Directors General Meeting on Territorial Cohesion / Territorial Agenda and Joint DGTC / DGUM-Seminar

Directors General Meeting on Territorial Cohesion / Territorial Agenda and Joint DGTC / DGUM-Seminar “Strengthening Soft Territorial Policy Approaches under the post 2020 European Framework for the Territorial and Urban Agenda”

The EU member states’ Directors General (DG) responsible for territorial development and the EU goal of territorial cohesion meet bi‑annually upon invitation by the current presidency of the Council of the EU. Representatives from selected EU institutions such as the European Commission, the European Parliament, the Committee of the Regions and the European Investment Bank also participate in the meeting. It aims at achieving continuous high‑level intergovernmental cooperation on key challenges regarding European territorial development.

The Austrian Presidency of the Council of the European Union will focus particularly on aspects related to effective European governance in this policy area. The DG meeting will examine possible future joint priorities of European territorial development policy (including likely focal areas of a new Territorial Agenda post 2020). To this end, attendees will discuss in particular the expert input provided by the European Observation Network for Territorial Development and Cohesion (ESPON), and will look for ways to connect it with the ongoing work regarding the Urban Agenda for the EU.

The second day is dedicated to the discussion on Soft Territorial Policy Approaches under the post 2020 European Framework for the Territorial and Urban Agenda. The meeting will be organised in the format of a seminar together with the Directors General for Urban Matters (DGUM). The seminar is embedded into the ongoing intergovernmental discourse on the post 2020 landscape of European territorial policies (Territorial Agenda) and urban development (Urban Agenda). The objectives of the event are to:

• highlight the importance of soft policy approaches and mechanisms such as European and transnational implementation partnerships;
• develop visible key factors for successful territorial co-operation;
• bridge territorial and urban discourses on territorial governance and to
• bring in the knowledge, experience and perspectives of countries and institutions invited. 

The Directors General are called upon as key policy makers and experts in territorial / urban development as well as in territorial governance. The seminar format will allow for interactive exchange and discussion as well as political guidance on the way forward.