METREX Autumn Conference 2025
5-7 November 2025 , Gipuzkoa, Spain
Upcoming trends and perspectives – what are the challenges for metropolitan policies?
How to articulate with the Multiannual Financial Framework and which role can METREX play?
The Conference agenda in a nutshell:
Day 1 – November 5 in San Sebastian: EGs/NGs internal meetings, official welcome
Day 2 – November 6 in Irun: Plenary sessions and World Cafés with Expert Groups
Day 3 – November 7 in Irun: General Assembly and thematic excursion
European metropolitan areas today face concrete challenges: energy transition, housing crisis, sustainable mobility, social cohesion and growing budgetary constraints. These issues are intensifying in a Europe confronted with geopolitical, energy and migration crises that are reshaping our action priorities. As Europe prepares its next multiannual financial framework (MFF) and redefines its investment priorities, this METREX conference in Gipuzkoa brings us together to share our practical experiences and identify the role that METREX can play in articulating responses to local issues with advocacy towards the EU.
This conference is also a time for listening to the real needs of our members and building an operational roadmap, particularly through collaborative workshops in small groups. This is a decisive conference for sharing together the future of the network and its activities in light of expressed needs, at the very moment when we are renewing governance by electing, within a newly designated managing committee, a new presidency and vice-presidency.
Overview of the agenda
The METREX conference in the province of Gipuzkoa opens on Wednesday 5 November with parallel Network and Expert Group meetings in the morning. In the afternoon, participants are officially welcomed at the Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa. The day concludes with an informal dinner kindly offered by the Provincial Council.
On Thursday 6 November, the programme focuses on Gipuzkoa as a model for sustainable and integrated mobility. At the FICOBA centre in Irun, the official opening is followed by institutional presentations on how mobility drives urban transformation, including the VIA IRUN project and cycling strategies. A European panel then situates mobility in the wider EU context ‘Metropolitan responses for Europe’s mobility and regeneration agendas’, featuring case studies from Euskadi, Spain, Metropolitan City of Genova, Metropolitan City of Milan and Metropolitan region Rheinland.
After lunch, World-Café with METREX Expert Groups. The works of the day will serve as input for a potential “Gipuzkoa Statement” on MFF 2028. The day closes with a conference dinner.
Friday 7 November is dedicated to the METREX General Assembly including elections, financial updates, and the 2026 programme. The thematic excursion will offer insights into urban regeneration practice and strategies through the VIA IRUN project.
Transport information: MUGI Card
How to Get Around Donostia/San Sebastian and Travel to Irun by Public Transport
All participants will receive a MUGI card, which provides access to the local and provincial public transport network. The cards are already charged with 5 euros credit.
More information is available at: https://www.mugi.eus/index.php/en/
The card allows an unlimited number of trips, as long as there is sufficient credit on it. The card can be recharged at:
- Euskotren ticket machines and offices
- Kiosks, tobacconist’s and bookshops that have a reload data phone
- Outdoor auto-reload machines
When will you receive your MUGI card?
-
Wednesday, 5 November: at the Universidad del País Vasco, before the start of the EG/NG meetings
-
Thursday, 6 November: at the conference registration desk in FICOBA
Network – and Expert Groups
10:00 – 15:30 | Parallel network- and Expert group meetings
Venue: Carlos Santamaria Centre, Library of the Universidad del Pais Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea
Address: Plaza de Elhuyar, 2, 20018 Donostia-San Sebastian, Gipuzkoa
Direction to the rooms
When you enter the Centre, turn left and you will see the entrance to the auditorium. The rooms and classrooms are on the left side of the auditorium.
10:00 – 11:30 Mapping METREX | Room 2
Mapping METREX is a project initiated by the Province of South Holland (PZH). The goal of this activity is to deepen the knowledge around the territorial diversity and variety of governance systems as exists in the METREX membership by connecting and visualizing existing information and making it easily available.
Referent: Mariana Faver, Province South Holland, NL
Link to join the meeting online: JOIN
11:30 – 13:00 EuroDelta EG: Cities and Regions Driving the Circular Transition | Classroom 3
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The OECD, with Ander Eizaguirre, presenting insights from their study The Circular Economy in Cities and Regions of the European Union.
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The European Investment Bank (EIB), with Jan Byström, sharing perspectives from their Circular4Cities initiative.
Referent: Dagmar Keim, City of Amsterdam
Link to Join the meeting online: JOIN
10:00 – 13:00 Nordic Baltic Network | Classroom 2
The Nordic-Baltic Space Expert Group unites METREX members to develop a shared vision and framework for more effective city-region policies across the Nordic-Baltic area. By analysing key drivers of change, challenges, and strengths, the group aims to create a joint scenario, shared strategic maps, and coordinated spatial strategies that foster a more integrated and polycentric development model. Its goal is to enhance sustainable regional competitiveness and cooperation among city-regions. During this meeting we will focus on Preparedness and Security, addressing issues such as geopolitical risks, climate impacts, socioeconomic instability, market uncertainty, and housing shortages.
Referent: Peter Austin, City of Oslo
Link to join the meeting online: Not yet available
12:00 – 13:00 Foresighting | Room 4
In response to the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape and heightened uncertainty, METREX has embarked on an ambitious project: “Foresight for Europe.” This initiative aims to explore potential future scenarios for Europe and identify strategies to bolster and advance Europe’s metropolitan backbone in these challenging times. Recognizing the need for resilience, flexibility, and foresight, the project is inviting experts, stakeholders, and the METREX community to collaboratively examine Europe’s possible paths forward.
Referent: Sébastien Rolland, UrbaLyon, FR
13:00 – 14:30 Climate Challenge Expert Group | Classroom 3
The Metropolitan Climate Challenge Expert Group aims to enhance metropolitan and regional cooperation on climate change mitigation and adaptation. Its activities will help cities and regions reduce emissions and strengthen climate resilience. The group focuses on identifying and promoting the most effective and rapid measures to cut emissions and adapt to changing climate conditions. Open to practitioners, planners, and land-use officers across METREX metropolitan and city regions, the Expert Group provides a collaborative platform to exchange knowledge, develop strategies, and accelerate collective action toward sustainable, climate-resilient urban and regional development.
Referent: Ilona Mansikka and Marikka Manninen, Helsinki-Uusimaa Regional Council, FI
Link to join the meeting online: JOIN
13:00 – 15:30 EconoMETREX 2.0 | Classroom 5
The EconoMETREX working group focuses on strengthening the economies of Europe’s metropolitan regions. Competitiveness lies at the heart of current European policies. The group discusses economic ecosystems and the key spatial conditions that support them. Together, we aim to draft a White Paper to be submitted to Brussels. In parallel, we are exploring opportunities for European funding and preparing study visits to facilitate knowledge exchange within the group.
Referent: Peter Pol, City of The Hague
Link to join the meeting online: JOIN
MUGI Cards
Members attending this part of the programme will receive the MUGI card before the start of the EGs/NGs sessions.
Arrival & Institutional Welcome
Theme: Cultural & Political Anchoring
17:30 – 18:30 | Official Opening
Venue: Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa
Address: Gipuzkoa Plaza, 1, 20004 Donostia, Gipuzkoa, Spain
– Welcome by Eider Mendoza, Deputy General of Gipuzkoa
– Welcome by Azahara Domínguez, Deputy for Mobility, Tourism and Land Use Planning, Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa
– Jakub Mazur, METREX President
Walk to the Convent of Saint Teresa
19:00 | Informal dinner (kindly offered by the Provincial Council)
Venue: Convent of Saint Teresa
Address: Andere.E.Zipitria Kalea, 1, 20003 Donostia, Gipuzkoa
Local Inspiration, European Perspective
Theme: Gipuzkoa as a Model for Sustainable and Integrated Mobility
Venue: FICOBA, Exhibition site of Gipuzkoa
Address: Avda. de Iparralde, 43, 20302 Irun
Transport Information
All the participants will reach Irun on their own
Transport by bus is organised only for speakers, rapporteurs and moderators
7:30 | Meeting point: Donostia Bus Station, Federico García Lorca Pasealekua, 1. 20014 Donostia, Gipuzkoa
8:30 | Registration and Welcome Coffee
9:00 – 9:15 | Official Opening
Chair of the morning: Sandeep Shingadia, Director of Strategic Partnerships and Delivery Integration, Transport for West Midlands, UK
– Cristina Laborda, Mayoress of Irun
– Azahara Domínguez, Deputy for Mobility, Tourism and Land Use Planning, Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa
– Jakub Mazur, METREX President
9:15 – 9:45 | European Framing
Introduction of the day: From Local Model to European Challenge and back
with Laura Papaleo, MC Genova, IT
- Keynote by Frank van Oort, Professor Regional Economics, Erasmus University Rotterdam, NL
Presentation of recent comparative research on the economic power of European metropolitan regions
9:45 – 10:45 | Gipuzkoa Institutional Presentations
How mobility enables urban transformation and territorial cohesion
- VIA IRUN Project, Linking regeneration and transport infrastructure with Cristina Laborda, Mayoress of Irun
- Cycling Strategy, Mobility beyond infrastructure with José Ignacio Asensio, Deputy for Sustainability, Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa.
10:45 – 11:00 Coffe-break
11:00 – 12:15 | European Panel – Urban Mobility in the EU Context
– MUGI system, Social & environmental value beyond fare integration, Azahara Domínguez, Deputy for Mobility, Tourism and Land Use Planning, Provincial Council of Gipuzkoa
– Sustainable Mobility Plan of Euskadi 2025–2035 – Strategic policy, Susana García Chueca, Minister of Sustainable Mobility of the Basque Government.
– Sustainable mobility as an element that integrates and renovates cities, José Antonio Santano, Secretary of State for Transport and Sustainable Mobility, Government of Spain.
12:15 – 13:00 | METREX Moderated Dialogue: Bridging current transitional dynamics in the Metropolitan Reality
– Laura Papaleo, MC Genova, Italy & Dario Parravicini, CM Milano, Italy
– Dietmar Schulmeister, Metropolregion Rheinland, Germany
13:30 – 14:30 | Informal Networking Lunch
14:30 – 17:30 | World-Café with METREX Expert Groups (parallel roundtables)
Introduction to the work sessions by Simone Jung, Stuttgart region and Sébastien Rolland, UrbaLyon
14:45 – 15:45 Round 1 (5 parallel tables)
Chair: Erik Pasveer; Rapporteur: Peter Pol
The new EU Multiannual Financial Framework (2028–2034) raises questions about centralization, democracy, and urban cooperation. As industries challenge the Green Deal, metropolitan regions must engage in shared societal missions and stronger cross-border collaboration with business and politics to shape economic priorities and influence the MFF’s direction effectively.
Questions:
- What worries you regarding the economy of your metropolitan region?
- Do you recognize the urgency of increased European cooperation among metropolitan regions on economic issues? Are we on the same page in this respect?
- How can metropolitan regions strengthen ties with the business sector to develop a shared agenda?
- How should this be reflected in the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF)? Which role can METREX play in this respect?
Table: Metropolitan Governance
Chair: Łukasz Medeksza; Rapporteur: Soňa Raszkova (tbc)
The discussion suggests linking the Expert Group’s future work with EU-funded projects MECOG and Metro Case to strengthen members’ capacity, inform METREX policy inputs, and expand knowledge on metropolitan governance. It also invites reflection on emerging issues such as national regulations, political trends, major investments, and resource-oriented autonomy.
1. How to use such projects as MECOG and Metro Case (and any similar ones in the future) to:
– build our members’ capacity at their local, and national level?
– create inputs to METREX opinions/statements at the EU level?
– build our own METREX base of knowledge about metropolitan governance models and strategies?
2. Are we open to work on new issues (and if yes – how?), such as:
– what are the tendencies towards metropolitan regulations at the national level?
– what are the political tendencies in the metropolitan areas themselves?
– what are the biggest investments in European metropolitan areas?
– what are the tendencies/attitudes/strategies towards building resource-oriented autonomies in our metropolitan regions and areas?
Table: Geographical challenges (Nordic Baltic Network)
Chair: Peter Austin; Rapporteur: Jānis Ušča
The Nordic-Baltic Space Expert Group brings together METREX members to develop shared strategies for integrated, polycentric city-region development, analysing key drivers and challenges to strengthen cooperation and enhance sustainable regional competitiveness across the Nordic-Baltic area.
Chair: Sébastien Rolland, Rapporteur: tbc
In response to the rapidly shifting geopolitical landscape and heightened uncertainty, METREX has embarked on an ambitious project: “Foresight for Europe.” This initiative aims to explore potential future scenarios for Europe and identify strategies to bolster and advance Europe’s metropolitan backbone in these challenging times. Recognizing the need for resilience, flexibility, and foresight, the project is inviting experts, stakeholders, and the METREX community to collaboratively examine Europe’s possible paths forward.
- Expectations at local level for the foresight EG + the will to integrate the EG,
- Expectations from EU level to be addressed by the foresight EG,
- Expectations for METREX level from the foresight EG
Chair: Mariana Faver, Rapporteur: Daniel Rădulescu
There is already a lot of (Geo)data available at European scale through different platforms, but the information is often fragmented and not tailored to the metropolitan scale. In addition to fostering knowledge exchange, this group aims to make existing data understandable, accessible, and useful for its members.
Questions:
- What are hot topics within your expert/ network group?
- Are there knowledge gaps regarding (Geo)data?
- How can Mapping METREX contribute to solving these challenges?
16:00 – 17:00 Round 2 (4 parallel tables)
Chair: Sandeep Shingadia, Rapporteur: Chuck Bean
Metropolitan Climate Challenge
Chair: Marikka Manninen, Rapporteur: Ilona Mansikka
The METREX Climate Challenge Expert Group, active since 2022, fosters collaboration among European metropolitan climate experts to share knowledge and best practices for emission reduction, carbon sequestration, and resilience. It now seeks input on key regional and EU climate priorities, regulatory impacts, and opportunities for joint projects and collaboration.
- What are the most relevant/hottest climate related topics in Your region at the moment?
- Which climate related topics are most relevant and/or interesting in terms of the EU and the metropolitan regions?
- How will EU-regulation change the planning of the metropolitan regions in the near future?
- What are the key climate messages from METREX to the EU?
Which Eu-related topics should be highlighted in the work of the Climate Challenge Expert Group? How?
How could The Climate Challenge Expert Group the best benefit You and other member organizations within the METREX network?
Background material: The Key Messages report about our group’s activities 2022-2023
Circular Transition
Chair: Dagmar Keim, Rapporteur: Mariana Faver
The Working Group EuroDelta explores how collaboration at the scale of the megaregion can accelerate our sustainability transitions and strengthen the economic and spatial position of the individual participating metropolitan regions. Currently, the EuroDelta Working Group is focusing on the transition towards a circular built environment. In 2026, we will launch the EuroDelta Alliance and disseminate the results of the ASSET project. Our activities will continue with knowledge exchange and the ambition to initiate a new European-funded project. The roundtable will address the question of how we can help other metropolitan areas accelerate their transition towards a circular built environment. Since the EuroDelta Alliance embraces a holistic view of the EuroDelta, our work contributes to several European policy domains — including cohesion policy, port strategies, urban nodes, circular economy, water strategies, NNLT, and the Nature Restoration Law. This holistic approach — developed in close cooperation with business associations and the academic field — calls for new European policy frameworks. Addressing the unexplored scale of megaregional collaboration within Europe could bring significant added value to our METREX network.
Social and Affordable Housing (SAH)
Chair/Rapporteur: José Ferreira
The METREX Sustainable and Affordable Housing Expert Group, launched at the 2023 Social Housing Festival in Barcelona and showcased in Dublin in 2025, addresses the economic and spatial challenges of housing affordability at the metropolitan and regional scale. It promotes metropolitan collaboration, exploring how regional governments can engage intermunicipal actors, share expertise, and co-develop innovative, equitable housing strategies.
SAH EG webinars
And, suggested by members: “Housing for the common good Rooting European efforts in local approaches, Eurocities Report 2025“
17:00-17:30 | Rapporteurs on the floor : 5 takeaways from the afternoon working sessions serving as input for a potential “Gipuzkoa Statement” on MFF 2028
17:45 | Transport back to San Sebastian
Note: only for speakers, rapporteurs and moderators
Destination: Donostia Bus Station. (Federico García Lorca Pasealekua, 1. 20014 Donostia, Gipuzkoa
19:30 | Transfer by bus to the restaurant
Meeting point: Donostia Bus Station, Federico García Lorca Pasealekua, 1. 20014 Donostia, Gipuzkoa
20:00 | Conference Dinner at Petritegi
23:00 | Departure by bus to San Sebastian
23:20 | Arrival in Donostia Bus Station, Federico García Lorca Pasealekua, 1. 20014 Donostia, Gipuzkoa
METREX Day: Scaling Up, Looking Ahead
Transport information
All the participants will reach Irun by public transport with MUGI card
Venue: FICOBA, Exhibition site of Gipuzkoa
Address: Avda. de Iparralde, 43, 20302 Irun
08:30 – 11:00 | METREX General Assembly (Members only)
– Presentation of MC Elections results
– Presentation of the candidates for presidency
– Election of a new METREX President and Vice-Presidents
– Financial overview and discharge old MC
– Board and Secretary-General announcements
11:00 – 11:30 | Coffee-break
11:30 – 14:00 | Excursion VIA IRUN Project – Urban Regeneration in Practice
- High-speed station, customs zone transformation
- Integration of housing, economic activity, and mobility
Vía Irun is an innovative urban district located in the heart of Irun. It is the result of a public–private partnership and represents a major urban regeneration project for the former railway area along the Madrid–Irun–Paris axis. The development combines mixed uses, a large park, and an innovation hub within a fully urban and intermodal space, seamlessly connected by high-speed, long-distance, suburban, and bus lines.
NOTE: A minimum of 15 participants is required for the excursions to take place.
14:00 | Closing and Lunch – METREX Congress (kindly offered by the Provincial Council)
Conference documents
How to get to Gipuzkoa
Please visit the Official Website of Donostia / San Sebastian Turismo https://www.sansebastianturismoa.eus/en/come/how-to-get-here
And Welcome to Gipuzkoa-San Sebastian
https://www.gipuzkoasansebastian.eus/en/home
How to Get Around Donostia/San Sebastian and Travel to Irun by Public Transport
All participants will receive a MUGI card, which provides access to the local and provincial public transport network. The cards are already charged with 5 euros credit.
More information is available at: https://www.mugi.eus/index.php/en/
The card allows an unlimited number of trips, as long as there is sufficient credit on it. The card can be recharged at:
- Euskotren ticket machines and offices
- Kiosks, tobacconist’s and bookshops that have a reload data phone
- Outdoor auto-reload machines
When will you receive your MUGI card?
-
Wednesday, 5 November: at the Universidad del País Vasco, before the start of the EG/NG meetings
-
Thursday, 6 November: at the conference registration desk in FICOBA
