the regions and cities, in the European Parliament in Brussels. This year event is devoted to the subject: Europe 2020: Competitiveness, co-operation and cohesion for all regions.

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