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Philippe Destatte, Director of The Destree Institute, Wallonia (BE), Chair of the Brussels’ Area Node and main coordibnator of the European Millennium Project Nodes Initiative, represented the Node at the Millennium Project Planning Committee meeting in July 29-31, Washington, DC. He presented the new developments concerning the European Millennium Project Nodes Initiative, and the main issues related to futures studies at the European Union level.

Three main objectives and strategic axis of the Brussels-Area Node:
1. Futures studies methodological development
The main issue is to contribute to the achievement of the convergence between new European Foresight and « French prospective », particularly with EC policies territorialisation at regional level involvement in the EC DG Research :
- Blueprints for Foresight Actions in the Regions (ForRIS, Upgrade, Techtrans, Transvision, Agriblue)
- creation of the European Regional Foresight College initiative of the Council for Foresight and Regional Dynamic, DATAR, Paris.

Out of the European Regional Foresight College, many are members of the Node (<>):
Dimosthène Agrafiotis (GR)
Rémi Barré (FR, CNAM) <>
Sandra Bonfiglioli (IT, University de Milan)
Ane Miren Bustinduy Ojanguren (ES, Prospektiker)
Paraskevas Caracostas (EC DG Research)
Günter Clar (DE, SEZ) <>
Susan Clayton (UK, Future Creation)
Julio Dias (PT, Ministery of Territorial Planning)
Emilio Fontela (ES, University of Madrid)
Michel Godet (FR, CNAM) <>
Hugues de Jouvenel (FR, Futuribles) <>
Derek Martin (NL, VROM)
Saphia Richou (FR, Prospective and Foresight Network) <>
Karl-Heinz Steinmüller (DE, Z_Punkt, The Foresight Company) <>
Pascale Van Doren (BE, The Destree Institute) <>
Ute-Hélène Von Reibnitz (DE, Scenarios+Vision) <>
Philippe Destatte (BE, The Destree Institute) <>
+ someone from FFA <>

2. Strong European involvement
2.1. Partnership building at European level
- European Millennium Project Nodes Initiative (EuMPI)
-- European Parlement (Brussels) kick-off Meeting November 21, 2003
-- Brussels Meeting, April 16, 2004
-- Prague Meeting (September 16, 2004)
-- Brussels Conference (April 2005 ?)
- European College of Regional Foresight (Foresight Glossary, Summer University of the Regional Foresight, Lille, September 8-9, 2004)

2.2. Contribution to the European Commission’s works
- Foresight Knowledge Sharing Platform Call for Tender (ITAS, Futuribles, CNAM, Technopolis, REC, The Destree Institute)
- Knowledge Regions: Spider (FFA, Z_Punkt, The Destree Institute); Metaforesight (Thessaloniki, Extramadura, Cardiff, Basque Country ES, Wallonia) Integrating Foresight, R&D, Benchmarking, Technology Watch & Technological Skills;
- Blueprint for Foresight Actions in the Regions. Building the Future of Knowledge, Blueprint Dissemination Conference, September 23, 2004
- DG Research FP7 Informal Meeting

3. Day-to-day work in the field of foresight exercises at different levels
3.1. Local, regional and national levels
- Charleroi 2020
- Luxembourg 2010
- Wallonia 2020, Nord - Pas-de-Calais 2020
- «Vision 2020 - Large Region »
- Wallonia’s Enterprises Policies Foresight

3.2. European Level
Transvision (transborder visions for hybrid territories)
Large Region and SeeForesightT Areas
Foresight of the Internet, Namur March 4, 2005 in the process of 2005 WSIS in Tunis

3.3. Millennium Project
increasing of our inputs at the different levels-- The 2005 EuMPI Conference

Seven Specific benefits of a Foresight to Transvision Regions
1. to create a mutual trust and activate a learning process;
2. to build a consensus for reducing institutional barriers and internal resistance through collective work;
3. to improve the harmonious integration of the transborder area with its territorial identity;
4. to improve the coherence and efficiency of transborder policies;
5. to develop a common management of border area problems (economy, water, RDTI, education, etc);
6. to improve relevant actors’ participation and competencies in transborder cooperation;
7. to position the transborder area as competitive partner of EU development.

The 2005 EuMPI Conference is a real challenge and a test for the partnership of the European Nodes.
This Conference is going to open a new working phase for the European Millennium Project’s partners and for the implementation of the Millennium Project in Europe.

The full power point presentation is available at http://millennium-project.org/millennium/mppc-0704/Brussels-0704.ppt.

Philippe Destatte also represented the Brussels-Area Node at the "Futures from Around the World" session of the World Future Society Conference.

Contact:
Philippe Destatte, Node Chair
The Destree Institute, Wallonia (BE)
e-mail : destatte.ph@destree.org