The sustainable growth of Regions and cities as a challenge to always do better for SMEs. This is why we need to help them at a local level. This is the challenge launched by the European Committee of the Regions with the Premio European Business Region (EER). Cities, Regions and Municipalities that want to share their strategy towards sustainable growth can apply for the 2024 edition. The theme is "Cities and Regions towards sustainable, resilient and digital growth". There is time until 29 March 2023 to submit applications. The Committee has given the institutions time to fully prepare, perhaps recognizing the initiative as an intermediate step towards energy transition and climate neutrality.
The Regions together with small companies towards 2050
On the way to 2050, local authorities can develop improvement actions for the environment, climate, natural disasters. They can assist SMEs to grow and diversify. And it is no coincidence that the invitation to submit applications for the 2024 edition was made during the annual meeting of SMEs in Prague. Municipalities and Regions have available resources European and national ones that must be finalized, without accumulating passive residues. Italy - according to the European Court of Auditors - at the end of 2021 still had to spend 25 billion and 166 million euros of funds from the 2014-2020 period.
The challenge for the sustainability label
“EER 24 will highlight local and regional actions that will support, over the next two years, the green and digital transition of small and medium-sized enterprises, strengthening the competitiveness and long-term resilience of their local economies”, says the CoR in a note. The prize is awarded to up to three territories that demonstrate an innovative business strategy, regardless of size or level of wealth. The territories that present the most credible project are awarded the European Business Region label for the following year. For 2023 the recognition went to: Barcelona (Spain), Penela (Portugal) and Western Pomerania (Poland). “The European Entrepreneurial Region has become a recognized seal of excellence – said the President of the Committee Vasco Alves Cordeiro – which connects regions that share the same interests in a European network and supports their collaboration and the exchange of good practices across borders”.
In July 2023 the winners of the 2024 edition
However, the initiative starts from strategy European Union for SMEs with green priorities and investments for the period 2019-2024. In one of the most complex economic phases in recent years, with a war on Europe's doorstep, high energy prices and many uncertainties gathering on the horizon, will the ability of local administrators to enhance the local production network emerge? SMEs are on average family or craft businesses for which the objectives of green and digital transitions become difficult if not adequately assisted by politics. The challenge of a prize for having a brand thus turns into one positive competition between states towards unavoidable goals. The winning regions of the 2024 edition will, however, be announced in July 2023 during the plenary session of the Committee of the Regions.
