The North Sea Region 2020
The North Sea Commission will present a draft paper "North Sea Region 2020" at the conference. Work on the paper to set out a strategy has been carried out since June 2009. The draft is based on input provided by the NSC members, the thematic groups of the NSC and external institutions and actors consulted.

In the draft paper challenges, opportunities and priority strategic areas for the North Sea Region are identified including suggestions for concrete measures to be implemented and links to existing cooperation.

Draft paper of the North Sea Commission for download.

The conference
This year’s conference looks to the future and aims to position our region in the developing visions for 2020. It is a unique opportunity for projects and others interested in the development of the region to come together with politicians and representatives of some of the key European institutions and map out the main needs for future cooperation.

Study tours
In addition to inputs from high level speakers, a series of study tours will introduce participants to some of the regional development actions currently underway in the Flemish region as an important stimulus to discussions on the types of action that might be supported in future.

Exhibition
An exhibition of projects funded under the current North Sea Region Programme will provide added inspiration on the work possible through regional cooperation. Since the exhibition space is limited, the registrations have been processed on a first-come-first-served basis. (NB: As of 23 May it is no longer possible to register for the exhibition, because all spots are filled.)

New project ideas
Project developers under the North Sea Region Programme will as always have an opportunity to share new project ideas and discuss them with potential partners and programme representatives.

Thematic workshops
The conference will chart out the main directions for North Sea 2020 in six themed workshops:

• Innovation
• Climate change
• Maritime resources
• Transport
• Communities
• Sustainable tourism

Each workshop group will be asked to develop answers to four questions for its theme:

• What is the potential role of a North Sea Strategy and what should it include?
• Is it possible to outline a new research agenda for the North Sea Region harmonising new research efforts with the region's main opportunities and challenges?
• What are the main regional, national and European policies that we need to bring together to create a coordinated approach?
• What should be the role of a future transnational cooperation programme in delivering these policies?

The aim is to try and build consensus on the relevance of new developments and their potential impact on the North Sea Region, potential main areas for activity in future and potential actors and their roles at local, regional, national and EU level. 

Conference programme
The programme for the conference is available here.

An informal Partner Search session will be arranged as part of the NSRP pre-conference on 21 June in Bruges. Project idea holders will have the opportunity to meet potential partners and discuss their ideas. A meeting room has been reserved for internal project idea meetings.

In parallel, there will also be the opportunity for individual project development meetings with the Secretariat staff. Due to the limited number of meeting slots available, registrations are processed on a first-come, first-served basis.

To register for an individual meeting, please fill in the registration form and return it to the Secretariat by email.

In order for the Secretariat staff to be able to prepare for the meeting, please upload your project idea to the project idea section (via the users area on the Programme website) by 10 June.

Hotel bookings can be made through Meeting in Brugge. The option on hotel rooms end on 21 April. After that, rooms can be booked upon availability.

Book a room here.

Register online here.

Registration will close on Monday 13 June.

Find out who has already registered: List of participants (18 May 2011)