Latvian Presidency starts preparation for the informal meeting of the EU ministers responsible for territorial development and urban development in June

Met dank overgenomen van Lets voorzitterschap Europese Unie 1e helft 2015 (Lets voorzitterschap) i, gepubliceerd op dinsdag 5 mei 2015.

On 5-6 May the Ministry of Environmental Protection and Regional Development of the Republic of Latvia organises the informal meeting of Directors General responsible for territorial cohesion and urban development in preparation for the informal EU (European Union) Ministerial Meeting that will be held on 10 June in Riga.

On 5 May the participants will visit Sigulda municipality as a positive example of a small urban area making successful use of its territorial strengths and potential. During the visit, participants will meet the municipal officials and local entrepreneurs of Sigulda. Also, the participants will have opportunity to visit the projects implemented in the municipality including EU-funded projects.

On 6 May, Riga meeting will continue with a debate on implementation of regional development mechanisms, bearing given that over five years have passed since territorial cohesion was recognised as the third objective of the Lisbon Treaty alongside the economic and social cohesion. The discussions will contribute to the future negotiations on territorial development mechanisms as well as negotiations on post-2020 Cohesion Policy.

The Latvian Presidency has prepared a draft declaration, in which a general framework for promotion of EU urban agenda is offered. For example, to achieve synergies of the sectoral policies which have an impact on urban development and to promote sustainable urban development as well as to contribute to the common EU objectives. This declaration highlights the crucial role of small and medium-sized cities on territorial development. Meeting aims to reach an agreement on the text of the draft declaration to be approved at the Informal Ministerial Meeting in June 2015.

Meeting will be attended by 95 representatives from EU Member States, candidate countries, EU institutions, EU-level non-governmental organisations and scientific institutions.

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