The EU Territorial Agenda & its Action Programme:

Transcription

2009-07-27
The EU Territorial Agenda & its Action Programme:
How to reinforce the performance
Annex 2: Recommendations made by the actions of
the Action Programme
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Kai Böhme (SWECO)
S W E CO E UR O FUT U R E S
Vasagatan 36
Box 415, 101 28 Stockholm
Telefon +46 8 613 08 00
Telefax +46 8 613 08 08
Kai Böhme
Telefon direkt +46 8613 08 60
Mobil +46 730 39 73 30
[email protected]
SW E CO E UR O FUT U R E S A B
Org.nr 556342-6559, säte Stockholm
Ingår i SWECO-koncernen
www.sweco.se www.eurofutures.se
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Content
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Introduction ....................................................................................................... 3
Action 1.1 – Territorial and urban development................................................ 4
Action 1.1A – Urban-rural relations................................................................... 7
Action 1.2 – TA in the Member States ............................................................ 12
Action 1.2A – Polycentric cross-border metropolitan areas............................ 12
Action 1.3 – TA & NSRF ................................................................................. 12
Action 2.1 - Cooperate with the EC to use the activities of the TCUM ........... 12
Action 2.1A - Energy Efficiency and Renewable energy ................................ 12
Action 2.1B – Climate Change........................................................................ 12
Action 2.1C – Demography............................................................................. 12
Action 2.1D – Urban Sprawl ........................................................................... 13
Action 2.2 – Territorial Impacts ....................................................................... 13
Action 2.3A – Valorisation of territorial diversity ............................................. 15
Action 2.3B – European mountain areas ........................................................ 15
Action 2.3C – European islands ..................................................................... 16
Action 2.4 – Ministerial contributions to key dossiers ..................................... 16
Action 2.4A – Climate change ........................................................................ 16
Action 2.4B – Future EU Cohesion Policy ...................................................... 17
Action 2.4C – Rural Development Policy........................................................ 20
Action 2.4D – Sustainable Development Strategy.......................................... 23
Action 2.4E – Transport .................................................................................. 25
Action 2.4E – Lisbon Process post 2010 ........................................................ 26
Action 3.1A – Strategy to promote transparent decision making.................... 28
Action 3.1B – Common understanding of integrated territorial development . 28
Action 3.2 – Agreement with relevant stakeholders........................................ 28
Action 3.2A – Urban development priorities ................................................... 28
Action 3.2B – Impacts of climate change........................................................ 29
Action 4.1 – Knowledge platform .................................................................... 29
Action 4.2 – Monitoring support ...................................................................... 29
Action 4.3 – Update of the Territorial State and Perspectives ........................ 29
Action 5.1 – Coordination of the Action Programme....................................... 29
Action 5.2 – Communication strategy ............................................................. 29
Action 5.3 – Evaluation and review of the Territorial Agenda ......................... 29
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Annex 2: Recommendations made by the actions of the Action Programme
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Introduction
This annex presents an overview of the recommendations provided in the
documents drafted under the various actions. The content and wording of the
single recommendations presented in this report has been taken from the
documents provided under the single actions and has not been changed or
altered in any way.
For this annex only documents circulated before the 15th of June 2009 have
been taken into account. For each action it has been attempted to consider
the latest document available. As the work on the actions is still ongoing and
not all documents available have clear indications on the date of their origin, it
is possible that in some cases recommendations are missing or have been
revised already.
For following actions no reports have been available:
Action 1.2 – TA in the Member States (has not started, yet)
Action 1.2A – Polycentric cross-border metrop. areas (first report in late 2009)
Action 1.3 – TA & NSRF (has not started, yet)
Action 2.1 – Cooperation with TCUM
Action 2.1A – Energy (first report in 2009)
Action 2.1B – Climate change (first report in late 2009)
Action 2.1C – Demography (first report in late 2009)
Action 2.1.D – Urban Sprawl (first report in 2009)
Action 2.3A – Territorial diversity (first report in 2010)
Action 2.3B – Mountain areas (has not started, yet)
Action 2.3C – Islands (first report in 2010)
Action 3.1A – Transparent decision making (has not started, yet)
Action 3.2A – Urban development priorities (has just started)
Action 3.2B – Impacts of climate change (first report in 2009)
Action 4.3 – Update of Territorial State & Perspectives (has just started)
Actions 5.3 – Evaluation and review (has just started)
The following actions are not expected to develop recommendations:
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Action 3.1B – Agreement with stakeholders
Action 4.1 – Knowledge platform
Action 4.2 – Monitoring support
Action 5.1 – Coordination of the Action Programme
Action 5.2 – Communication strategy
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Action 1.1 – Territorial and urban development
Source: Coordination between Territorial and Urban Development. Final
Report on Action 1.1, Line of Action 1: “Prepare and promote policy options to
foster coordination between territorial and urban development in the light of
the Territorial Agenda and the Leipzig Charter at EU and MS levels.”
(November 2008)
Recommendations for successful territorial-urban coordination
Partnerships and platforms
Diverse forms of partnerships and platforms are needed for facilitating
coordination between different policy-making levels. The selection of
participating stakeholders as well as organization and management of
these platforms and partnerships are crucial for their efficiency. Those who
have the powers and resources to contribute to planning and
implementation should be involved, and considerations should also be
given to the role of those who are intended to be the main beneficiaries or
recipients – such as businesses or community organizations. Lack of
transparency or hidden agendas between the involved actors can in this
sense seriously endanger the success of coordination. Platforms also
serve as a tool for communication and exchange of information, which is
crucial for success of all types of partnerships.

Common visions
Common or shared visions about key objectives and priorities for
development between all relevant stakeholders are an essential tool for
successful coordination. They create conditions for common
understanding of key development priorities and projects, and for aligned
strategies of stakeholders at different policy-making levels. Common
visions are also prerequisite for clear strategies with clearly defined goals
which are helpful in coordinating objectives and agendas of different
stakeholders at territorial and urban levels.

Participative approach
A fully participative approach is needed at the earliest stages for creating
common visions and efficient partnerships, securing wide ownership and
public acceptance. The different roles of different stakeholders should be
recognized, and the participation of key and weak stakeholders should be
specifically encouraged.
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Leadership
Strong leadership throughout all phases of planning and implementation is
important for successful implementation of common visions, plans, and
development projects. It is also important for assuring strong partnerships.

Competences and skills
Governance and generic skills are needed to facilitate coordination.
Competences and skills are of particular importance for building
consensual strategic visions, and for managing successful partnerships.

Framework conditions
Creating suitable framework conditions, such as legislative framework, is
necessary for enabling coordination between different administrative
levels. The national level, which most often has a crucial role in this
respect, and in some cases the strategic regional role, can also directly
stimulate the formation of platforms and partnerships for facilitating
coordination between levels.

Resources
When developing policies and plans at different levels it should be taken
into account that coordination takes time and money. Enough resources
should therefore be reserved for it early on in the process.

Political support
Political support and policy continuity at all levels in the actions
strengthening coordination is crucial for the success of coordination.
Continuation of this support from one election term to another is therefore
highly beneficial for effective coordination. Wide ownership of common
visions can help to secure such continuation.

Power balance
Power imbalances between different administrative and policy-making
levels can be a serious obstacle for effective vertical coordination. It is
therefore necessary to mitigate power imbalances as much as possible
through establishment of clear rules of cooperation and empowerment of
weaker levels. Further activities for supporting better territorial-urban
coordination.
Activities which could be initiated by all policy making levels:
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Improve the dialogue between levels by setting up platforms and networks
Diverse platforms, such as networks, working groups and partnerships for
facilitating the coordination or exchange of information and knowledge
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between territorial and urban development can be set up at different levels.
National level has a particularly important role for stimulating the creation
of such platforms at regional and local level.

Raising awareness and dissemination activities
The benefits of coordination between territorial and urban development
should be made more visible. Activities for raising awareness and for
dissemination of results from examples of best practice should therefore
be supported at all policy-making levels from the local to EU level.

Open forums for sharing experiences
Very diverse experiences exist across Europe in relation to coordination
between territorial and urban development. Exchanging these experiences
would significantly enhance the practice of coordination. Open forums or
platforms for sharing and exchanging the experience could therefore be
established at all levels. The existing networks at the EU level should be
primarily utilized for this purpose. In this regard an evidence base could be
developed.
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Activities which could be initiated in particular by the EU and Member
States level:

Setting up framework conditions for coordination
To enable coordination between territorial and urban development suitable
framework conditions need to be established. Activities for an adequate
legislative framework, a clear definition of responsibilities, coherent
timetabling, or financing could be initiated in particular at the national level,
but also at EU level.

Methodological guidelines for coordination
A set of methodological guidelines or recommendations for coordination
between territorial and urban development could be devised, based on the
successful experiences from the existing cases. The national and EU
levels are particularly well-positioned to initiate these activities.

Monitoring the implementation of coordination
The implementation of coordination between territorial and urban
development, and between different practices and instruments used
across Member States could be monitored in the framework of existing
committees at the EU level. A thematic working group for territorial-urban
coordination could be for instance established in the framework of the
COCOF Sub-committee for Territorial Cohesion and Urban Matters for
furthering the territorial urban coordination issues.
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Action 1.1A – Urban-rural relations
Source: Interim Report – Introductory informative document on the
implementation of Action 1.1A on the urban-rural issues within the context of
the Territorial Agenda of the European Union. Abbreviated English version.
(May 2009)
EU level
More systematic reflection of urban-rural issues in programming
documents

To check and to introduce, if appropriate, proposals for partial
modifications of the OPs by incorporating a more extensive territorial
dimension in mid-term evaluations, which will take place in Member States
in the coming years.

To apply the concept requiring more systematic reflection of urban-rural
issues in new programming documents elaborated in the course of
preparations for the future programming period of 2014 – 2020.
Practical application of new concepts

To continue to implement European projects of the ESPON type, which
help create a data and knowledge base and opportunities to make broader
analyses, as well as new concepts for the solution of polycentric
development issues, mutual urban-rural relations and in other areas.

To elaborate EU guidelines which will regulate strategic and territorial
planning in individual Member States and would reflect new concepts in
the approach to urban-rural issues (a unified spatial planning framework
may contribute to the promotion of polycentric territorial development).

To define at the EU level relevant indicators for assessment of urban-rural
relations to enable comparison and evaluation of the development of this
issue in each EU Member State.
Modifications of European policies
To use expert results and political discussion about instruments to promote
urban-rural relations. Particularly the preparation for the programming
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period of 2014 – 2020 requires to use necessary promotional tools for
urban-rural relations, which have to become fully functional since 2014.

To establish an appropriate legislative framework for resolution of urbanrural issues, mainly with regard to the newly created tools. This is
necessary for the coordination between various administrative levels. In
connection with the preparation for the programming period of 2014 –
2020, the following time schedule should be recommended:
o 2009 – 2011: an expert discussion on the urban-rural issue, including its
integration into the relevant regulations;
o 2012: preparation of new regulations;
o 2013: approval of new regulations.

To provide long-term support to the urban dimension in the cohesion policy
by supporting cities and metropolitan areas. Ties to cities, particularly to
small and medium-sized towns, are important for rural areas. At the same
time, these ties are important for cities and the existence of synergic
effects is conditional upon socio-economic links and their deepening.

To strengthen the multidisciplinary concept of the rural development policy,
which will respect the multifunctional nature of rural areas.

To assess the relation between effective implementation of the CAP EU
and of the ESC policy from the perspective of the rural development policy
and urban-rural relation.
Member State level
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To promote tools for integration of cities and their rural surroundings by
means of:
o the establishment of transport systems supplying/improving transport
services in the city and its surroundings (namely commuting to work and
educational facilities, but also to services) both in terms of infrastructure
(public roads, railways, etc.) and services; with special focus on
sustainability (fixed track and alternative transport types) and
intermodality,
o tourism, recreational and leisure time activities,
o deepening of ties between cities and municipalities in their rural
surroundings through elaboration of territorial planning documentation
covering the entire territory (development and physical planning). The
joint planning should cover the zones of housing, green areas (for both
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ecological and recreational purposes), economy (industry and services),
agriculture and transport network that secure the interconnection
between these zones. The common planning activity can contribute to
restrain the harmful effects of urban sprawl.
o promoting the formation of social services used jointly by urban and rural
population.

To strengthen the territorial approach in strategic planning (both in the
conceptual and the strategical, operational phases) through iteration
processes and cooperation between sectoral and territorial planning
activities.

To strengthen urban-rural partnerships, to promote equal position of cities
and rural areas in such partnerships by creating
o partnerships between public administration authorities in cities and in
municipalities in their rural surroundings,
o partnerships between cities and in municipalities in their rural
surroundings in the field of education,
o partnerships between the public and the non-profit sector for the
purpose of supply of social and medical services in the relevant territory,
o partnerships between cities and in municipalities in their rural
surroundings in the field of culture (renewal and maintenance of
traditions and creating new ones).

To promote the preparation of key strategic infrastructural, educational and
other projects having a positive impact on urban-rural cohesion:
o strategic infrastructural projects (“hard projects”) require an adequate
approach to their time schedule (e.g. construction procedures, definition
of responsibilities of the relevant institutions, coordination of financial
flows) and material implementation,
o strategic projects in the field of education and employment (“soft
projects”) are usually less demanding as to time and funding and their
positive impacts on urban-rural cohesion can only be seen in a longer
period of time.
To promote common exploitation of renewable sources in the territory.

To strengthen business environment within the hierarchic system by
means of:
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o promoting the establishment
organizations,
o promoting the establishment of
exchange experience, e.g. in
resources, communication with
innovation.

and
cooperation
of
professional
business networks in the territory to
marketing, tax consulting, human
public administration, research and
Based on European recommendations, to establish a database for the
assessment of urban-rural relations and to promote research of these
issues.
Local and regional level

To promote partnerships, cooperation and complementarities of urbanrural relations by means of
o organizing exchange of information and know-how among participants in
territorial development through networking between urban and rural
areas,
o enhancing partnerships within the implementation of projects and
between projects (transnational, cross-border, regional, local) aiming at
sustainable territorial development (in the form of strengthening
cooperation between subjects involved in such projects), including
integration of business and investments,
o integration of infrastructure (i.e. improvement of road, railway, air and (if
applicable) marine/river transport, establishment of municipal
infrastructure – waste water treatment plants, sewage, waste
management, the environment, including the use of renewable sources
and other infrastructural projects),
o cooperation in social services through joint use of their capacities,
o promotion of local action groups by means of the LEADER method,
which help develop rural areas in symbiosis with urban areas.
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To contribute, by exploitation of the potential of small and medium-sized
towns, to the polycentric development in the EU in the context of
promotion of harmonized development of regions in the EU by means of
o utilization of the educational potential of small and medium-sized towns
(traditional centres of secondary and tertiary education) for innovations
or research,
o fostering public services (medical and social services, secondary
schools, after-school activities of children and youth) in small and
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o
o
o
o

medium-sized towns is a prerequisite for stability of the population in
their catchment rural areas,
special public service developments based on specific settlement
patterns (e.g. scattered settlement system, areas of microvillages) to
secure proper and equal accessibility of services,
the role of cities in prevention of risks and coordination of their solution
(the integrated rescue system and its components),
tourism as one of the activities which enable the establishment and
further development of relations between small and medium-sized towns
(and their rural surroundings) by using attractiveness of the cities (their
history, culture, social and sports activities) on the one hand, and the
rural nature of the landscape for recreational purposes on the other hand
(common marketing of the territory, creation of new or innovation of
existing tourism products, etc.); in the framework of: joint tourism
development and marketing planning and branding to develop a
common place product, strengthening interconnections between already
popular, well introduced destination and touristicaly less frequented
background areas
recreational and leisure time activities of local inhabitants (sports,
culture).
To deepen coordination of available instruments of regional/local policies
focused on territorial development with the aim of increasing synergy of
urban-rural relations:
o with regard to experience with the operation of financial engineering
instruments used for coordination of various financial flows and linked to
regional and local development, it is appropriate to coordinate at the
regional/local level not only financial flows but also activities (projects) to
increase synergy of used funds.

To improve the functioning of public administration by means of “smart
public administration” by means of
o promoting the establishment of partnerships between public
administration authorities with the aim of transfer of experience in the
area of governance and application of quality models in public
administration.
To arrange at the regional/local level for collection of data relating to the
cohesion of the relevant territory.
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Diversification of activities in rural areas to prevent outmigration and
ageing processes.
Action 1.2 – TA in the Member States
Action has not started.
Action 1.2A – Polycentric cross-border metropolitan
areas
Interim expected in late 2009. Final report expected in late 2010.
Action 1.3 – TA & NSRF
Action has not started.
Action 2.1 - Cooperate with the EC to use the
activities of the TCUM
At a later stage, a summary report of the four sub-actions will elaborated.
Action 2.1A - Energy Efficiency and Renewable
energy
Report expected in late June 2009.
Action 2.1B – Climate Change
Report expected in late 2009.
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Action 2.1C – Demography
Report expected in late 2009.
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Action 2.1D – Urban Sprawl
Report expected in late June 2009.
Action 2.2 – Territorial Impacts
Source: Seminar conclusions on point 2.2 of the Action Programme for the
Implementation of the Territorial Agenda of the EU: scope the territorial
impacts of selected sectoral policies together with sectoral policy-makers and
jointly analyse the introduction of territorial impact assessment in the policy
process. (March 2009)
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For territorial assessments at EU level, the Commission is advised:

to further integrate and expand on territorial elements in existing
instruments such as the Commission’s General Impact Assessment,
instead of using additional instruments (in order to avoid red tape);

to make explicit the effects of EU policy, especially as regards timing
(short-term versus long-term), geographical impact (effects on some
territories versus others) and policy areas (effects on one policy area
versus effects on another), so as to make a well-balanced judgment
possible. In order to do this, assessments should be based on clear,
comparable, transparent indicators, to provide evidence-based pros and
cons;

to focus the assessment of EU policies on categories of territories, as it is
obvious that the impact assessments at EU level cannot go into too much
detail on the impact at regional and local level, and a one-size-fits-all
approach usually is not an efficient solution;

to make assessments cross-sectoral and to let them include, if
appropriate, relevant data on policy fields outside of EU competence in
order to reveal all effects a given sectoral policy could have on other policy
areas;

to enhance the degree of coordination within the Commission in order to
improve integrated EU policy; and

to consider whether assessments could be included in regular reviews of
EU policy.
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With respect to the use of the results of territorial assessments at EU
level, the Commission is asked:

to increase legislative flexibility by
o preferably using framework legislation at EU level while leaving as many
details as possible up to the Member States;
o focusing on targets in the wording of EU policies, while allowing Member
States to decide on how to implement the policies;
o making the assessment process itself part of EU legislation so that
Member States are able to take the best decisions for their regions
during implementation (as was done with the Floods Directive); this
might be done by giving the Member States the opportunity to assess
the policy first before developing it further.

to help improve the overall process and the communication with and
between regions and Member States by:
o providing for consultation and discussion with Member States and
regions at an early stage of policymaking and at an early stage in the
impact assessment process, and to use their creativity and flexibility;
o facilitating the exchange of best practices between Member States;
o ensuring that the assessment is of help to regions and local authorities
in the implementation phase of the EU policy; and
o organising transparent and structured loops between different
government levels to ensure a two-way flow of information about the
assessments.
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For territorial assessments to be carried out by the Member States at
national and regional level, it is advised:

to use an instrument such as a quick scan. This can help to gain insight
into the probability of serious impacts, while in some cases a more
extensive impact assessment can be useful;

to recognise that there are also territorial differences within Member States
and that it might help to group together comparable types of regions
between Member States;

to have a cross-sectoral and integrated policy approach in which
economic, social and ecological aspects are included and in which existing
development strategies of specific regions are taken into consideration;
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to assess both allocation (e.g. Cohesion Funds, CAP) and legislative
policies;

to work together as Member States and regions to develop a glossary to
enhance a common understanding of territorial impact assessments.
Furthermore the Member States and regions are suggested to use the
results of their own territorial assessments:

by organising cross-sectoral discussions at national level, as this is a
precondition for an integrated position in the EU policymaking process;

by incorporating the main findings of the territorial assessment in the
national position;

by influencing EU proposals at an early stage by submitting the
national/regional assessment to the European Commission (and others);

by organising an exchange of best practices between different regions in
Europe, especially between comparable regions, in order to find the best
way to implement an EU policy;

by using the assessment to raise awareness of territorial issues; involving
regional and local authorities at an early stage in order to detect and
mitigate negative territorial impact factors as much as possible; giving
attention to smaller interest groups with ‘softer voices’; and

by looking for positive effects of EU policies on regional and local
communities and communicating about them.
Action 2.3A – Valorisation of territorial diversity
Report expected in 2010.
Action 2.3B – European mountain areas
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Activity has not started, yet.
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Action 2.3C – European islands
Report expected in 2010.
Action 2.4 – Ministerial contributions to key dossiers
Source: Contribution of the Ministers responsible for spatial planning and the
cohesion policy. Meeting in Marseille on 26th November 2008.
From an examination of the first three key dossiers (Rural development policy,
Lisbon Strategy and Sustainable Development Strategy, in the sense of
adaptation to climate change), the Ministers agree upon the following
methodological approach to achieve the objectives of territorial cohesion:

Promote consideration of the territorial impact of sector-based policies and
major strategies at the design stage,

Improve coordination between these policies and strategies and cohesion
policy,

Increase knowledge of the territorial effects of sector-based policies and
major strategies,

Improve coordination at European and national level on territorial cohesion
issues

Support and prioritize territorial approaches and projects on the proper
scale which are consistent in terms of theme, geography or function.
More generally, they wish to see work on action 2.4 continued on this basis,
applying it to the other key dossiers (major policies and strategies) identified
by the Territorial Agenda, namely transport policy, maritime policy, research
policy, neighbourhood policy and the 7th EU Environmental Action
Programme.
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Action 2.4A – Climate change
Source: Contribution by the Ministers responsible for spatial planning and
development to the on-going public discussion on the Green Paper “Adapting
to climate change in Europe – options for EU actions”. (November 2007)
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Commit ourselves, within our means and competences, to:

highlight the importance of introducing the territorial dimension in the
issues of climate change, both at EU and national level;

put mitigation and adaptation issues of climate change into the mainstream
spatial development policy, at national, regional and local level;

promote joint transregional and integrated approaches and strategies to
risk management in order to face natural hazards, reduce and mitigate
greenhouse gas emissions and adapt to climate change.
Entrust the Expert Committee “Territorial Cohesion and Urban Matters”
through its “thematic working on climate change”, to identify and characterise
the main territorial impacts of climate change, to compare the ways in which
the Member States deal with this issue and to identify examples of good
practice that could be applied in other Member States.
Action 2.4B – Future EU Cohesion Policy
Source: Report of the working group on the future of economic and social
cohesion policy. (September 2008)
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To keep a strong Cohesion Policy and adapt it to changing disparities
and development issues

Promoting a strong Cohesion Policy that is serving its primary goal of
reducing economic and social disparities but in the mean time is able to
adapt effectively to structural changes which increase disparities and alter
the territorial balances (globalisation in the economical sense, climate
change, energy, demography/migration, social polarisation)

Clarifying the roles and relationships between the Cohesion Policy and the
various sectoral policies (agriculture, revision of the CAP, environment,
TEN, R&D…) by insisting on the coordination and knock-on role of the
Cohesion Policy. The objective would be to intervene in a more coherent
manner on territories fragmented between different objectives and different
intervention tools

Supporting the European Commission in a function of integration and
strategic coordination of policies and intervention tools
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Promoting a better coherence between national and regional planning
strategies and European guidelines and strategic documents (NRP, CSG,
NSRF, OP)

Promoting tools for a stronger coordination of the implementation of the
Cohesion Policy. Developing and using specific tools for assessment and
performance evaluation in order to better reflect the combined impact of
the Cohesion Policy and other public policies on territories

Better take into account relations with the regions outside the EU and
adjust the European Neighbourhood Policy in order to develop actions
more suited to these cooperation areas
Better cope with and benefit from the effects of globalisation in the
economical sense

Better adapt actions aimed to promote innovation to the profile of regions,
to their economic structure and human capital (highly urbanized regions,
peripheral regions, sparsely populated areas, outermost regions…)

When creating or upgrading infrastructures, facilities or equipments,
ensuring that the projects are properly integrated in broader socioeconomic development strategies coherent with the long term perspectives
of territories and regions

Generalising the use of Regional innovation strategies which are now
developed in some European regions in order to better evaluate their
potentials and elaborate more appropriate actions involving public
authorities and private stakeholders

Strengthen the territorial dimension of measures in favour of employment
and training so as to better connect competences and labour markets of
specific regions, territories, urban or rural areas...

Improve the coherence between the content and orientations of ERDF and
ESF programmes
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Supporting and encouraging the regions, through the Cohesion Policy,
to anticipate the consequences of the global challenges and to benefits
from new opportunities

Emphasizing the role of territories in providing concrete responses to the
effects of the global challenges
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Giving a greater emphasis to the work launched by ESPON and by certain
Member States concerning the development of indicators, analyses and
scenarios that can reflect accurately the impact of the global challenges

Better understanding and assessing the strengths and weaknesses of
regions in front of the global challenges and globalisation in the
economical sense. Promote territorial prospective studies (scenarios for
the future of the territories) and better articulate the work done at
European, transnational, national and regional levels (surveys, statistical
analyses…)

Moving from a static to a dynamic and prospective vision of development
by integrating risk situations and potential effects of major challenges
when designing development strategies

Promoting more evolutionary forms of European programmes (to improve
and speed up the system used for programme revision for example)
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Better exploit the added value of territorial approaches

Strengthen in the strategy papers and programming documents (CSG,
NSRF, OP) the territorial dimension of interventions. Adapt the design and
implementation of projects to a better use of territorial potentials. Integrate
in these documents the concepts of integrated project, strategic or
territorial project

Strengthening the coordination function and the transversal dimension of
the Cohesion Policy by deepening the debate on the specific role of each
fund and on the way to better articulate or merge them (ERDF, ESF,
EAFRD).

Encouraging the further establishment of flexible governance systems
(within Member States)

Continue and deepen the work done by ESPON on indicators and
analyses to better reflect regional dynamics and development potentials of
territories. Improve tools available for the elaboration of territorial
development strategies. Better adapt indicators and analyses to the
particular situation of regions with geographical specificities

Foresee within programming documents targeted strategic initiatives
related to development issues considered as especially important for subregional territories
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To strengthen territorial cooperation and better coordinate development
strategies

Better adapting and strengthening the position of the objective of Territorial
Cooperation within the Cohesion Policy (in coherence with the results of
the evaluation of the 2000-2013 period) so as to take into account the
effects of the major challenges at the most appropriate territorial scales
and to help the territories benefiting from them in order to be better
positioned in the global context

Improving the coherence of the strategies and priorities between the
objective of Territorial Cooperation and the objectives of Convergence and
Regional competitiveness and employment, and sectoral policies (better
coordinate the drafting of the documents and agree on shared approach of
development and objectives)

Provide more flexibility in defining the areas of cross-border cooperation
(flexibility between NUTSII, NUTSIII regions).

Developing interregional programmes within Member States able to better
take into account the difficulties and/or opportunities of regions facing
specific common challenges (geographical, social, economic, climatic
specificities)

Define the content of cooperation programmes at the borders of the Union
in a more concerted way in order to better take into account the common
priorities and constraints of EU and external regions. Better combine
internal and external needs.
Action 2.4C – Rural Development Policy
Source: Progress report on Action 2.4. Prepare and promote contributions of
the Ministers to the debate on the most relevant EU key dossiers from the
point of view of sustainable spatial development and territorial cohesion
(November 2008).
Territorial dimension of the common agricultural policy
bv01s 2006-11-20

To better take into account the territorial cohesion objective in the
Common agricultural policy, as well as in the other sector-based policies
with a strong territorial impact.
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To undertake at the European Union level detailed studies and prospective
analysis on effects for the rural areas of the internal and external change
affecting the agricultural activity (territorial impact studies). The common
agricultural policy could better take into account the diversity of the
European territories, anticipate the territorial impacts which it generates,
and correct the possible imbalances identified, including in their
relationship with cities.
Strategic approach of the rural areas

To acquire precise definitions and tools, harmonized at the European level,
with the view to better understanding the diversity of the European rural
areas. Eurostat, ESPON and National Statistical Institutes, in cooperation
with the Commission and the Member States could substantially develop
the existing indicators in order to deal with European space more finely. In
certain case, the European nomenclature of statistical territorial units
(NUTS IV) could be developed.
Coordination of the Community support

To favour an integrated approach of the rural issues. To favour the
adoption of comprehensive strategies for rural development enabling the
integration of the various policies that have a significant rural impact, at the
European, national and regional level, addressing also the specific needs
of the more vulnerable rural areas.

To have, at the European level, a specific and complete assessment of
how the rural areas benefit from the Structural Funds.

To analyze at the European Union level if it is appropriate to harmonize the
management rules of the European funds concerning rural areas in order
to facilitate a coordinated implementation of the various European policies.

To support the development in each Member State of a governance
method which would ensure a flexible coordination, vertically between the
national, regional and local levels, and horizontally between the different
sectors. To promote exchanges of good practices and governance
arrangements between the Member States.
bv01s 2006-11-20
Source: Development of rural territories. Action 2.4C (unknown date)
2009-07-27
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Therefore, following the common declaration adopted by the 27 Ministers for
spatial planning in Marseilles, it is necessary to aim at the following objectives,
and suggest tools that could be used to achieve those objectives.
Strategic approach of the rural areas

Eurostat, ESPON and National Statistical Institutes, in cooperation with the
Commission and the Member States could substantially develop the
existing indicators in order to deal with European space more finely. In
certain case, the European nomenclature of statistical territorial units
(NUTS III and NUTS IV for the Member States for whom it is relevant)
could be developed, and assess the need for new indicators.

A research work aiming at a better knowledge of the evolution of rural
territories’ functions could be achieved.
Coordination of the Community support

To encourage the adoption of comprehensive strategies for rural
development, including in their relationship with cities, enabling the
integration of the various policies, that have a significant rural impact and
especially cohesion policy, at the European, national, regional and local
level, addressing also the specific needs of the more vulnerable rural
areas. Those strategies have to be linked with other territorial strategies.

To have, at the European level, a specific and complete assessment of
how the rural areas benefit from the Structural Funds. Member States
could also do so at national level.

To analyze at the European Union level if it is appropriate to harmonize the
management rules of the European funds concerning rural areas in order
to facilitate a coordinated implementation of the various European policies.
Territorial dimension of the common agricultural policy
bv01s 2006-11-20

To undertake at the European Union level detailed studies and prospective
analysis on effects for the rural areas of the internal and external change
affecting the agricultural activity (territorial impact studies). Existing studies
shall be taken into account. The common agricultural policy could better
take into account the diversity of the European territories and anticipate
the territorial impacts which it generates.
Governance of rural areas
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To promote and encourage the coordination of the main European policies
which have a rural impact, from the creation stage until the implementation
one.

To support the development in each Member State of a governance
method which would ensure a flexible coordination, vertically between the
national, regional and local levels, and horizontally between the different
sectors.

To promote exchanges of good practices and governance arrangements
between the Member States.
Action 2.4D – Sustainable Development Strategy
(November 2008).
Revised version: The sustainable development strategy after 2011. Action
2.4D. (unknown date)
Promoting integrated territorial strategies for sustainable development
and the principle of eco-conditionality:

Scope the ways for a strengthening of the territorial dimension, by taking
into account the territorial dimension on different levels, in the
implementation of the objectives of the European Sustainable
Development Strategy, within the framework of territorial integrated
sustainable strategies linking policies aiming at mitigation of impacts and
adaptation to climate change.

Examine in the field of Spatial Planning, urban development and of the
Cohesion Policy, the ways to define and promote a principle of ecoconditionality, with the view to favour the least GHG gas emitting projects,
and not only GHG, and which will have the least forecasted impact on
climate and the environment.
bv01s 2006-11-20
Considering territorial dimension and variability of the impacts of climate
change in view of territorial cohesion:
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Study how governments could better consider the diversity and
differentiated potential of the territories (NUTS 2 level) when implementing
Community objectives determined for each MS as regards energy and the
fight against climate change.

Examine the options to improve the definition and use of tools to measure
CO2 emissions at local, national and European level, as well as the tools
of prospective and forecasting of economical and social impacts of climate
change, in order to compare individual territories’ situations and to support
the development of territorial strategies for sustainable development.
Enhancing the articulation between the European Sustainable
Development Strategy and the Cohesion Policy, as well as with other
community policies:
Assess the consequences of a strengthening of the support provided by
the Cohesion Policy for innovative initiatives oriented towards sustainable
development, namely the projects contributing the best to the fight against
greenhouse effect and those that contribute to territories’ global
adaptation. Cohesion policy projects, as well as sector policies, should be
better evaluated in terms of their impact on climate change, in close
cooperation with stakeholders.

Examine how objectives of mitigation and adaptation to climate change
could be integrated in the intra-community programmes of cooperation and
with the neighbourhood relations of the European Union, in order to target
the relevant territories and to contribute to territorial cohesion in a crosssectoral approach.

More generally, explore the ways, within the scope of the coming debates
on the future of the Cohesion Policy and the Lisbon Strategy, for an
improved coherence of objectives between the Cohesion Policy, the
Lisbon Strategy and the Sustainable Development Strategy, in particular in
terms of innovation, human capital, training and employment. Such
coherence would favour ashould be pursued with the objective of a better
coordination of actions on territories and of a balanced sustainable
territorial development of the EU, taking into account territorial diversity
and the enhancing of territorial cohesion.
bv01s 2006-11-20

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Action 2.4E – Transport
bv01s 2006-11-20
(November 2008).

The transport networks in Europe are up to now still predominantly
nationally oriented. The networks, especially the Trans European
Networks – Transport (TENT) should generate a European added value.
Common efforts have to be undertaken to meet with the modern
challenges like the growth of transport flows and growing transit traffic. In
order to enhance a cross-national thinking we recommend in particular a
mutual exchange of national data and plans of transport networks and
discussions about them. Existing possibilities for cooperation at
transnational and European levels should be used without changing the
existing competences.

The further development of transport planning and infrastructure,
especially in the TEN-T networks is necessary in order to support territorial
cohesion in Europe. Spatial planning and development can contribute to
these aims by an integrated land use planning approach, which addresses
for instance the localisation of institutions and activities with an spatial
impact, the accessibility to information by ICT and the consideration of
special land use activities like tourism. The specific challenges of mountain
areas, islands, sparsely populated peripheral or densely populated regions
and their requirements to access global markets have also to be taken into
account as the specific challenges of sensitive areas (e.g. urban areas and
their surroundings as knots and bottlenecks of the TEN-T).

A common objective would be to contribute to a more efficient building up
and maintaining of transport networks, which can cope with the increasing
transport flows within the European Union as well as in the neighbouring
states and the growing transit traffic and which can also help avoiding
unnecessary traffic and reducing heavy congestions while being
environmentally acceptable. The territorial dimension of the EU transport
policy should be taken stronger into consideration, especially when
deciding on the further development of the TEN-T networks as a network
for long distance transport and their links to secondary networks.

Models which serve relief and shifting aims and which are oriented
towards comodality, are an important building block of a sustainable
2009-07-27
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transport policy. They should be complemented states with a strategic
territorial development orientation. This approach should also take into
consideration regional development and a balanced distribution of qualified
connections on the basis of a polycentric system, which contributes to the
realisation of the Lisbon goals. Levels of connecting functions and qualities
should be defined on a basis of existing classifications of important
European centres and be used as criteria for decisions on the further
development of the TEN-T networks and their links to secondary networks.
These linkages of the TEN-T network with regional transport networks
should cover the main focus of the spatial planning and development. A
strategic territorial development orientation based on the ESDP and the
TAEU will help to improve the effectiveness of the TEN-T policy.

The future TEN-T planning should use the strategic territorial development
orientation (model of a polycentric development of the EU) and the results
of transnational (Interreg, EFRE objective 3) and other bilateral territorial
cooperation for the further development of the methodology of this
approach. The European spatial development observation under the
ESPON 2013 programme should be regarded as an instrument, which
should be used to further develop criteria for assessing the territorial
dimension of the transport infrastructure network. Raising awareness for
the territorial dimension in the EU transport policy post 2010 should be
considered as a political task of the Ministers responsible for spatial
planning and development and the forthcoming discussions on the above
lines of action should consider the way to deliver the futures resulting
contributions to the Council Transport, Telecommunication and Energy
and to the European Commission as a common contribution to the ongoing discussion on the future transport policy.
Action 2.4E – Lisbon Process post 2010
Sources: Progress report on Action 2.4. Prepare and promote contributions of
(November 2008).
bv01s 2006-11-20
Revised version: The Lisbon Process after 2010. Action 2.4F. (unknown date)
Assessing the impact of the Lisbon Strategy on territories, strengthening
the involvement of stakeholders and supporting territorial strategies for
growth and employment adapted to territories’ potentials
2009-07-27
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Examine the ways to include in annual Progress Reports of Member
States on the implementation and impact of their National Reform
Programmes, more data and qualitative elements referring to territorial
impacts of reforms, at the relevant sub-national territorial level for each
Member State, with a view to a better assessment of the territorial impact
of the Lisbon Strategy and the achievement of its objectives on territories.
This should lead to a better reporting and not to increase the
administrative burden.

Study the options for improving the involvement of local and regional
authorities, without increasing the administrative burden, within the next
Community process of reviewing of the Integrated Guidelines and, at
national level, within the process of drafting the NRPs. Future Integrated
Guidelines should be flexible enough to adapt to national and regional
situations.

Assess the impacts of orientating in the future a larger part of structural
funds to an enhancement of the economical, social, environmental and
territorial prospective capacity of each territory, in order to support the
development of territorial integrated strategies adapted to their needs and
potentials and to allow a better assessment of the territorial impacts of
various policies and reforms. This assessment should be done at different
levels and with the objective of a better coordination of policies.

Precise the ways to improve the definition and the use of common
methodology and indicators, in coherence with the ongoing works led
notably by the ESPON network, of the Lisbon Methodology working group
and by through other current initiatives, in order to collect and map data
related to the territorial impacts of the Lisbon Strategy, as well as to allow
analysis and comparisons between territories.
bv01s 2006-11-20
Promoting innovation for all territories and a polycentric development of
clusters

Examine to what extent Commission’s initiatives (such as PRO INNO
Europe, INNOVA, INTERACT, Regions of Knowledge) designed in support
of innovation and clusters cold include specific advantages for networks of
clusters which integrate small or medium clusters located in the regions
lagging behind.

Study the ways to promote all forms of “innovation” allowing all territories
to enhance their specific capacity for development and the need for
differentiated sector-based cluster policies, taking into account the
2009-07-27
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differences of potentials, political priorities and regional systems between
Member States.

Assess the advantages of creating a network of human building and
capacity oriented towards SMEs, in link with existing structures, in order to
facilitate the dissemination of the culture of all forms of innovation towards
SMEs.
Reinforcing the articulation between the Lisbon Strategy and the
Cohesion Policy, as well as with other community policies

Examine the ways of a strengthening of the articulation between the
Cohesion Policy and, the Lisbon Strategy and the Sustainable
development strategy in view of the next discussions on these keydossiers, insofar as this articulation is beneficial to those both policies and
contribute to the achievement of the growth and employment Community
objectives, along with global and balanced development of EU regions.
Action 3.1A – Strategy to promote transparent
decision making
Activity has not started, yet.
Action 3.1B – Common understanding of integrated
territorial development
Cf. Action 2.4.
Action 3.2 – Agreement with relevant stakeholders
This activity lead to actual agreement and not to any recommendations.
Action 3.2A – Urban development priorities
bv01s 2006-11-20
This activity just started in 2009.
2009-07-27
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Action 3.2B – Impacts of climate change
Results are expected in 2009.
Action 4.1 – Knowledge platform
This activity just starts/started in 2009.
Action 4.2 – Monitoring support
This activity just starts in 2009.
Action 4.3 – Update of the Territorial State and
Perspectives
Action 5.1 – Coordination of the Action Programme
This activity does not develop recommendations.
Action 5.2 – Communication strategy
This activity does not develop recommendations.
Action 5.3 – Evaluation and review of the Territorial
Agenda
bv01s 2006-11-20
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