Brussels, 25/09/2007 (Agence Europe) - The Fourth European Cohesion Forum will be held in Brussels on 27-28 September, and will provide speakers from throughout the European Union with the first opportunity to discuss the shape of cohesion policy beyond 2013. The observations and challenges, such as unemployment, migration, the relationship between growth and knowledge and sustainable development, set out in the 4th report on economic and social cohesion (see EUROPE 9435, 9445 and 9472), which was adopted by the Commission in May, will form the basis for discussion. Following the recent enlargements and with the challenges of globalisation, climate change and demographic change, cohesion policy is of the greatest importance in the debate on the future of Europe.
Portuguese Prime Minister José Socrates, European Commission President José Manuel Barroso, President of the Committee of the Regions Michel Delebarre, President of the European Economic and Social Committee Dimitris Dimitriadis, Chairman of the European Parliament regional development committee Gerardo Galeote Quecedo and Portuguese Environment, Spatial Planning and Regional Development Minister Francisco Nunes Correia will all attend the Forum. European Commissioners for Regional Policy Danuta Hübner and for Social Affairs Vladimir Spidla will chair the debates. More than 800 people, over half of whom represent national, regional and local authorities, are expected to attend.
At the Forum, Hübner will launch an EU-wide consultation process. A dedicated internet site will allow member states, regions, cities, EU institutions, economic and social partners and civil society organisations to have their say. The results of the consultation exercise will be presented in spring 2008 along with the 5th interim report on economic and social cohesion, the commissioner has already announced. For information: http: //ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/conferences/4thcohesion forum. (gb)