CURE - DG Regio seminars on the issue of Urban-Rural linkages

During 2008-2009 CURE is assisting DG Regio in the organisation of a series of seminars on the theme of Urban-Rural Linkages.

Third Seminar:

Urban-rural linkages fostering social cohesion in Europe

The third seminar on urban-rural linkages organised by the DG Regio in collaboration with the Universities of Gloucestershire and of the West of England will take place on the 2^nd of July 2009.

DRAFT AGENDA

09.00-09.30: Registration

09.30-10.00: What is the policy context, why are rural-urban linkages important for territorial cohesion? The view from the European Commission

Welcome and introductory remarks (Dirk Ahner, Director General, Directorate-General for Regional Policy)

Presentation from Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Equal Opportunities (Antonia Carparelli, Head of Unit, Inclusion, Social Policy Aspects of Migration, Streamlining of Social Policies)

10.00-10.30: Keynote: a learning agenda for promoting urban-rural linkages and social cohesion"?

Seija Virkkala, Professor of Regional Studies, Faculty of Public Administration, University of Vaasa

10.30-11.15: Setting out a conceptual framework for rural-urban linkages and social cohesion

Project team

11.15-11.45: Illustrating the substantive issues of rural-urban linkage and social cohesion. What is it good for?

Project team present examples from case vignettes

11.45-12.45: Panel discussion: 3 case study representatives respond to staged questions opening out into facilitated discussion with audience to pick up other example of substantive social cohesion impacts

12.45-13.00: Drawing together plenary discussion from morning

13.00-14.30: Lunch

14.30-15.00: Delivering social cohesion through rural-urban linkages. What are the ‘delivery vehicles’ and ‘policy levers’?

Project team present examples from case vignettes

15.00-16.00: Panel discussion: 3 case study representatives respond to staged questions opening out into facilitated discussion with audience to pick up other examples of delivery vehicles and policy levers

16.00-16.45: What are practitioners looking to the European Union for support in this area?

General discussion

16.45-17.15: Comments from key note listeners: Reflections on the day and the next steps

· Mark Shucksmith

· Elena Saraceno

· Michael Dower

17.15-17.30: Concluding remarks and closing of the event

Dirk Ahner, Director General, Directorate-General for Regional Policy

Second seminar:

Urban-Rural linkages fostering sustainable development in Europe

The seminar Urban-Rural linkages fostering sustainable development in Europe was organised for DG Regio by ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability and Sustainable Cities Research Institute of Northumbria University, on the 23^rd of January. For detailed information please visit the official site of this event:

http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/conferences/urban_rural/index_en.htm, as well as the documents provided during the seminar: