13–15 October 2025
Brussels, Belgium
Explore the full programme 

The 23rd edition of the European Week of Regions and Cities (#EURegionsWeek) will take place from 13 to 15 October 2025 in Brussels. Co-organised by the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and the European Committee of the Regions (CoR), this flagship event brings together thousands of stakeholders from across Europe to exchange ideas, showcase good practices, and discuss the future of cohesion policy and territorial development. 

2025 motto: Shaping tomorrow, together 

This year’s edition will focus on three key thematic areas: 

  • Cohesion and Growth for the Future 
  • The Right to Stay: Unlocking the Potential of Every Territory 
  • Cities Building Tomorrow 

The programme will feature high-level panels, interactive workshops, policy debates, exhibitions, and networking activities. Main sessions will take place at the Jacques Delors Building (CoR) and SQUARE Brussels, with some events hosted across other EU venues in the city. 

Registration is free and open to all participants. Due to security measures, on-site registration will not be possible — all attendees must register in advance.
Register before 30 September 2025 

 

VALORADA session on accessible risk communication – 14 October 2025 

VALORADA will also host a session earlier that day titled “Enabled by Design: Building Risk Communication for People with Disabilities”. This interactive session will take place on 14 October 2025, from 11:30 to 13:00 CET, at SQUARE Brussels, Room 213–215, under the thematic area “Cities Building Tomorrow”. 

This event addresses a pressing gap in climate resilience strategies: the inaccessibility of risk communication tools for persons with disabilities. Despite advancements in digital systems, many tools remain non-compliant with the EU Accessibility Act and fall short of the Strategy for the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. 

Structured as a mini-climathon, the session will engage participants in team-based challenges to co-create inclusive, accessible digital communication solutions. Drawing from diverse disciplines—public policy, design, technology, social sciences and communications—teams will develop actionable prototypes and policy-aligned recommendations to ensure no one is left behind in the face of climate risks. 

Speakers include: 

  • Rosalind Cook, United Nations Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) 
  • Gordon Rattray, International Disability Alliance (IDA) 

Programme highlights: 

  • Welcome & challenge briefing by Climate-KIC (CKIC) 
  • Joint keynote on disability inclusion in climate resilience (UNDRR / IDA) 
  • Systemic mapping and collaborative design work 
  • Presentation of team prototypes with fireside feedback 

Registration link : https://regions-and-cities.europa.eu/programme/2025/sessions/46315 

 

Joint session on rural proofing – 14 October 2025 

As part of the European Week of Regions and Cities 2025, VALORADA will join forces with the GRANULAR and RUSTIK projects to co-organise a joint interactive session entitled “Rural Proofing: Making Policies Work for Rural Areas through Data”. The session will take place on 14 October 2025, from 16:00 to 17:30 CEST, at SQUARE Brussels, Room 213–215. Structured as an interactive exchange, the session will combine a panel discussion with thematic roundtables. It is organised under the thematic area “The Right to Stay: Unlocking the Potential of Every Territory”, and will explore how data, including Earth Observation, can support the design of inclusive, place-based policies for rural areas. 

The session will begin with insights from representatives of the European Commission, the OECD, and regional authorities, followed by collaborative discussion tables led by the VALORADA, GRANULAR and RUSTIK consortia. The discussion will welcome partners and consortium members of the @VALORADA project, including @Terra Spatium,  @Climate-KIC and @GERICS, who will contribute their expertise in Earth Observation, systemic innovation, and climate risk data for rural and regional resilience. 

Participants will be invited to peer-review practical approaches and discuss how data, including Earth Observation, can contribute to more inclusive and place-based rural policies. 

🔗Registration link : https://regions-and-cities.europa.eu/programme/2025/sessions/49278
  

We look forward to welcoming you in Brussels for an engaging session on shaping the future of rural Europe.