Within the framework of Urbact, eleven European cities have joined to form CoNet – the social cohesion network. They exchange experience on how to better realise current integrated approaches in order to strengthen social cohesion in deprived neighbourhoods – especially in the fields of employment, education and neighbourhood life. It is hoped that this knowledge will evolve into innovative projects in each of the partner cities.

Integrated projects allow greater progress to be made: all stakeholders are involved, the citizens participate actively, and projects contributing to different aims and functions are bundled together. The opportunities offered by the use of integrated approaches have by no means been exhausted. Yet this is an important tool in the successful and sustainable fight against the increasing segregation and social polarisation faced by our cities.

Berlin initiated the network in 2008 and will coordinate it for the next two and a half years. The other members of the network are Liverpool (UK), Vaulx-en-Velin (FR), Sofia (BG), Alba Iulia (RO), Brussels (BE), Apeldoorn (NL), Zabrze (PL), Malmö (SE), Gijón (ES) and Palermo (IT). As the network's Lead Expert, Prof. Dr. Rotraut Weeber will support the project with methodological and thematic input. Furthermore, in collaboration with the partner cities, she authored the Baseline Study.

In Europe, these approaches of broadened cooperation and more intensive civil participation are currently being discussed under the term ‘new governance’. How to motivate stakeholders? How to steer the process? How to make decisions? How to actually get things done? These key methodological questions form the focus of the CoNet exchange. In improving the social stabilisation of deprived neighbourhoods it is especially worth applying and optimising these new approaches. However, there are also many associated unique questions and challenges that arise when putting these approaches into practice – particularly in the fields of employment, education, neighbourhood life and civil participation.