How will the objectives be achieved?

a.) A collective conceptual framework will be developed, including a synopsis of published research on shrinking cities and a common terminology across countries and disciplines.

b.) Two European conferences on good practice on regeneration strategies in shrinking cities in the third and fourth year of the Action will provide an opportunity for the wider audience to participate in the Action.

c) Workshop meetings in reference cities will allow the interchange of tacit knowledge between the network members and practitioners. By this means the Action??s proposals and recommendations can be discussed with local actors in selected shrinking cities. Thus the Action will invite local stakeholders to participate in the workshops.

d.) The Action will facilitate the sharing of European best practice on regeneration strategies in shrinking cities by offering a database with profiles of selected examples from all COST countries involved.

e.) The Action will produce recommendations on policy implications at different levels which will be distributed as widely as possible to relevant policy-makers.

f.) Publication of the research findings, by means of one edited book on regeneration strategies in shrinking cities, six journal papers focusing on different cases of shrinkage across Europe, and one monograph on policies needed for shrinking cities as well as conference and workshop proceedings.

g.) Designing and maintaining of a web site, that allows the interchange of knowledge between the network members and a wider public, through intranet and public website pages.