Droba Opens Gala Reception Marking 20th Anniversary of EU Enlargement

Brussels, October 8 (TASR-correspondent) - Bratislava region governor Juraj Droba opened a gala reception marking the 20th anniversary of the 2004 enlargement of the European Union in Brussels on Monday evening. The event was hosted by President of the Committee of the Regions Vasco Alves Cordeiro, and among the guests of honour at the reception was EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform Elisa Ferreira. Cordeiro and Ferreira on Monday afternoon launched the 22nd European Week of Regions and Cities, the largest annual event dedicated to EU regional and cohesion policy. Droba spoke on behalf of all ten EU-member states that joined the EU in May 2004. Ambassadors from these countries were also invited to the event. As part of the European Week of Regions and Cities, Droba will take part in a working meeting on Tuesday, and on Thursday he'll speak at a 'Towards Smart and Sustainable Growth in Cities and Regions' debate, which will focus on the development of metropolitan regions such as Bratislava. He'll speak at the event along with the deputy mayor of Helsinki and representatives of the municipalities of Amsterdam and Dublin. zel/df