As a part of the project “Improving Regional Development Policies - Sharing the German and Slovenian Experience” supported by the Think and Link Programme and financed by the European Fund for the Balkans, NBE team visited EUREGIA, one of the biggest events in the field of local and regional development in Europe, which took place from 22-24 October, 2012, in Leipzig, Germany.
EUREGIA Congress brings together professionals from all European countries that work in the field of local and regional development. The aim of this Congress is to allow the participants to present the latest research and project findings and exchange ideas, experiences and best practices.
The NBE team used this opportunity to get a first-hand experience of the institutional setup for regional development in Germany. In-depth interviews were used as a research methodology to obtain the necessary information. The specific issues discussed during the interviews were focused on the institutional framework for regional development in Germany in order to depict the main strengths and weaknesses, as well as to provide suitable recommendations for Macedonia.
As part of the Congress visit, NBE held a numerous meetings with relevant policy makers on national, regional and local level, representatives from the Saxon State Ministry for economic affairs and labor, representatives from the regional management units and researchers from educational institutions involved in the field of regional development.