The future of European development funding for mountain areas throughout EU - including the Highlands and Islands - will be one of the key issues under discussion at a major international conference being held in Inverness's Eden Court theatre this week (Thursday 16th - Saturday 18th May).

The Euromontana conference is the single most important gathering of delegates from mountainous areas to be held in the last three years and coincides with the United Nations Year of the Mountain.

Euromontana is an association of organisations representing mountain regions of Europe, including Highlands and Islands Enterprise - who currently hold the presidency of the association. The Inverness conference is also being supported by a range of partner organisations including The Highland Council, The Crofters Commission, Scottish Natural Heritage (SNH), and the Forestry Commission.

The future of development funding for the Highlands and Islands and other areas, is a hot topic for debate at the moment in the face of EU expansion to include more countries from Eastern Europe. In the recent past the Highlands and Islands have lost eligibility for Objective One funding - the highest level of funding status - and the special transitional funding negotiated in its place ends in 2006. Between 1994 when Objective One funding was first secured, and 2006 when the Highlands and Islands Special Transitional Programme (HISTP) ends some £430 million of European funds will have been invested in the area, in addition to the UK and private funding which this has levered in.

Making a strong case for future funding is now a key priority for the Highlands and Islands and other similar areas of Europe, and one of the arguments being prepared is to highlight the physical difficulties facing mountainous, sparsely populated and island areas. Some parts of the Highlands and Islands face all three of these challenges and underline the powerful case which can be made for future support.

HIE's head of international relations, and current president of Euromontana, Frank Gaskell said: "Mountain areas have always faced challenges and that's as true now in face of global economic pressures as it ever was - it is vitally important, if we are to see mountain areas develop sustainably in future that we try and address these challenges and plan a way to overcome them. By doing this we can help to achieve the type of diverse and vibrant mountain communities which we'd like to see and help them make their unique contribution to the economic vitality of Europe. The communities themselves obviously have a role to play - but the availability of realistic financial support will also be of critical importance."

Also involved in the conference, and backing the case for continued EU support, are the area's local authorities, including The Highland Council. Convener David Green said: "It is widely recognised that mountain areas face particular difficulties in promoting sustainable territorial development.What is however often overlooked is the fact that these often remote mountainous regions are strongholds of cultures and ways of life that are fast disappearing in an increasingly globalised world. We lose culture at our peril, for once it has gone it can never be brought back to meaningful life.

"The Union has done much to assist us in carrying out a range of projects, some of which delegates will have a chance to see, aimed at overcoming the natural handicaps presented by our mountainous landscape. It is to be hoped that the decision makers, in framing a European regional policy for the next 6-10 years, recognise the work that remains to be done to realise the dream of sustainable communities in the Highlands, but more importantly grasp the nettle of opportunity in seeking to protect and positively capitalise on the strong cultural heritage that our peripheral location and mountainous backdrop represents."

During the conference delegates will be encouraged to develop a deeper awareness of issues facing the Highlands and Islands which will include visits to key projects and locations as well as workshop sessions.

One of the keynote speakers at the event will be Commissioner Michel Barnier, EU Commissioner for Regional Policy, responsible for allocating development funding. It is especially important that he sees at first hand some of the benefits which EU support has brought to the Highlands and Islands, but also that he gains an appreciation of some of the work which remains to be done.