Slovensko
History of EREF
Nova Gorica was the place where the Slovenian accession to EU was officially celebrated in May 2004 in presence of Prime Minister Janez Drnovšek and Commisssion President Romano Prodi. On that occasion the municipality has invited some representatives of the countries of SE Europe for an informal discussion on how Slovenia could play the role of a bridge between EU and these countries. This initiative of the mayor Mirko Brulc was warmly accepted.
Next year the Municipality of Nova Gorica asked the Slovenian Business & Research Association in Brussels to help organize a more structured gathering - which became the European Regional Economic Forum – EREF. Since 2005 the Forum is organized annually, and the Slovenian government – Department of Local Self-Government and Regional Policy has joint as the third organizer of the event, which obtained also the high patronage of the Committee of the Regions, and is sponsored by company HIT Nova Gorica.
From 2007 onwards the Forum is preceded by a series of preparatory Workshops, co-organized by EREF partners in various parts of Europe, and beyond. By that time a Brussels-based EREF Network developed, with SBRA as its Secretariat, and in 2008 the Municipality of Nova Gorica developed another EREF Network – covering the area of South Eastern Europe.
Since 2006 also the general annual meetings of Research, Innovation, and Business Network for Central and South Eastern Europe (RIB Network) are held in Nova Gorica, a day before the EREF Forum. These meetings are accompanied by a topical seminar for RIBN members, many of whom traditionally attend the Forum.
And since 2007, within the EREF, an annual meeting of regional and local coordinators of Lisbon Strategy (Agenda) are meeting in Nova Gorica, exchanging their experience in implementing the Agenda in their environment.
In 2009 a competition of best practice cases has been started, and this has also become a permanent activity of the Network.
