​Prior to the opening session of OPEN DAYS 2013, the CoR Conference of Presidents, including Dr Uno Silberg met with the European Commission, José Manuel Barroso. They called on the European Council and Parliament to urgently finalise the adoption of the EU budget 2014-2020 as well as of the new rules for structural funds.  Dr Silberg called for the Rural areas of Europe not to be forgotten in the development of EU policies.