ELIF Webinar: Right to Stay: Understanding the drivers of territorial cohesion
Wednesday, 4 June, 10:00-11:30 CET
The ‘Right to Stay‘ is the possibility for every European to remain in their home, ensuring that mobility is a choice, not a necessity. Following its inclusion in the EU Political Guidelines after the publication of the Letta Report, this concept has gained increasing attention in the European debate, particularly in the context of demographic change, territorial inequalities, and the future of cohesion policy. It is currently the subject of an ongoing public consultation.
The European Union is committed to supporting the conditions that communities need to grow and prosper, including dynamic local economies, quality jobs, public services, education and skills, health, transport, and digital connectivity.
Bringing together EU policymakers, regional actors and project practitioners, this discussion aims to bridge the gap between growing political ambition and the realities on the ground.
The European Local Innovation Forum (ELIF), provided by SMART ERA project partner AEIDL, is a space for precisely discussing these issues.
This ELIF webinar will address key points on the Right to Stay, which is an emerging topic in the European debate on territorial cohesion and demographic change. Building on the recent launch of the Right to Stay Strategy consultation, the session will explore the conditions needed to ensure that staying in one’s territory remains a real and sustainable choice for future generations.
Objectives:
- Demonstrate how experiences in rural and territorial development can help translate the ‘Right to Stay’ from a broad political vision into concrete, place-based actions that strengthen territorial cohesion across diverse regions.
- Provide an opportunity to consider why the ‘Right to Stay’ has entered the EU policy agenda, how it relates to demographic change and cohesion, and what implications it may have for future EU policies and funding frameworks.
- Highlight how local and regional authorities are addressing population decline, service provision challenges and mobility pressures. The session will reflect on ongoing efforts, persistent obstacles and the type of support required going forward.
- Invite project partners to present short, practical examples that illustrate how their work enables people to remain in their territories. These examples will provide tangible evidence of what works and what remains difficult.
- Foster dialogue between speakers and participants by creating space for the exchange of experiences, challenges and practical solutions related to the ‘Right to Stay’.
(Draft) agenda
- 10:00 – 10:10 Welcome and introduction
Serafín Pazos-Vidal, AEIDL - 10:10 – 10:25 The Right to Stay strategy: the perspective from the European Comission
Diletta Zonta, DG REGIO - 10:25 – 10:40 The Right to Stay: a perspective from the European Parliament
Cristina Guarda, MEP - 10:40 – 10:55 The Right to Stay: the view from the regions
Isabel Castaño, Demographic Change Regions Network (DCRN) - 10:55 – 11:10 Right to Stay and Right to Leave: What is this? Why the “Right to Stay” matters now in the EU debate
Janne Sinerma, AEIDL - 11:10 – 11:25 Reactions and roundtable: What the Right to Stay might mean in practice
Tina Katika, RURBANIVE Project
Haris Martinos, Local Development Network (LDnet) - 11:25 – 11:30 Conclusions
Serafin Pazos-Vidal, AEIDL
- 10:00 – 10:10 Welcome and introduction
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