RIGA, Aug 12 (LETA) - The local authority of Riga will host the fall conference of the Network of European Metropolitan Regions and Areas (METREX) from September 30 to October 1, Inese Paberza, a representative of the Riga City Development Department, informed LETA.

The theme of this year's METREX conference is "Towards implementing spatial strategies in continuously changing metropolitan areas". 

Along with Milan, Paris, Vienna, Amsterdam, Riga is among the 45 European metropolises actively involved in the METREX cooperation network. Planning cooperation in the Nordic-Baltic workgroup in which Riga cooperates with neighboring metropolises Helsinki, Stockholm, Goteborg and Oslo, is of special importance. 

On the first day of the online conference Riga Metropolitan Area will present its new  spatial development plan and host parallel sessions to explore a number of its facets. We will visit exemplar projects. A forum of mayors of Riga Metropolitan Area will take place concurrently to the sessions of the conference. 

On the second day of the conference the focus will be on Nordic-Baltic and Central European Approach on Planning, including parallel sessions with input from other METREX Members. Leading EU politicians and members of the Committee of the Regions will offer their reflections. 

"Participating in the community of European metropolises provides Riga the opportunity to strengthen its international competitiveness - not only to expand competences, expertise and experience, but to also share Riga's valuable experience with partners," said Riga Mayor Martins Stakis (For/Progressives).