The meeting intends to bring together thematic coordinators from the four macro-regional strategies (MRS) dealing with social policies such as labour market issues, employment, social inclusion, or migration. It aims at fostering an exchange of experience across the four macro-regional strategies and discuss cross-cutting issues, such as:

• Promotion of cooperation in the field of social policies
• Alignment of funding to MRS
• Strategic communication
• Upcoming MFF

The ultimate aim of the meeting is to kick-off a sustained exchange among macro-regional coordinators, and bring together experts, funding sources, and policy makers. Many challenges in the social field know no borders, and territorial cohesion and inclusive growth are strongly interrelated. Moreover, new challenges have arisen that can be solved only jointly by the Member States and the European regions, be it migration, labour market issues or youth unemployment.

The meeting takes place back-to-back with the meeting of Managing Authorities of the ESF in the Danube Region on 19-20 September (link is external).