Following up the debate on the future of the Cohesion Policy launched by the publication of the 4th Cohesion Report and the Commission's Green Paper on territorial cohesion, this event will allow a wide-ranging exchange of views between regions, metropolitan areas and actors of civil society.

This conference, at which 1200 participants are expected, will allow for debate on the concept of territorial cohesion following the publication of the European Commission's Green Paper, and on the future of the cohesion policy with the main partners. These include the regions, towns and their European networks (Eurocities, Association of European Regions, Conference of Peripheral Maritime Regions), as well as the managing authorities of Structural Funds, regional economic development agencies, business representatives (Business Europe, SME, Eurochamber) and social partners (CES).

In addition to the plenary sessions where a number of political figures and experts will speak, four thematic workshops bringing together experts and locally elected officials will throw light on how territorial cohesion and sectoral policies intertwine: the Common Agricultural Policy particularly its rural development aspect, the sustainable development strategy in terms of the adaptation of territories to climate change, the post-2010 Lisbon process, governance and the integrated strategies for the development of territories.

A second session, with a political roundtable, will address territorial cohesion and the future of Cohesion policy as an instrument to face new challenges in a global world.

Click here to access the programme and read more about the speakers. Registration is possible via the conference website. Also, documents for the workshops have been prepared; click here to access them.

Le Palais des Congrès de Paris,

2, Place de la Porte Maillot

75017 Paris, France