The European Committee of the Regions (CoR) stands firm behind a robust Cohesion Policy and strong European Territorial Cooperation (ETC). To influence the debate on the future of EU policies after 2027, the CoR is organising a conference in cooperation with INTERACT and the Croatian EUSAIR Presidency to bring the attention of decision-makers to the new challenges that regions and cities are facing and to debate the role of ETC in helping to address these challenges, today and in the future.

The 2021-2027 policy and legislative framework for ETC has yet to satisfy regions and cities fully, and the ETC is constantly under pressure and underfunded - something the CoR strives to change. However, the ETC's strong local and regional dimension, which allows cities and regions to develop together on an equal footing in cross-border, transnational, outermost and interregional activities, should be well recognised even beyond EU funding.

This conference will, therefore, provide an opportunity to take stock of experience across all strands of ETC to date, exchange views on optimising implementation during the 2021-2027 period and develop a vision for post-2027.

This conference will precede the 9th EUSAIR Forum, hosted by the Croatian Presidency and organised jointly by the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Croatia, the Ministry of Regional Development and EU Funds of Croatia, and the Facility Point Project Partner from Croatia (Ministry of Tourism and Sport of Croatia), in close cooperation with the European Commission and supported by the EUSAIR Facility Point.

The Forum's official opening will be on the morning of 15 May 2024, followed by a High-Level Panel and the Presidency handover ceremony. The topic of the High-Level Panel will be “Post-2027 Cohesion – what's needed for the EUSAIR macro-region?".

Participants who register for the conference “Interreg: Developing a Vision for the Future" will also be invited to the Forum events on May 15 and 16.
 

• Target audience: Interreg management authorities, EGTCs and Euroregions, representatives of cities and regions from the European Union and its neighbourhood.
   
• Transfers will be organised to and from Split and Zadar free of charge.
   
• The travel reimbursements and lodging are to be organized by the participants. Preferential prices of hotels will be ensured by the organisers, but the costs of lodging are not covered by the organisers.
   
• The registrations are open until 10 May and available on this link.
   
• The draft programme is available here.
   
• The places at the conference are limited (100) and will be given on a first-come, first-serve basis. The confirmations for participation will be sent twice a week.
   
• This event is free of charge.
   

Contact:

Contact Person: Slaven Klobucar

Organizer: CoR, Interact and the Croatian EUSAIR Presidency

Email: slaven.klobucar@cor.europa.eu