MOBI-TWIN Final Conference

Mobility, Regional Attractiveness and Cohesion in Europe’s Twin Transition

A Horizon Europe conference bringing together policymakers, researchers and regional stakeholders to explore how Europe’s green and digital transitions are reshaping mobility and regional development.

4 May 2026 09:30 – 17:00 CET European Committee of the Regions, Brussels

About the Event

How is the twin transition reshaping mobility across Europe?

How is the green and digital transition reshaping mobility patterns across Europe, and what does this mean for regions and their development prospects? This conference brings together policymakers, researchers and regional stakeholders to discuss how spatial mobility influences regional attractiveness, labour markets and territorial cohesion in the context of the twin transition.

Building on evidence from the Horizon Europe MOBI-TWIN project, the conference will present new insights on mobility drivers, emerging regional disparities and future scenarios. Particular attention will be given to how different types of regions — including those facing population decline or talent outflows — are affected, and how these trends may reinforce or mitigate existing inequalities across Europe.

The conference will also focus on policy implications at EU, national and regional level. Through discussions with representatives from EU institutions, regional authorities and related initiatives, it will explore how data, tools and evidence can support more effective and place-based policy responses.

Key Details

Date

Monday, 4 May 2026

Time

09:30 – 17:00 CET

Venue

European Committee of the Regions
Room VMA 21, Rue Van Maerlant
1040 Brussels, Belgium

Format

In-person conference
Keynotes, panels, policy debates & networking

Programme

Conference Agenda

The programme may be subject to minor changes.

09:30 – 10:15

Registration & Welcome Coffee

10:15 – 10:40

Welcome & Opening Remarks

Giulia Zendron, MOBI-TWIN Coordinator, White Research • Conference host: Jennifer Baker, EU policy and tech reporter

10:40 – 11:00

Mobility in Europe’s Twin Transition: Why Mobility Matters for Regional Cohesion Now?

Anastasia Panori, MOBI-TWIN Scientific Coordinator, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

11:00 – 11:45

Understanding Mobility Dynamics

Scientific presentations • Olle Järv, University of Helsinki — Integrated datasets & Mobility mapping • Vicente Royuela, University of Barcelona — Drivers of Mobility & Regional Attractiveness

11:45 – 12:15

Coffee Break

12:15 – 13:00

From Evidence to Policy Intelligence: What Do Mobility Trends Mean for Regions?

Policy panel debate • Asya Salnikova, European Science Foundation • Anabela Santos, ULB / Joint Research Centre • Maya Camacho, OECD • Simone Rosini, DG Employment • Moderator: Jennifer Baker

13:00 – 14:00

Networking Lunch

14:00 – 14:45

Future Scenarios: How Mobility Will Shape Regional Labour Markets

Scientific presentations • Manos Matsaganis, Politecnico di Milano — EUROMOD as a tool for social welfare impacts • Dimitris Ballas, University of Groningen — Spatial MSM & ABM modelling for future policy scenarios

14:45 – 15:30

Addressing Challenges in Left-Behind Regions: Policy Responses

Policy panel debate • Yannis Psycharis, Panteion University • Maria Abreu, University of Cambridge • Francesco Molica, Director at EURADA • Moderator: Jennifer Baker

15:30 – 16:00

Coffee Break

16:00 – 16:30

What Works? Lessons and Policy Recommendations from EU Projects

Cross-project session • Peter Meister-Broekema, PREMIUM_EU • Nikos Zacharis, R-Map • Liga Baltina, SkillsPulse

16:30

Closing Keynote: Spatial Mobility and the Future of Cohesion Policy

Maria Abreu, Professor of Economic Geography, University of Cambridge

16:45

Closing Remarks

Giulia Zendron, MOBI-TWIN Coordinator, White Research

Confirmed Speakers

Meet Our Speakers

Researchers, policymakers and experts shaping the conversation on mobility and regional development.

Giulia Zendron

MOBI-TWIN Coordinator / White Research

Senior Project Manager and Head of the Cross-cutting Innovation Unit at White Research Brussels. Coordinator of the Horizon Europe MOBI-TWIN project.

Simone Rosini

DG Employment, European Commission

Policy Officer at the Directorate-General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion of the European Commission, working on employment policies and labour market analysis.

Jennifer Baker

Conference Host & Moderator

Brussels-based EU policy and technology journalist with over 20 years of experience. Regular contributor to BBC Radio and Euronews, specialising in European technology policy and legislation.

Maria Abreu

University of Cambridge

Professor of Economic Geography at Cambridge. Regional economist working on labour markets, migration and productivity. Chair of the Regional Science Association International (British & Irish Section).

Dimitris Ballas

University of Groningen

Full Professor of Economic Geography at the University of Groningen. Expert in spatial inequalities, microsimulation modelling and the geography of well-being.

Liga Baltina

SkillsPULSE / Fondazione G. Brodolini

Head of Labour Market & Skills Research at Fondazione Giacomo Brodolini and Coordinator of the SkillsPULSE Horizon Europe project on measuring skill shortages across Europe.

Maya Camacho

OECD

Policy Analyst in the Regional Policy and Attractiveness Unit at the OECD. Over 15 years of experience in public policy, territorial development and multi-level governance.

Olle Järv

University of Helsinki

Researcher at the University of Helsinki specialising in integrated mobility datasets, spatial mobility mapping and data-driven approaches to understanding regional dynamics.

Manos Matsaganis

Politecnico di Milano

Full Professor of Public Finance at Politecnico di Milano. Expert in welfare economics, social policy and the political economy of austerity in Southern Europe.

Peter Meister-Broekema

PREMIUM_EU Project

Representative of the Horizon Europe PREMIUM_EU project, contributing cross-project insights on mobility, labour markets and regional development in the European context.

Francesco Molica

EURADA / JRC

Director of EURADA and economic analyst at the JRC. Extensive experience in regional policy, EU cohesion policy and innovation. Former DG REGIO and CPMR official.

Anastasia Panori

Aristotle University of Thessaloniki

Assistant Professor in Spatial Planning and Development. Expert in economic and regional development with extensive experience in Horizon-funded research and European Commission consultancy.

Yannis Psycharis

Panteion University, Athens

Professor of Regional Economic Analysis at Panteion University and Director of the Regional Development Institute. Vice-President of ERSA and expert in regional economics and economic geography.

Vicente Royuela

University of Barcelona

Full Professor of Applied Economics and MOBI-TWIN Team Leader at UB. Expert in regional science, spatial mobility and labour markets. Editor in Chief of Global Challenges and Regional Science.

Asya Salnikova

European Science Foundation

Science Officer at the European Science Foundation with a PhD in International Law (Strasbourg). Expert in international research collaborations, citizen science and Open Science initiatives.

Anabela Santos

ULB / Joint Research Centre

Economic Analyst and Team Leader at the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre, with a PhD in Economics from ULB. Expert in policy evaluation, industrial innovation and EU funds governance.

Taina Tukiainen

EU Mission Board / JRC

Member of the EU Mission Board for Climate Adaptation and Visiting Scientist at the Joint Research Centre. Expert in regional attractiveness and innovation ecosystems.

Nikos Zacharis

SEERC / University of York Europe Campus

Director of SEERC with 30+ years of experience in innovation policy, regional development and entrepreneurship. Coordinator of the R-Map project and member of the MOBI-TWIN Advisory Board.

Join Us in Brussels

Be part of the conversation on mobility, regional development and cohesion policy in Europe’s twin transition. Registration is free but mandatory due to security requirements at the European Committee of the Regions. Registration deadline: 28 April 2026.

Venue

European Committee of the Regions

How to Get There

Address: Rue Van Maerlant / Van Maerlantstraat, 1040 Brussels, Belgium (VMA Building, 2nd floor, Room VMA 21)

By Metro: Nearest stations are Arts-Loi / Kunst-Wet (lines 1, 2, 5, 6) and Maelbeek / Maalbeek (lines 1, 5), both a short walk away.

By Train: Brussels-Luxembourg station is approximately 10 minutes on foot.

Important: All participants must be pre-registered. On-site registration on the day of the event is not allowed. Registered participants will receive an email from the CoR’s eVisitor system to complete their access registration.

Organised by

The MOBI-TWIN Consortium

MOBI-TWIN is a Horizon Europe project (HORIZON-CL2-2022-TRANSFORMATIONS-01) exploring how Europe’s twin transition reshapes spatial mobility and regional attractiveness. The project brings together 9 partners across Europe.

Visit the MOBI-TWIN Project Website

Contact

For any questions about the event, please contact:

Martha Papadopoulou

ACCELIGENCE

martha.papadopoulou@acceligence.cy

Disclaimer: This event is hosted at the European Committee of the Regions. The views expressed during the conference are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the European Committee of the Regions. The European Committee of the Regions is not responsible for the content of this event.

MOBI-TWIN has received funding from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme under grant agreement No. 101094402.

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