The European Spatial Planning Observation Network ESPON was established in 2002 in order to support policy development and the European scientific community in the field of territorial development and spatial planning. Its main goal is to provide comparable information, evidence, analyses and scenarios on territorial development, and to reveal territorial capital and potential in the regions to boost European competitiveness, territorial cooperation and sustainable and balanced development.

During the Latvian Presidency there will be active work on the new ESPON 2020 programme to be implemented form 2014 to 2020, the development and approval of mechanisms and approval of the programme’s annual and long-term work plan.

During the seminar it is planned to analyse the results of the ESPON programme and to draw up recommendations for the successful implementation of ESPON 2020.

The seminar will be the first event of the new ESPON 2020 territorial cooperation programme and will discuss issues relating to territorial development. Its conclusions will help in preparing the content for the Informal Meeting of Ministers responsible for Cohesion Policy and Territorial and Urban Development.

Representatives from the EU Member States, partner countries (Norway, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland) and the European Commission, as well as representatives from scientific institutions and NGOs, are invited to take part in the seminar.