The 2011 General Assembly of the Conference of Atlantic Arc Cities will be hosted this year by AIRE 198, the network of major towns and cities in Poitou-Charentes Region (France) that associates Poitiers, Niort, La Rochelle and Angoulême.This General Assembly will take place at the centre of a transitional period for Europe.  Just after the Euro zone crisis and just before the development of new regulations, the European Union redefines its overall strategic guidelines for the next few years and in particular its cohesion policy.In 2010, mobilisation of the Atlantic actors has brought success and the European Council has set its eyes on the Atlantic Arc and asked the Commission for a report on our common area. Furthermore in March 2011, the European Parliament made a resolution to support this, in a document defending a land-sea strategy which goes beyond a maritime strategy.On 30 June and 1 July 2011, the CAAC General Assembly will therefore be the time for the cities of the Atlantic Arc to question and position itself on the future of cohesion policy and its challenges.This meeting will aim to point out the importance of the urban dimension in the European cohesion policy and its governance. It will also be an opportunity to question representatives of European institutions on the future of the Atlantic and the need for an integrated European strategy for this Area.The CAAC, AIRE 198, and the City and Agglomeration Community of Niort will be delighted to welcome you in Niort, on 3 June and 1 July 2011.The afternoon of Thursday 30 June will be devoted to the work of the thematic Commissions.Animated by an academic, the first round table on the morning of Friday 1 July will be an opportunity to debate the issues of the future cohesion policy and on the added value of a network with an urban dimension (network of cities and agglomerations) with MEPs and members of the European Commission. The second round table will focus on the presentation of the Atlantic Arc cities action in networking.