MOBI-TWIN Two Co-Creation Workshops on Regional Mobility and the Future of EU Demographics

Online, January 24, 2025 – The first co-creation workshop of the MOBI-TWIN project took place, bringing together all partners to collaboratively develop four scenarios on the effects of spatial mobility on selected EU regions. This first co-creation workshop, marked a key milestone in the task of assessing how changing mobility patterns can reshape Europe’s demographic, social, and economic landscapes over the coming years.

Hosted by ESF, the workshop explored regional typologies identified through the Regional Attractiveness Index, with a focus on the four scenarios to be developed: Leapfrog, Dark Horse, Snail’s Pace, and Lion’s Den. The discussions were guided by a structured process that incorporated emerging trends, key drivers, and uncertainty analysis to predict how various regions might adapt or struggle due to changing mobility patterns and digital and green transition.

Breakout groups dove deep into specific pilot regions, including North & East Finland, Central Macedonia, Lombardy, Groningen, and Castilla-La Mancha, each facing unique challenges and opportunities related to spatial mobility. For example, North & East Finland discussed strategies for reversing population decline through remote work and transnational mobility, while Lombardy’s group considered leveraging its strong urban center in Milan to attract younger talent and foster job growth in both urban and peri-urban areas. Group members brainstormed on various aspects, such as addressing labor shortages, improving connectivity, and overcoming cultural resistance to change.

The second online workshop, scheduled for February 4, 2025, focused on refining these scenarios, incorporating resilience insights and testing how external factors, such as EU policies, economic shifts, and environmental crises, might impact the regions. The goal of these workshops was to collaboratively develop a base for the creation of the scenario narratives that would explore how EU regions could be impacted by demographic shifts, innovation, labor market changes, and environmental factors.

These collaborative efforts are expected to lead to a detailed report in August 2025 that will outline the four types of scenarios (for 5 pilot regions + baseline), their probability of occurring, and the specific policy recommendations to address the challenges and opportunities in regional mobility, including both rural and urban areas.

The next steps will involve an online Delphi survey with experts across Europe, expected to take place from March to May 2025. This will help validate the developed scenarios and assess their feasibility in the context of the broader EU landscape. With valuable insights from the survey, the final scenarios will be refined and incorporated into the MOBI-TWIN model, helping to simulate how spatial mobility flows could influence regional inequalities and resilience across Europe.

The insights gained through these sessions will contribute significantly to shaping resilient, forward-thinking strategies for the evolving spatial mobility patterns that are set to impact EU regions for years to come.

Stay tuned for additional information!
The MOBI-TWIN Team