Closing the MOBI-TWIN journey: insights from the Final Conference

The MOBI-TWIN Final Conference was an important milestone for a project that has spent the past three years exploring one of the most pressing questions for Europe’s future: how mobility is reshaping regions in the context of the green and digital transitions. 

Hosted in Brussels at the European Committee of the Regions, the event brought together researchers, policymakers, and regional stakeholders to reflect on the project’s key findings and discuss their implications for policy and practice. 

What was MOBI-TWIN about? 

MOBI-TWIN is an EU-funded project dedicated to understanding the dynamics of spatial mobility and their impact on European regions in the context of the green and digital transitions. Specifically, the project examined how and why people move, and what this means for regional development, labour markets, and social cohesion. 

The project focused on: 

• Analysing the drivers of human mobility, including economic, social, and territorial factors  

• Understanding how the twin green and digital transitions influence regional attractiveness  

• Exploring the balance between different forms of mobility across Europe  

• Assessing the impact of mobility patterns on demographics, welfare systems, and labour markets through advanced modelling  

• Developing strategies to help regions respond to these changes and maximise positive outcomes  

Special attention is given to recent disruptions such as COVID-19 and Brexit, which have reshaped mobility patterns and highlighted both vulnerabilities and opportunities in the freedom of movement across European regions. 

The Conference 

The Final Conference provided a comprehensive platform to present findings, exchange perspectives, and connect research with policy needs. The day opened with keynote remarks by Thomas Wobben, Director of Legislative Works at the European Committee of the Regions, who highlighted the importance of regional perspectives in shaping EU policy responses. The opening phase of the conference was further strengthened by Simone Rosini from the European Commission (DG Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion), who contributed both to the opening discussion and the policy panel, bringing an essential EU-level perspective on fair and inclusive transitions. 

This was followed by introductory remarks from the project coordinator, Giulia Zendron, Cross-cutting Innovation Unit Lead at White Research, and a keynote by the scientific coordinator, Anastasia Panori, Assistant Professor in Regional Analysis and Policy at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, setting the scene for the discussions and reflecting on the project’s core questions and approach. 

The programme brought together a rich combination of scientific insights and policy discussions across the day. Following the opening and keynote, scientific sessions explored mobility dynamics and regional attractiveness, with contributions from leading researchers, including Olle Järv (University of Helsinki) and Vicente Royuela (University of Barcelona), presenting new datasets, mobility mapping approaches and insights into the drivers of regional change. 

These were complemented by forward-looking scenario sessions, with contributions from Manos Matsaganis (Politecnico di Milano) and Dimitris Ballas (University of Groningen), showcasing advanced modelling tools such as EUROMOD, spatial microsimulation and agent-based modelling to anticipate future mobility trends and their impacts on labour markets and welfare systems. 

The policy dimension was addressed through two panel discussions, bringing together a diverse set of perspectives from European institutions, international organisations and academia. Contributors included Asya Salnikova (European Science Foundation), Anabela Santos (Université libre de Bruxelles), Maya Camacho (OECD), and Simone Rosini (European Commission, DG Employment), who discussed how mobility trends can be translated into actionable policy intelligence. The second panel further expanded the discussion with contributions from Yannis Psycharis (Panteion University), Maria Abreu (University of Cambridge), Sandra Jolk (OECD), Taina Tukiainen (Mission Board for Climate Adaptation and JRC), and Francesco Molica (EURADA), focusing on how to address the challenges faced by regions experiencing demographic decline, talent outflows and uneven exposure to the twin transition. 

Moderated by Jennifer Baker, the discussions highlighted the need to strengthen the link between research and policymaking, ensuring that evidence can effectively inform place-based responses across Europe. 

The conference also created space for cross-project exchange, with contributions from sister Horizon Europe projects and synergy initiatives, represented by Peter Meister-Broekema (PREMIUM_EU), Nikos Zaharis (R-Map) and Liga Baltina (SkillsPulse), reinforcing the value of collaboration in building a stronger and more policy-relevant evidence base. 

A key message emerged: complexity of places requires more interactive and multidimensional approaches to policymaking, underpinned by strong evidence, to ensure that the twin transition benefits all regions rather than reinforcing existing disparities. 

MOBI-TWIN has been a truly collaborative effort, bringing together 9 partners from across Europe with expertise in economics, geography, microsimulation, policy analysis, and data science. 

We would like to warmly thank all project partners for their commitment, expertise, and collaboration throughout the project. Their contributions have been essential in delivering high-quality research and meaningful policy insights. 

We also extend our thanks to all speakers and participants of the Final Conference for making it such a valuable and engaging discussion. 

As the project comes to a close, MOBI-TWIN leaves behind a strong foundation of knowledge to support more balanced, inclusive, and forward-looking regional policies across Europe.