As part of the European Week of Regions and Cities 2016, the ECR Group in the Committee of the Regions will be hosting a workshop discussing the future of the EU's Cohesion Policy.

Entitled 'The post-2020 growth and jobs agenda – what do local and regional authorities want?', the discussion will look at the future of growth in the EU following the end of the Europe 2020 strategy.

Adopted by European leaders in June 2010, the Europe 2020 initiative, closely aligned with the EU's cohesion policy, came into fruition at a difficult time amidst the Eurozone debt crisis and other unfortunate circumstances. It sets out five ambitious objectives – on employment, innovation, education, social conclusion, and climate/ energy – which member states must adopt into their own national targets.

The aim is to deliver growth in these areas, but with a rapidly changing economy in Europe and several internal and external problems, the 2020 strategy has so far failed to deliver on the expected degree of political influence it was first hoped to achieve. With its midterm review now up, its lack of success has led to some questioning whether a medium-and long-term growth strategy is still relevant.

Looking to find answers and offer solutions, our panellists are expected to debate the issues surrounding the current strategy, and ask how a new programme can be interpreted for post-2020 that will support growth and jobs at local and regional levels. The current strategy was largely based on European and national targets, so there is a real opportunity for regional and local authorities to play an important role in shaping negotiations for any future strategy.

Chaired by honorary President of the ECR Group in the Committee of the Regions Gordon Keymer CBE, the panel will include Andrew Lewer MEP, ECR Group Coordinator in the European Parliament Regional Development Committee, and Jerzy Zająkała, Mayor of Łubianka in Poland since 1990.

Joining them will be Professor Iain Begg from the European Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science, and ECR Group Vice-President Oldřich Vlasák.

The event takes place on 11 October 2016 in Brussels. Follow us on Twitter for live updates from the workshop: @ECR_CoR