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

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

3. 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

4. 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

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

6. 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.”

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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