President od Dubrovnik Neretva Region Nikola Dobroslavić participated in the meeting of the Steering Committee of the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian region (EUSAIR) with members of the Croatian delegation on 24 February in Brussels.

The Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy has organized the 3rd Urban Development Network  seminar on 18th February 2016. in Brussels and brought together 200 city managers, urban stakeholders, local, regional and national representatives, Commission services, as well as experts and academics in the field of sustainable urban development and innovation from across the 28 Member States.

In Brussels, in front of the Cathedral of St. Michel et Gudule, on 31th January 2016. Feast of St. Blaise was celebrated for the third consecutive year. The organiser of the celebration were the Representative office of Dubrovnik – Neretva County and Matica Hrvatska in Brussels in cooperation with Croatian Tourist Board and the Embassy of the Republic of Croatia in Belgium. About a hundred persons from Dubrovnik along with their guests attended the beginning of the Feast of St. Blaise. Same as in Dubrovnik, the organisers of the celebration had previously made a proclamation signed by hosts – Festanjuli, Marko Klečak and Ivo Mihajlović.

After the Croatian hymn, hymns to freedom and Hymns of St. Blaise, the have read a proclamation in Croatian, French and English. Proclamation was read to the celebrants, doyen of the Cathedral of. Claude Castiaud, after which the white doves were released, as a symbol of freedom and peace. Commemorative gifts and doves of peace were brought by the girls who came to the Fest dressed in national costume from Konavle. The flag of St. Blaise and the Croatian flag were worn by Ivo Dragć and Davor Buconić. After the opening of the Feast, a traditional religious ceremony called ‘grlicanje’ or The Blessing of the Throats was also organised. Previous to this part, the president of Matica Hrvatska in Brussels, Ivica Srsen had read a letter from the Bishop of Dubrovnik, Msgr. Mate Uzinic written to the people of Dubrovnik who live in Belgium.

People in Brussels tried the menu with ham, zelena menestra and rozata. Feast of St. Blaise is being celebrated since 972. A year after the Dubrovnik Senate has proclaimed St. Blaise to be Dubrovnik’s protector because it is believed that he defended the city from the Venetians.

European Committee of the Regions organized the conference„Think Smart, Think Regional...Let's Innovate!“ on 27th Januray 2016. in Brussels.

The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) and the European Commission Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) invited interested colleagues from regional offices, associations and EU institutions to the kick-off meeting of the European Week of Regions and Cities 2016 ( OPEN DAYS) organized in European Committee of the Regions on 29th January 2016.