METREX Launches “Foresight for Europe” Initiative
In response to the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape and heightened uncertainty, METREX has embarked on an ambitious project: “Foresight for Europe.” This initiative aims to explore potential future scenarios for Europe and identify strategies to bolster and advance Europe’s metropolitan backbone in these challenging times. Recognizing the need for resilience, flexibility, and foresight, the project is inviting experts, stakeholders, and the METREX community to collaboratively examine Europe’s possible paths forward.
Goals and Approach
The central goal of the “Foresight for Europe” project is to analyze and shape various scenarios that Europe could face in the years to come. To do this, METREX will focus on foundational trends across multiple domains, including values, societal aspirations, institutional developments, technological advancements, and resource availability. The project will also identify major “uncertainty factors” that could influence Europe’s future trajectory.
A unique aspect of the initiative is its integration of art as a means of exploring and expressing the fears, hopes, and desires related to Europe’s future. Art will serve both as a creative tool to uncover collective sentiments and as a compelling language to communicate the outcomes of the project to a broader audience.
Initial Activities and Upcoming Plans
The groundwork for this initiative began at the recent METREX conference in Bucharest, where initial discussions set the stage for further exploration. During the conference, attendees engaged in the Prospect’Us game, a future-imagining tool developed by UrbaLyon, in our case designed to help participants think creatively about Europe’s potential futures.
Looking ahead, METREX plans to host an experts’ workshop in early 2025, with a dedicated foresighting session to follow at the METREX Spring Conference in Gdańsk. These sessions will gather insights from specialists and community members alike to deepen the understanding of Europe’s strategic options.
Provisional Agenda 2025
>> March 7th: METREX 2049 Brussels workshop “2049, metropolitan regions in Europe”
Towards possible scenarios of the future of Europe and the role of metropolitan areas and regions
Format: Closed workshop with guests
>> April 8th-9th-10th: Wroclaw workshop (2 days) – tbc
>> June 2 – 4: Session at the Metrex Spring Conference in Gdańsk
Project Leadership
The “Foresight for Europe” project is led by Sebastien Rolland and Claire Boisset from Lyon, alongside Łukasz Medeksza from Wrocław. Their collective experience and vision will guide this collaborative journey into Europe’s future.
Interested in participating?
METREX warmly invites all interested stakeholders to join this initiative. Through joint exploration, scenario-building, and open dialogue, the “Foresight for Europe” seeks to build a robust, forward-looking metropolitan strategy for Europe.
Coordination team’s contact details:
Łukasz Medeksza: lukasz.medeksza@um.wroc.pl
Sebastien Rolland: s.rolland@urbalyon.org
Claire Boisset: c.boisset@urbalyon.org
For any further questions about the Expert Groups, members are always welcome to approach the METREX Secretariat at viviana.rubbo@eurometrex.org
