METREX at IFSH to launch Expert Group on Sustainable and Affordable Housing
New Expert Group from METREX to explore strategic issues around delivery of sustainable and affordable housing. METREX – the network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas – will join the fourth edition of the International Social Housing Festival (ISHF) to launch a new Expert Group aimed at assessing the role of the metropolitan level in…
METREX student workshop reimagines Wrocław’s Społeczny Square (Plac Społeczny)
METREX spring conference in Wrocław brings students from three European universities to workshop ideas on the future of Społeczny Square. The students, who are from post-graduate urban planning courses in Wrocław, Milan and Turin, have been invited by the City of Wrocław and will be paired with experts from the METREX network. The workshops are…
City of Kyiv made honorary member of METREX
METREX, the network of European metropolitan regions and areas, has made the City of Kyiv an honorary member. The Ukrainian capital is being recognised for its extraordinary resilience during the ongoing conflict waged by Russia. Kyiv will join metropolitan regions and areas from across Europe in sharing knowledge and solutions on issues such as climate…
Europe in polycrisis
In advance of the METREX Spring Conference, taking place 23-26 April in Wrocław, we summarise some of the issues that have shaped the agenda and our aspirations for the conference. TIME magazine dubbed “polycrisis” as the buzzword of this year’s Davos event, which it said “describes the simultaneous and overlapping crises facing the world today:…
METREX joins the European Urban Research Association (EURA)
METREX is pleased to announce that is has become a member of the European Urban Research Association (EURA). EURA has for over 25 years promoted innovative research design, exchange of knowledge and knowledge transfer, and aims to offer a bridge between research and policy. The membership is in recognition of the need for practitioners within…
Members surveyed for the Bernd Steinacher Fellowship
The 2022-2023 METREX Bernard Steinacher Fellowship will research “European Metropolises in Response to COVID-19 (Post)Pandemic Crisis – Recovery, Renewal and Resilience”. On behalf of Dr Kamil Glinka – the current METREX Bernard Steinacher Fellow – we would like to invite Members to participate in the research project. The main objective of the project is to…
2022: a year of collaboration and resilience
President Jakub Mazur and Secretary General Henk Bouwman summarise a productive year for METREX. The year has been framed by the ongoing development of a Metropolitan Vision for Europe 2050. It has so far been an enlightening experience. There is a tendency to be too cautious and limit ideas based on past experiences. But look…
Welcome to the metropolitan areas of Bucharest and Iasi
METREX welcomes two new members from Romania to the network of European metropolitan regions and areas. Bucharest Metropolitan Area, which covers Bucharest and Ilfov County areas, and Intercommunity Development Iasi Metropolitan Area Association (IDIMAA), have simultaneously joined METREX in what continues recent growth in central and eastern Europe. METREX secretary general Henk Bouwman said: “We’re…
Helsinki launches Guide for the Preparation of an Emissions Reduction Action Plan
The City of Helsinki has launched a guide with instructions for the preparation of an effective emissions reduction action plan. This comes following the Helsinki Energy Challenge – a €1m competition for ideas how to decarbonise the city’s heating – which prompted net zero targets to be brought forward from 2035 to 2030. The guide…
War prompts update on Wrocław 2050 strategy
In March this year, the City of Wrocław shared its 2050 foresight strategy which predicts social, economic and spatial development over the next 30 years. Wrocław explains below why, in light of the war in Ukraine, they have revised this strategy and issued a supplement to the report, analysing the potential long-term impact. The Russian…
Annual Report 2021
That said, we saw two excellent and highly engaging online Conferences, both focused on contemporary European challenges. In Spring, Nuremberg Metropolitan Region brought Farm-to-Fork initiatives to our attention, and in Autumn, Riga Metropolitan Area explored the implementation of regional strategies. Both conferences were a huge success in bringing forth ideas, best practice and analysis on…
What have we learnt during the first five months of the Metropolitan Climate Challenge Expert Group?
The METREX Metropolitan Climate Challenge Expert Group was launched at the METREX Spring Conference in Turin in May 2022. The group reflects on five months’ work, asking “what have we done and what have we learnt so far?” Activities May 2022: Launching workshop to identify key topics for the group’s cooperation June 2022: Webinar to…
Governments set to work to ensure sustainable mobility in the Eurodelta
METREX Network Group SURE (Strategic Urban Region Eurodelta) presents a study on the future of sustainable mobility in the Amsterdam-Brussels-Cologne-Lille area. On 13 October the results of the first SURE study on sustainable mobility in the Eurodelta area were presented in the house of the Benelux Unie in Brussel. Substantial growth in mobility is expected…
Towards a Metropolitan Vision for Europe 2050 – October update
Europe is confronted by unprecedented social and physical change. From climate adaptation to energy production, productivity to inequality, the challenges we face seem insurmountable. Prompted by an invitation from EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reform Elisa Ferreira to rethink our approaches to these issues, METREX, is developing a uniquely metropolitan-level solution to a prosperous, safe…
METREX and EMA to support Ukraine with technical expertise
European networks will offer expertise on tactical and long-term challenges facing colleagues in Ukraine. METREX and EMA have together pledged to explore ways to offer immediate and long-term help in the reconstruction of cities, towns and villages in Ukraine. The pledge comes as vital infrastructures such as drinking water installations, power stations, public transport, have…
Welcome to the summer
Following a very active and rewarding past few months, where METREX was represented at events almost weekly – on a local, European and international level – we’re pleased to bring some updates and opportunities to engage during the rest of 2022. The Metropolitan Vision for Europe 2050, which we have been promoting at meetings across…
Get active in METREX: explore new areas of development and Expert Groups
Call for information on new areas of development METREX is developing some areas of work and we would like input from our Members. Hydrogen energy development Please tell us if your region or area is developing, or would like to develop, capacity and skills in the hydrogen energy sector. Visioning / foresight tools Please let…
A-RING – Alpine Research and Innovation Capacity Governance
The A-RING (Alpine Research and Innovation Capacity Governance) project ended on 30 June 2022, but its extensive work towards the harmonization of a multilevel governance in the Alpine Region has been contributing to create key conditions to better exploit synergies between strategic sectors and R&I actors. It produced instruments to overcome #regional challenges, matching specific…
