European cities, regions and municipalities who wish to showcase, share and enrich their strategy and experience in promoting the creation, innovation and growth of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) can now apply for the 2025 edition of the European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) award, organised by the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) in partnership with the European Commission’s DG GROW.

Under the overarching theme "Doing business better in EU regions and cities", the EER 2025 will spotlight local and regional actions aimed at developing a business-friendly environment, thus strengthening the competitiveness and long-term resilience of their local economies. Local and regional authorities can submit their strategies until 20 March 2024.

The call for applications for the EER 2025 was announced during the SME Assembly in Bilbao, the most significant event for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Europe, organised by the European Commission together with the Spanish Presidency of the Council of the EU.

In light of growing concerns over Europe's long-term economic prospects, supporting SMEs and bottom-up entrepreneurial activity is one of the priorities of the European Committee of the Regions. Through the EER 2025, the CoR aims to contribute to the delivery of the recently published SME Relief Package, and of the EU's strategic agenda for the industrial and innovation policy at the regional and local level.

The EER label is an opportunity to highlight the role of local and regional actors in removing obstacles and burdens to doing business, steering the EU economy towards a green and digital transition and thus helping SMEs to become more resilient in a rapidly changing geopolitical landscape.

Details and information on how to apply for the EER award 2025 can be found​on the dedicated webpage.

The European Entrepreneurial Region (EER) award is a project that identifies and rewards up to three EU territories each year that are pursuing an outstanding and innovative entrepreneurial policy strategy, irrespective of their size, wealth and competences. The territories with the most credible, forward-looking and promising plan are granted the label ‘European Entrepreneurial Region’ for the following year.

The EER label has been set up in partnership with the European Commission and is supported by EU-level stakeholders such as SME United, Eurochambres, Social Economy Europe and EURADA.

The winners of the EER awards 2024 were: Famalicao (Portugal), Friuli Venezia Giulia (Italy) and South Moravia & Brno (Czech Republic), with a special mention earned by Malopolska Region (Poland).

The winners of the 2025 edition will be announced during the CoR plenary session in June 2024.

More information on the European Entrepreneurial Region award, including a list of the previous winners since 2011, can be found here.

Source: COR