idw – Informationsdienst Wissenschaft
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
Nachrichten, Termine, Experten
idw - Informationsdienst
Wissenschaft
The ARL – Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association – is bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners for its congress on
European Regional Policy in Times of Transition
to be held in Cologne, Germany, on 1 – 2 October 2026.
European regions are undergoing multiple, overlapping transformations. While the green and digital transitions offer new opportunities, they also risk reinforcing existing spatial and social inequalities. Disparities within and between regions – urban and rural, central and peripheral, growing and shrinking – persist or are even deepening. The problem of ‘left-behind places’ has, for good reason, gained increasing attention in recent years. At the same time, geopolitical instability, demographic change, and environmental risks are adding new layers of territorial vulnerability and contestation.
Regional policy is thus at a crossroads. The upcoming EU budget negotiations, the uncertain future of Cohesion Policy post 2027, and the mounting pressure to redirect funds toward green innovation, competitiveness, and defence raise fundamental questions about how territorial cohesion and spatial justice can be achieved in the years ahead. The spatial impacts of sectoral policies – such as the Common Agricultural Policy, climate and energy policy, and digital infrastructure – continue to shape spatial development trajectories, often with uneven outcomes.
This congress offers a platform to critically explore the role of European regional policy in responding to these dynamics. We especially welcome contributions that:
• Provide a state-of-the-art overview of spatial inequalities and disparities across European regions, and confront the idea of the spatial equilibrium with contemporary economic, technological, and geopolitical challenges;
• Assess how EU Cohesion Policy and national policy measures can effectively address both deep-rooted and emerging territorial disparities;
• Assess the impacts and future directions of EU Cohesion Policy in the context of the European Green Deal, NextGenerationEU, and Just Transition mechanisms, and reflect the spatial implications of sectoral policies such as the Common Agricultural Policy;
• Examine the multi-level governance dynamics involved in addressing complex and interrelated challenges across the EU, national, and regional levels;
• Investigate the specific challenges and potentials of cross-border regions, including the role of European territorial cooperation programmes (e.g. Interreg);
• Discuss the challenges and opportunities of post-war regional regeneration policies in Ukraine;
• Share innovative and experimental approaches to spatial planning and regional foresight aimed at fostering more inclusive, green, resilient, and cohesive territories.
We welcome contributions from across disciplines and sectors. The congress seeks to foster a critical, forward-looking dialogue on how to reshape regional policy to serve all regions in an era of transition and uncertainty.
Submission details: The programme and a call for abstracts will follow shortly, for now – mark your calendars!
For any questions, please contact:
Dr. Britta Bockhorn
Head of International Affairs
Phone: +49 511 34842-25
britta.bockhorn@arl-net.de
https://www.arl-net.de/de/events/european-regional-policy-times-transition
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