INTERREG project "PRESERVE" kicks-off in Brussels, AER lead partner

Brussels (B), 6 November 2008.

Project partners of the project PRESERVE (Peer reviews for sustainable eco-regions via Eu-rope) came together today for the kick-off meeting in the AER Brussels office. PRESERVE is one of 35 regional initiative projects that were approved from the 492 applications received under the first call INTERREG IVC.

With AER as lead partner, 13 partner regions from 11 countries will work together over the next 3 years to improve the effectiveness of regional development policies, specifically focu-sing upon cultural heritage and landscape policies as key factors in economic development.

Using common evaluation methodologies, the exchange of best practice and audits from other regional experts (Peer Reviews), the regional policymakers will be able to develop a work plan to apply the recommendations and improve their cultural heritage and landscape policies.

The project builds upon AER’s highly successful peer review programme, which began in 2006 with peer reviews on regional economic development and has since continued with peer re-views on tourism and the work of AER’s tourism network.   

A public opening conference will take place in Brussels in early 2009.


The Assembly of European Regions (AER) is the largest independent network of regions in wider Europe. Bringing together more than 270 regions from 33 countries and 13 interregional organisations, AER is the political voice of its members and a forum for interregional co-operation.


AER Contacts:
Céline Dawans, Policy Coordinator, c.dawans@aer.eu, Tel: +32 (0)2 421 83 89 – Fax: +32 (0)2 421 83 69
Anja Ruhland, Director of AER Brussels office, a.ruhland@aer.eu, Tel: +32 (0)2 421 85 40 –  Fax: +32 (0)2 421 83 69