Cities in the new EU Member States and in Candidate Countries face rapid social and economic restructuring and associated development challenges. A specific problem that merits systematic attention is social exclusion and the associated spatial segregation, which was often fuelled by the dismantling of traditional industries. European cities and regions, therefore, strive to develop effective policies to counteract social segregation and fragmentation among their population. By joining forces and tapping into existing know-how the partnership hopes to jointly improve their performance in this field. The operation "CASE - Cities Against Social Inclusion" aims identify good practices and develop innovative and multidisciplinary methods and solutions for improving social exclusion in the partner cities, in particular as concerns areas that have suffered most from economic transition and segregation processes in the past. Models for dealing with segregation and social exclusion in their cities will be developed. These models should then be applied in all CASE cities and tested on their transferability to other cities. The operation further aims at improving the future utilization of ERDF and other EU grants available for urban regeneration projects in the partner cities. CASE results in increased knowledge and capacities among the partner authorities on how to best tackle the problem of social exclusion in their cities. More concretely it results in concepts, studies and best practice reports on anti-segregation policies and practices. These will inform a case study handbook and serve as the basis for developing a model concept for community development. Results will help improve the absorption capacity and the efficiency of Structural Funds implementation in the participating cities, particularly those of the new EU Member States. Activities include workshops and conferences, trainings and study trips as well as joint research and dissemination.