http://www.kcgsi.nl/News and meetings from NetherlandsenEUKNSat, 20 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100http://www.kcgsi.nl/eukn/news/2010/03/treaty-EMF_1021.htmlPolicymakers are debating whether a proposed 'European Monetary Fund' would require changes to the EU's Lisbon Treaty, as predicted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel. The EU executive believes it would, while politicians on the margins say it would not.NewsThu, 18 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100http://www.kcgsi.nl/eukn/news/2010/03/London-landmark-building-will-generate-8--of-its-energy-needs_1019.htmlPeering down 148 metres from the top of the latest addition to London's skyline, the traffic-clogged Elephant and Castle roundabout and its notorious neighbour, the Heygate estate, below feel an unlikely location for a world first. But next week, this new skyscraper, nicknamed "the Razor", will take a crucial step towards becoming the world's first building with wind turbines built into its fabric.NewsMon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100http://www.kcgsi.nl/eukn/news/2010/03/interview-ralf-brand_1020.htmlA wall separating a Catholic from a Protestant community in Belfast. A logo of the Amal militia spray-painted on a wall in Beirut. Or a police station right next to a mosque in Amsterdam. These are all signs of perceived or real polarisation in today’s urban world. Both shocked and fascinated by what he had seen in the city while working in Belfast, Ralf Brand, lecturer at the University of Manchester, initiated a research project on the interrelation between the urban environment and societal polarisation. Exploring the local situation in Belfast, Beirut, Berlin and Amsterdam, he found that polarisation and radicalisation can have a significant impact on the built environment and vice versa. What to do with that knowledge?NewsMon, 15 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100http://www.kcgsi.nl/eukn/news/2010/03/Brabantstad-EUROCITIES-newest-member_1018.htmlBrabantStad Metropolitan Area, an economically thriving region in the south of The Netherlands, is one of EUROCITIES’ newest members. What’s unique about BrabantStad is that it is an alliance of cities formed by Breda, Eindhoven, Helmond, ‘s-Hertogenbosch and Tilburg and the local government of Brabant. The alliance aims to achieve sustainable growth in all aspects of the city’s economic, spatial, social and cultural life. Collaboration is focused on addressing important regional development issues that the cities and province, alone, would have been unable to achieve.NewsThu, 11 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100http://www.kcgsi.nl/eukn/news/2010/03/The-Europe-2020-Strategy-needs-local-and-regional-authorities-if-it-is-to-fully-achieve-its-goals_1017.htmlThe Committee of the Regions welcomes the objectives and the form of governance outlined in the Europe 2020 Strategy but stresses that its effectiveness will be limited if local and regional authorities only play an implementing role downstream of the decision-making process. Speaking after the adoption by the Commission of its Communication on Europe 2020, A strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, Mercedes Bresso, the President of the Committee of the Regions, noted that the strategy was more realistic than the proposal set out in the consultation document on which the Committee had expressed its views at the end of 2009, as it "finally gets to grips with the crisis which is hitting our businesses, citizens and regions". She added that " we should be pleased that Europe 2020 is first putting forward a strategy for overcoming the crisis, followed by guidelines for the future, by building on rather than breaking with the European social model".NewsWed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100http://www.kcgsi.nl/eukn/meetings/2010/03/ecpr-joint-session-of-workshops-2010_1001.htmlBetween 22 and 27 March 2010, the European Consortium for Political Research (ECPR) will organise its annual Joint Session of Workshops. The main aim of the workshops is the participation and equality of endeavour between advanced students, younger and newer members of the profession and well-established professors. This year's workshops include discussions on partnership working, electoral change and network governance.  MeetingMon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100http://www.kcgsi.nl/eukn/meetings/2010/03/The-EU-Sustainable-Energy-Week_1004.htmlThe EU Sustainable Energy Week is the reference event for sustainable issues in Europe. It forms part of the Sustainable Energy Europe Campaign which is an initiative of the European Commission launched in 2005.MeetingMon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100http://www.kcgsi.nl/eukn/meetings/2010/03/Urban-Mobility-in-National-Capitals_1006.htmlBrasilia's Department of Urban Development and the Environment is assembling national capitals for the seventh gathering of the Capitals Alliance. The meeting will take place in Brazil's capital during the week of March 22-25, 2010 to coincide with Brasilia's 50th anniversary celebration.MeetingMon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100http://www.kcgsi.nl/eukn/meetings/2010/03/World-Urban-Forum-5-The-Right-to-the-City-Bridging-the-Urban-Divide_1007.htmlIn the space of a few short years, the World Urban Forum has turned into the world's premier conference on cities. The Forum was established by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing problems facing the world today: rapid urbanization and its impact on communities, cities, economies, climate change and policies.MeetingMon, 22 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100http://www.kcgsi.nl/eukn/meetings/2010/03/elebrating-25-years-of-the-European-Capital-of-Culture_1009.html2010 marks the 25 year anniversary of the European Capitals of Culture, which were launched in 1985. On 23-24 March 2010 the European Commission will be hosting a celebratory event and strategic conference to mark the event, to look back at the achievements of the past 25 years, and to reflect strategically on its legacy and impact.MeetingTue, 23 Mar 2010 00:00:00 +0100