ESPON, the European Spatial Planning Observatory Network The ESDP European Spatial Development Perspective ESPON, the European Spatial Planning Observatory Network

TERRITORIAL TRENDS The core-periphery pattern “Central” “Intermediate” “Peripheral”

TERRITORIAL TRENDS The core-periphery pattern Population density L P M H The “pentagon”: (London, Paris, Milano, München, Hamburg) 20 % of territory 40 % of population 50 % of GDP

TERRITORIAL TRENDS EU policies with territorial impact Main policy fields Structural and Cohesion Funds Trans European Networks Research and Technology Competition Common Agricultural Policy Environment

TERRITORIAL TRENDS Main tendencies Geographical concentration Imbalances in innovation Disparities, congestion and changes in accessibility Environmental concerns - problems and development assets

The ESDP A policy response Article 158- Amsterdam Treaty “In order to promote its overall harmonious developments, the Community shall develop and pursue its actions leading to the strengthening of its economic and social cohesion.”

The ESDP A policy response Need for a strategy to guide the development of the European territory - response to territorial trends - co-ordination of spatial impacts of policies to ensure territorial cohesion - forthcoming enlargement - challenges of globalisation

The ESDP The main principles Based on intergovernmental consensus A non-binding policy document Built on the principle of subsidiarity Democratically validated Lead to operational results

The ESDP The main principles Political consensus Interlinks the following 3 goals : - Economic and social cohesion - Sustainable development - More balanced competitiveness of the European territory

The ESDP What is the ESDP? A joint vision guiding the development of the European territory - promoting a balanced and polycentric European territory - preparing for the new spatial perspective of an enlarged Europe

The ESDP What is the ESDP? Geographical integration of policies - at European-wide, transnational, national, regional and local levels Horizontal co-operation - between sectoral policies Vertical co-operation - between the various tiers of government

The ESDP Policy guidelines for spatial development Polycentric spatial development and a new urban/rural relationship Parity of access to infrastructure and knowledge Wise management of the natural and cultural heritage

ESDP implementation: the ESPON co-operation to improve the understanding of the diversity of the EU territory to specify the implications of ESDP policy options on transnational spaces to place at the disposal of national and regional actors the tools necessary for applying ESDP policy options

ESDP implementation: the ESPON co-operation to better understand the territorial consequences of Community and national sectoral policies to clarify how territorial decisions taken at Community, national, regional and local levels can be better co-ordinated to bridge the gap between policy makers, administrators and scientists

ESDP implementation ESPON research strategy databases, indicators and map-making for quantitative analysis and modelling, for forecast and scenario development thematic studies (spatial developments, policy impact, integrated studies) spatial development of an enlarged EU

ESDP implementation ESPON -Thematic studies on important spatial developments Cities, polycentric development and urban rural relations Parity of access to infrastructure and knowledge Natural and cultural heritage

ESDP implementation ESPON - Policy impact studies The territorial effects of sector policies New territorial aspects of the Structural Funds and related Funds Institutions and instruments of spatial policies

ESDP implementation ESPON : Coordinated cross-thematic studies Integrated tools (indicators and databases) for the European spatial development Spatial scenarios and orientations for the ESDP and the Cohesion Policy