The overarching theme for the Congress will be Culture, Cohesion and Competitiveness – Regional Perspectives. This encapsulates a number of different aspects that are topical and relevant not only for Liverpool but also across the whole of Europe.

In Africa, the major cities have grown with unprecedented speed over the past few decades creating genuine metropolises. Cities like Nairobi, Johannesburg and Lagos reflect the makeup of the country at large, and indeed are often taken to stand as a symbol for the nation united. In a rhetorical...