Cross-border Urban and Rural integrated areas – Challenges and Chances” was the topic of the annual AEBR conference which took place in Liège (B) on the 7th of November and to which AER President Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli was invited as a keynote speaker. Together with Danuta Hübner, MEP and Chair of the Regional Development Committee of the European Parliament, and other high level speakers, the AER president discussed the challenges, in particular those, related to rural areas. Dr Hande Özsan Bozatli also mentioned the various good practices AER member regions have developed regarding rural and peri-urban development. The annual AEBR conference was also an excellent opportunity to strengthen again the cooperation between AER and AEBR, one of AER’s member network, to discuss new projects and to strengthen the links between politicians. Karl-Heinz Lambertz, President of AEBR and of the German Speaking Community in Belgium, welcomed the new cooperation and promoted the idea of joined initiatives and projects.