IQ-Net programme managers, together with Merja Haapakka from the European Commission, met at the 37th IQ-Net conference in Cheshire (England) on 17-19 November 2014. The conference was hosted by the English Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) and chaired by John Bachtler of EPRC.
The main focus of the conference was on IQ-Net partners' approaches to the new instruments for integrated territorial development in Cohesion policy, such as Integrated Territorial Investments (ITIs) and Community-led Local Development (CLLD).
Discussions were supported by a research paper prepared by Arno van der Zwet, Stephen Miller and Frederike Gross of EPRC, as well as by a presentation given by Merja Haapakka from DG Regio.
Discussions also covered the final stage of programming for the 2014-20 Cohesion policy programme period, supported by a presentation by Heidi Vironen of EPRC.
The conference also provided an opportunity to discuss a number of approaches by IQ-Net programme managers to new integrated territorial instruments, such as the Six Cities ITI in Finland and ITI Limburg in Flanders, which is specifically targeting economic recovery.