OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions & Cities’ Post

EU and Switzerland will take their relationship to the next level

#🇪🇺✨ Dive into the Heart of EU Policy! Belgium, the powerhouse behind the Council of the European Union Presidency since January 1, 2024, has set the stage with six months of impactful priorities: 1️⃣ Defending rule of law, democracy, and unity 2️⃣ Strengthening EU's competitiveness 3️⃣ Pursuing a green and just transition 4️⃣ Reinforcing EU's social and health agenda 5️⃣ Protecting people and borders 6️⃣ Promoting a global Europe Belgium's buzzwords for this presidency? Sustainability and Sobriety. Want to crack the code on "sobriety" member states, ERASMUS+ budget cuts, and its impact on grant writing strategy? As usual, let me know :) Are you aware of Belgium's unique focus during its presidency? Dive into discussions on the European judicial response to drug-related organized crime, protection of sex workers, and innovative small-scale detention practices. Curious about my small contribution as a RESCALED Ambassador? Watch Minister Paul Van Tigchelt at the Justice Ministers' meeting on January 26, 2024, in Brussels. Save the date - March 21 - to witness RESCALED in action! 📅👥 #EU2024 #BelgiumPresidency #EUAgenda #GrantWriting #RESCALED21Mar

The key takeaways from the POLICY ANSWERS Conference highlight the impact of policy dialogue. Government representatives from the Western Balkans, key stakeholders, EC delegates, and experts from both the WB and EU convened to discuss pressing issues along three thematic topics: Digital, Green, and Health. https://lnkd.in/dQVAtuic #POLICYANSWERS #WBVision2030 #PolicyDialogue #WBInfoHub

🇪🇺 From 1 January to 30 June, 2024, Belgium will preside over the Council of the EU. During its presidency, its role will be to coordinate the Council's operations and promote collaboration between the Member States. All of this will take place under the presidency slogan "Protect, Strengthen and Prepare". Belgium will hold its 13th mandate, and these are the six priorities of its Presidency: ⚫️Defending rule of law, democracy, and unity; 🟡Strengthening our competitiveness; 🔴Pursuing a green and just transition; ⚫️Reinforcing our social and health agenda; 🟡Protecting people and borders; 🔴Promoting a global Europe. More at: https://lnkd.in/de7-uJm8 #EUYouthHub #EU #Council #Presidency #BE #Belgium

At its inception, the East African Community (EAC) adopted regional integration as one of its primary goals. The EAC Treaty recommends the adoption of incrementalism towards political, economic, and social integration through establishing customs union, common market, monitory union, and ultimately political federation. Though EAC envisioned an establishment of a confederation by 2023, a large majority of Kenyans (58%) have heard “nothing” or “very small amount” about the envisioned East African Federation. It is however notable that the majority of Kenyans (52%) “approve” or “strongly approve” the free movement of goods, services, and labour within the East African Community. While political representation should act as the genuine link between the people and the regional body, only 29% of Kenyans have heard “some” or “a great deal “of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), while a strong majority (68%) have heard “nothing” or “a small amount” about the legislative body. With EAC identified as the most integrated compared to other regional economic blocks, the 2021 data by Afrobarometer raises concerns on whether the integration is taking place at the state level while leaving out East Africans who are the primary agents and beneficiaries of sustainable Eastafricanization. Register through this link: https://lnkd.in/d_ZXvpVV to participate in this discussion on Thursday 14th March, 2024 as from 2 PM EAT.

Join us on June 13 for a panel discussion on Catalyzing Business Growth through Accelerated EU Accession. We will discuss lessons from DAI’s 20 years of supporting Candidate Countries with accession reforms. Click here to register: https://buff.ly/3x9aXJ4 #EU I European Commission I #Accession I #Ukraine I #EconomicGrowth I #Governance I #SMEs

Introducing 📣 The European Cross-Border Platform A new forum for cross-border organizations to engage, discuss, and advocate for the needs of border regions. Learn more and join the platform today 📨 https://europa.eu/!pBW48j Together, let's bring local issues to the EU level. #CrossborderEU

📢 400+ cross-sector organisations call for 🇪🇺 leaders to confirm the #EUGreenDeal as a priority in the next EU mandate. We of course are supporting the #greendealforeu under the motto: 𝐿𝑒𝑡’𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑔𝑎𝑚𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑜𝑛 𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑓𝑢𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒, 𝑙𝑒𝑡’𝑠 𝑏𝑢𝑖𝑙𝑑 𝑖𝑡! Read the full joint statement here 👉 www.greendealforeurope.eu #GreenDealforEU

When it comes to defense, European governments have been like the 40 year old son that won't move out of their parent's home. Why should they grow up, be responsible and pay for anything if their mother feeds them, washes their clothes and pays their mobile bill. The EU has developed a codependency on the US for their defense and security. The US has always come to save Europe from their enemies, but always after Europe showed Churchill-like resolve to fight for themselves. Since the end of the Cold War, the EU looks first to the US for funding NATO, and then grudgingly cobbles together a partial donation until confronted by a US President who represents the will of the people: "Why the hell should we pay for NATO, when the Europeans won't pay their fair share?" Why should we pay to protect our borders when we are being invaded at our southern border?" The imminent threat to the US is China, Mexico, Iran, Venezuela, who, along with Soros, Gates, the WEF, the UN, the WHO and the Davos globalists want to destroy the US and replace it with a subservient neofeudal state who answers to a dystopian super state run by Billionaires. We the people will never let this happen. Europe needs to grow up, move out of their US funded defense dome and learn to pay their own way.

🌍 Breaking Down Borders! Check out how the B-Solutions project is tackling obstacles at EU borders, making cross-border cooperation smoother and more efficient. Learn how this initiative is adding value to people's lives. #EUinmyRegion #CrossBorderCooperation #Interreg