EU Member States and countries neighbouring the Union will at the ESPON seminar “Territorial Challenges and Cooperation in a Wider Europe” take further steps in understanding and cooperating on territorial development dynamics within Europe between the 2-3 June 2008 in Portorož (Slovenia). The policy focus is territorial cohesion and a sustainable and balanced development.

Europe is facing major challenges that all affect the territory, its regions and cities, and in diverse ways. The accelerating globalisation, climate change, the increase of energy prices and the ageing of European citizens are among these. One of the aims of the new ESPON 2013 Programme is to promote capitalization and networking on the understanding of European territorial dynamics and the corresponding needs for evidence and information. The seminar is looking to stimulate a better mutual understanding of these trends, challenges and perspectives facing the EU as well as neighbouring territories and support the use of territorial evidence and information in practical politics.

The Seminar will provide a platform for creating new contacts and synergies enlarging the involvement and networking around territorial development and cohesion. Representatives from responsible authorities monitoring spatial development in countries neighbouring the EU are particularly invited to participate and take an active role.

The seminar is open to all interested participants, policy makers, scientists, practitioners at EU, national, regional and local level and online registration for the seminar is open on the ESPON website until on 22 May 2008.