ESPON DIGIREG – Territorial perspectives of digital transition in European regions
“Territorial perspectives of digital transition in European regions (DIGIREG)” is a new research-led project funded by ESPON to further build up its stock of research and provide new evidence on the territorial dimension of digital transition in Europe, in line with the framework of the Thematic Action Plan “Smart Connectivity”. Partners of the multidisciplinary Consortium,…
Report from the METREX Spring Conference in Brussels 2024: Forging a Metropolitan Europe
The Report from the METREX Spring 2024 Conference in Brussels is now out! Download the report here (PDF). METREX issued its Manifesto for a Metropolitan Partnerships (Unleashing the potential in metropolitan regions and areas) in November 2023, emphasizing that metropolitan regions and areas are best in place to address the poly-crisis we face. Following the…
MECOG-CE Interreg Central Europe program visits the Canavese Food District
Earlier this month, Città Metropolitana di Torino welcomed partners of the MECOG-CE Interreg Central Europe program to Canavese, a territory that spans one-third of the metropolitan area. In this area, a Food District agreement between public and private entities was signed (including municipalities, water management consortium and agri-cooperatives, professional agricultural organisations, agro-industrial enterprises, Chamber of…
Common Metropolitan Vision highlights the power of metropolitan areas
The outcome of the Interreg Central Europe project MECOG-CE, titled “We are the Metropolitan Areas – Our Common Metropolitan Vision”, stands as a strategic document that underscores the pivotal role of metropolitan areas in shaping European and national policies. Download the report This comprehensive framework represents a long-term and shared commitment of metropolitan leaders, stakeholders,…
METREX joins Interreg North-West Europe project to accelerate the transition to a circular built environment
METREX joins an 18-month Interreg North-West Europe project, ASSET, to help accelerate the transition to a circular built environment for the Eurodelta. A cross-sector consortium of 11 partners and over 30 associated partners has come together to explore the spatial implications of a circular built environment (CBE) in the Eurodelta – a historically strong economically-related…
Bernd Steinacher Fellowship 2024-25: Ioana Ivanov
The Bernd Steinacher Fellowship was established in 2010 to sustain the values and interests brought to METREX by the late Bernd Steinacher, who was Director of Verband Region Stuttgart and President of METREX from 2004 until 2008. Funded by METREX and Verband Region Stuttgart, the Fellowship seeks to promote the metropolitan dimensions and is awarded…
No net land take policies, a recurring metropolitan affair?
Secretary General Henk Bouwman writes in the February edition of ESPON’s TerritoriAll magazine on the issue of development sprawl. This article was first published in the February 2024 edition of TerritoriAll. Read the full edition Europe is on the way to elections in June. The new parliament wil need to form a view on the…
Report / Framing Metropolitan Cohesion Policies: exploring Urban-Rural Partnerships
Report from the METREX Autumn 2023 Conference in Braga now out! Download the report here (PDF) In 2023, the METREX Autumn conference was held in Braga, Portugal, over 22-25 October. It was hosted by the Intermunicipal Community of Cávado, and supported by a number of national partners including the Operational Programme NORTE 2030, Regional Directorate…
METREX at the NARC Conference of Regions
METREX Vice President, Gianina Panatau, to attend the National Conference of Regions in the United States. At the invitation of the Board of Directors of the National Association of Regional Councils from the United States, Gianina Panatau, METREX Vice-President, will participate in the association’s ‘National Conference of Regions’ event, which explores pressing priorities facing cities,…
Lviv welcomed to the network
METREX welcomes Lviv to its network of European metropolitan regions are areas. METREX, the network of European metropolitan regions and areas, has welcomed Lviv and its surrounding area as an honorary member. Lviv is a historical city located in western Ukraine. Founded in the 13th century, Lviv is renowned for its architectural beauty and cultural…
METREX president among 40 major signatories of declaration calling for ambitious European urban policy
METREX President Jakub Mazur signed “Brussels Declaration” on Wednesday alongside 40 major European mayors signalling call for the development of an ambitious European urban policy. At the initiative of Rudi Vervoort, Minister-President of the Brussels Region, and Ans Persoons, Secretary of State for Urban Planning and International Relations, the Brussels Region brought together 40 mayors…
Manifesto for Metropolitan Partnerships launched
On 8 November 2023, the Urban Intergroup welcomed METREX to an event to discuss a Manifesto for Metropolitan Partnerships. MEPs and deputy Mayors from across Europe met at the European Parliament to discuss the 7-point manifesto from METREX, which has high ambitions to change the relationship between the EU and metropolitan-level government. The event was…
New Interreg Europe project announced for a Eurodelta spatial strategy
The SURE Eurodelta network, under the leadership of the City of Amsterdam, will begin a new INTERREG North-West Europe project ‘A Spatial Strategy for Eurodelta, boosting the Transition to circular construction (ASSET)’. 40 affiliated partners including METREX will explore whether the transition to a circular built environment can be accelerated through cross-border collaboration. A circular…
Metropolitan partnerships to tackle Europe’s challenges – leading pan-European network calls for change
Read and download Manifesto Today METREX – the network of European metropolitan regions and areas – launched its ‘Manifesto for Metropolitan Partnerships: accelerating on a greener, more just and competitive Europe’ at the European Parliament. MEPs Jan Olbrycht, Marcos Ros and Andrey Novakov spoke at the launch event alongside deputy mayors from Bucharest, The Hague,…
New Managing Committee in place for 2023-25
A new Managing Committee of METREX was confirmed at the General Assembly in Braga on 25 October 2023. The METREX Managing Committee (MC) oversees the strategic direction of the organisation and ensures that day-to-day obligations are met by the Secretariat. The MC is appointed every two years by the network’s members to ensure that their…
METREX president signs EMA declaration to mitigate climate change
Decision-makers in Europe’s metropolitan areas look for solutions to mitigate climate change The Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council – an esteemed Member of METREX – hosted the annual forum of the European Metropolitan Authorities Network (EMA) in Helsinki on 28–29 September. The main theme of the conference was climate change mitigation with green and digital solutions. Officials…
Bernd Steinacher Fellowship is open for applications
Applications are now sought for the Bernd Steinacher Fellowship, a two-year programme aimed at supporting research on metropolitan issues by a student or early-career professional. Deadline for applications: midnight 3 November 2023 About Bernd Steinacher Bernd Steinacher was the Regional Director of the Verband Region Stuttgart with its directly elected the Regional Assembly. Mr. Steinacher…
Call for papers: Should I stay or should I go
Deadline for applications: 15 October 2023 Should I stay or should I go: urban sprawl, density, and a new planning agenda for Europe From January to June 2024, Belgium will be presiding the Council of Ministers of the EU. During this presidency, perspective.brussels, the Brussels Planning Agency, organises a seminar on 29 and 30 May…