The “Open Days – European Week of Regions and Cities” took place in Brussels from 8 to 11 October. UEAPME organised a workshop in the Committee of the Regions on 9 October.

Entitled “SMEs: keystone of Europe”, the well-attended event was moderated by Secretary General Hans-Werner Müller and showcased the role of SMEs within regions and their importance for the local economy. A number of best practices was presented to show how regions and SMEs can benefit from regional funds, in particular structural funds, and how these resources are used to increase regional and local cohesion.

Mr Friedrich-Wilhelm Weber, from the Handwerkskammern Aachen und Trier, presented "Die Eifel project", an example on how SMEs can be vital to improve rural areas. After a brief analysis of the strengths and weaknesses present in the EIFEL Regions, the project showed how SMEs can be a good solution to smoothen problems derived from economic differences among rich and poorer areas. The project was financed by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF).

Mrs Danielle Nicolas, from the UEAPME French member APCM, spoke about a project developed in the framework of the URBAN II programme and financed by the ERDF, which focused on the role of crafts and SMEs in facilitating the development of cities and urban areas, in particular deprived urban areas in the Alsace region.

Mr Piotr Bastek, from the Chamber of crafts and SMEs in Katowice, Poland, introduced the "First Shift project" taking place in the Silesia Region, which demonstrated how training courses conducted by/in SMEs can reintegrate unemployed people. The project was developed under the EQUAL programme and financed by the European Social Fund (ESF).

Mrs Marie Dominique Pinson from the French organisation CAPEB described the RESSAC project, developed under the EQUAL programme and financed by the European Social Fund (ESF). The project focuses on the restoration of old building conducted by experienced SMEs in the construction sector.

Finally, Dr. Ing. Ursula Beller presented a network called Technologie Tranfer Ring Handwerk (TTH), which aims at fostering innovation in crafts and SMEs in the North Rhine - Westfalia region in Germany.