The ARL – Academy for Territorial Development in the Leibniz Association – is bringing together researchers, policymakers, and practitioners for its congress on
European Regional Policy in Times of Transition
to be held in Cologne, Germany, on 1 – 2 October 2026.
European regions are undergoing multiple, overlapping transformations. While the green and digital transitions offer new opportunities, they also risk reinforcing existing spatial and social inequalities. Disparities within and between regions – urban and rural, central and peripheral, growing and shrinking – persist or are even deepening. The problem of ‘left-behind places’ has, for good reason, gained increasing attention in recent years. At the same time, geopolitical instability, demographic change, and environmental risks are adding new layers of territorial vulnerability and contestation.
Regional policy is thus at a crossroads. The upcoming EU budget negotiations, the uncertain future of Cohesion Policy post‑2027, and the mounting pressure to redirect funds toward green innovation, competitiveness, and defence raise fundamental questions about how territorial cohesion and spatial justice can be achieved in the years ahead. The spatial impacts of sectoral policies – such as the Common Agricultural Policy, climate and energy policy, and digital infrastructure – continue to shape spatial development trajectories, often with uneven outcomes.
Keynote Speakers
Alongside invited panellists, we are pleased to welcome Andrés Rodríguez-Pose (London School of Economics) and Rachel Lancry Beaumont (European Committee of the Regions, Head of Department for the COTER Commission) as keynote speakers. Their presentations will address “The EU’s proposed budget and its implications for European integration”and “Future directions of EU cohesion policy".
Programme
The full and detailed programme – including information on the panellists, individual sessions, and the excursion – is available here: Programme ARL Congress 2026
Registration
Please register here: ARL Congress 2026 - European Regional Policy in Times of Transition
Registration is open until 18 August.
For further information, please visit: ARL Congress 2026 | ARL-Net
