The ESPON 2020 cooperation programme aims to support the implementation of European policies, primarily cohesion policy, as well as planning and development policies implemented by Member States and local authorities. ESPON funds research projects and territorial studies aimed at highlighting the main trends at work at the various territorial levels in Europe and at providing insights for public and territorial cooperation policies.

Every six months, in association with the rotating Presidency of the Council, ESPON organises a two-day exchange seminar bringing together public decision-makers and social science researchers. The seminar organised during the French Presidency will take place in Lille on 1st and 2nd of June 2022.

The main objective of these two days, during which plenary sessions will alternate with workshops (in a hybrid format), will be to debate the new landscape of territorial cohesion in the light of the elements provided by the recent ESPON studies and the publication of the 8th report of the European Commission on European economic, social and territorial cohesion, the main theme of the French Presidency's work on cohesion. It will be an opportunity to put into perspective the priorities of the cohesion policy for 2021-2027 and the territorial dynamics as observed through the studies implemented by ESPON.