Territorial Inequalities, Cohesion Policy and Spatial Justice workshop

An in-person and livestreamed event. You may register to attend in person or online.

Workshop Background and Objectives

The unevenness of economic development, prosperity and general wellbeing between regions in Europe is an ongoing challenge and has been brought into renewed perspective by the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Addressing territorial inequalities has been a central aim of EU Cohesion Policy, but there are questions to be asked about the success of policies, the appropriateness of indicators and mechanisms for measuring disparities and targeting interventions, and the potential for adjusting strategies in anticipation of future trends including climate change, migration and demographic trajectories, and critiques of the centrality afforded to economic growth. The concept of spatial justice has been proposed as a novel way of rethinking approaches to territorial inequalities, providing additional insights into the drivers of disparities, perceived as well as measured inequalities, the capacities of territories to respond to unevenness, and normative ideas of fairness in the distribution of resources and rights to decision-making.

The workshop aims to bring together researchers and policy experts to discuss four key questions in a series of panels: Do we have the correct data to tackle spatial inequalities? What does spatial justice mean for EU Cohesion Policy? How can thinking about migration help to address territorial inequalities? What might territorial inequalities and spatial justice look like in the Europe of 2050?

The discussion will be informed by findings and recommendations from the Horizon 2020 project IMAJINE, which as been investigating multiple dimensions of the relationship between territorial inequalities and spatial justice over the last five years, including multi-scalar patterns and dynamics of inequalities; public perceptions of regional inequalities, solidarity and justice; migration; claims for territorial autonomy; multi-level governance; and developing scenarios for the future. Short presentations of findings and recommendations from IMAJINE will punctuate the programme and a written Policy Briefing document will be circulated to registered participants in advance of the workshop.

Who Should Attend?

The workshop is aimed at anyone with an interest in policies and programmes to address territorial injustice and to promote spatial justice, including officials in the European Commission, European Parliament, other European institutions, and national, regional and local governments; staff in think tanks, NGOs and civil society groups; and academic and policy researchers.

Schedule (Additional speakers to be confirmed)

9.30 Welcome: Michael Woods (IMAJINE Project Coordinator, Aberystwyth University)

9.40 – 10.55 Panel 1: Do we have the correct data to tackle regional inequalities?

• Chair: Ana Vinuela (Universidad Oviedo)
• Panelists: Esteban Fernandez (Universidad Oviedo), Paolo Postiglione (Università degli Studi, ‘G d’Annunzzo’ Chieta-Pescara), Nicolas Rossignol (ESPON)

10.55- 11.15 Break

11.15-12.30 Panel 2: What does spatial justice mean for EU Cohesion Policy and Structural Funds?

• Chair: Tomasz Komornicki (Polish Academy of Sciences)
• Panelists: Michael Woods (Aberystwyth University), Phil McCann (Sheffield University, Advisor to DG Regio), Saskia van Uffelen (Quadrature Brussels)

12.30 – 13.30 Lunch

13.30-14.45 Panel 3: How can thinking about migration help to address territorial inequalities?

• Chair: Apostolos Papadopoulos (Harokopio University Athens)
• Panelists: Magda Ulceluse (University of Groningen), Laura de Dominicis (DG-Regio), Jussi Laine (MATILDE Project)

14.45-15.00 Break

15.00-16.15 Panel 4: What might territorial inequalities and spatial justice look like in the Europe of 2050?

• Chair: Michael Woods (Aberystwyth University)
• Panelists: Marie Mahon (National University of Ireland Galway), Joshua Polchar (OECD)

16.15 Closing remarks and finish