IQ-Net partners meet in Glasgow for the 19th IQ-Net Conference

http://www.eprc.strath.ac.uk/news/iqnet_19th.jpg <img src="http://www.eprc.strath.ac.uk/news/iqnet_19th.jpg" width="173" height="103" border="0" align="left Marking the tenth year of the IQ-Net network, IQ-Net partners returned to Glasgow for the 19th meeting of the network on 25-27 June. The meeting was hosted by Strathclyde European Partnership, Secretariat of the Western Scotland Objective 2 SPD, and was attended by about 30 delegates from 11 EU countries and by a representative of the European Commission (DG Regio.<p> The meeting started with an introductory presentation by Laurie Russell (Chief Executive of Strathclyde European Partnership) on the evening of 25 June, on the Western Scotland region and its long-term experience with Structural Funds programming. Laurie Russell also launched the plenary sessions the following day with a welcome speech, which was followed by a review of Structural Funds programming developments in partner programmes (with a presentation by Carlos Méndez of EPRC). The next two sessions concentrated on the main theme of the conference: the design of the 2007-13 Structural Funds programmes. Laura Polverari and Irene McMaster of EPRC preceded partner discussions with presentations on the state of play of NSRF and OP preparation, and on the future implementation arrangements being planned. The final session was devoted to reflecting on the experience of Phase III of the network, and discussing its future development.<p> In the evening, the conference dinner was held in 'The Tall Ship' at Glasgow Harbour, where delegates were joined by previous IQ-Net partners and EPRC staff. The study tour on the 27th involved a tour of urban regeneration projects along the River Clyde after which delegates attended the international conference organised to celebrate the Tenth Anniversary of the IQ-Net network.