The role of the regions

Are regions key actors in EU policy-making ? The answer to that question is certainly not easy and calls for a nuanced answer. Are all regions equally important ? At what stages of the EU policy cycle do they influence the most ? What is a region ? Heterogeneity seems to be the best accurate word when thinking about regions in the EU. The regional reality in Europe and the way in which regions participate in European affairs are both extremely diverse and complex dimensions of EU policy-making. This fact sheet outlines how the regions of the EU seek to influence EU policy-making.