Posts

Integrated maps supporting soft cross-border cooperation

The cross-border area around Luxembourg, the Greater Region, developed a tool with integrated maps to stimulate discussions and exchange on spatial planning. The cross-border area around Luxembourg, the Greater Region, developed a tool with integrated maps to stimulate discussions and exchange on spatial planning.

May 24, 2022 May 24, 2022

Europe’s transition to a sustainable bioeconomy

In the light of climate change, the future lies in a sustainable bioeconomy. 194 regions in the EU have strategies related to bioeconomy. Where to they lead us? In the light of climate change, the future lies in a sustainable bioeconomy. 194 regions in the EU have strategies related to bioeconomy. Where to they lead us?

May 16, 2022 May 16, 2022

Europe if…

What would Europe look like if GDP were replaced by a quality of life index? Different possible answers were explored in an interactive role-play workshop. What would Europe look like if GDP were replaced by a quality of life index? Different possible answers were explored in an interactive role-play workshop.

May 11, 2022 May 11, 2022

Empowering future-wise small urban areas

Supporting small urban areas to boost their capacities will help that more of them remain being attractive places which play a role in Europe’s settlement pattern. Supporting small urban areas to boost their capacities will help that more of them remain being attractive places which play a role in Europe’s settlement pattern.

April 28, 2022 April 28, 2022

Rural proofing – do it future-wise

Shaping a European approach to rural proofing, one should learn from territorial impact assessment and Including elements of territorial foresight. Shaping a European approach to rural proofing, one should learn from territorial impact assessment and Including elements of territorial foresight.

April 24, 2022 April 24, 2022

Regional sensitivities to the consequences of the war in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine will affect local and regional development beyond the Ukraine. What implications does the war have on regional development perspectives in the EU? The war in Ukraine will affect local and regional development beyond the Ukraine. What implications does the war have on regional development perspectives in the EU?

April 12, 2022 April 12, 2022

Demographic decline will influence territorial futures

If we fast forward to 2050, demographic decline is expected to consolidate and expand to new territories, so called blind spots of future shrinkage. If we fast forward to 2050, demographic decline is expected to consolidate and expand to new territories, so called blind spots of future shrinkage.

March 29, 2022 March 29, 2022

#EuropeIf …

On 06 May we run an online role-play workshop on the future of Europe. Imagine Europe in 2050. What if GDP is replaced by a quality of life index? Register now! On 06 May we run an online role-play workshop on the future of Europe. Imagine Europe in 2050. What if GDP is replaced by a quality of life index? Register now!

March 24, 2022 March 24, 2022

Territorial Thinkers' Reflections on the 8th Cohesion Report

The 8th Cohesion Report is an important and welcome 'springboard' for developing cohesion policy further and debating policy ideas. Here some territorial reflections. The 8th Cohesion Report is an important and welcome 'springboard' for developing cohesion policy further and debating policy ideas. Here some territorial reflections.

March 15, 2022 March 15, 2022

Europe if…

On 06 May we run an online role-play workshop on the future of Europe. Imagine Europe in 2050. What if GDP is replaced by a quality of life index? Do you want to join? On 06 May we run an online role-play workshop on the future of Europe. Imagine Europe in 2050. What if GDP is replaced by a quality of life index? Do you want to join?

February 25, 2022 February 25, 2022 3 reactions

European Cohesion in 2050?

The 8th Cohesion Report is a great possibility to start a discussion on how people understand cohesion and what their visions for a Europe in 2050 are. The 8th Cohesion Report is a great possibility to start a discussion on how people understand cohesion and what their visions for a Europe in 2050 are.

February 17, 2022 February 17, 2022

Trends affecting territorial development in the Danube, Adriatic &…

The ten trends considered by the stakeholder in the region to affect territorial development most in the coming decades provide a glimpse of the territorial diversity. The ten trends considered by the stakeholder in the region to affect territorial development most in the coming decades provide a glimpse of the territorial diversity.

February 8, 2022 February 8, 2022

Green transition needs cross-border public transport

As about 1/3 of the population in the EU lives in border regions, cross-border public transport is important for cohesion and the transition to a green and just future. As about 1/3 of the population in the EU lives in border regions, cross-border public transport is important for cohesion and the transition to a green and just future.

February 1, 2022 February 1, 2022 1 reaction

COVID-19 impacts by types of regions

To what degree vary sensitivities to COVID-19 responses between types of regions, e.g. urban, rural, sparsely populated, coastal, mountain, border or island regions? To what degree vary sensitivities to COVID-19 responses between types of regions, e.g. urban, rural, sparsely populated, coastal, mountain, border or island regions?

January 21, 2022 January 21, 2022 2 reactions

Social enterprises for Europe’s transition

Social enterprises can help the transitions to a green and just Europe, building on place-based approaches and contributing to social and territorial cohesion. Social enterprises can help the transitions to a green and just Europe, building on place-based approaches and contributing to social and territorial cohesion.

January 14, 2022 January 14, 2022

Prepared for population decline?

Shrinking places are a growing challenge for European municipalities, regions and even countries. They do not necessarily need to be places in a vicious downward circle. Shrinking places are a growing challenge for European municipalities, regions and even countries. They do not necessarily need to be places in a vicious downward circle.

January 10, 2022 January 10, 2022 1 reaction

Border obstacles to the integration of the Western Balkans

Most border obstacles have severe negative impacts on the development potential of border areas. Reducing them can boost EU integration cohesion in the Western Balkans. Most border obstacles have severe negative impacts on the development potential of border areas. Reducing them can boost EU integration cohesion in the Western Balkans.

December 16, 2021 December 16, 2021

COVID-19 impacts our lives – mainly temporarily

To what degree does the pandemic affect long-term trends? Although the pandemic has changed our lives in the short-term, its effects in the long-run seem to be less. To what degree does the pandemic affect long-term trends? Although the pandemic has changed our lives in the short-term, its effects in the long-run seem to be less.

December 12, 2021 December 12, 2021

The EU long-term vision for rural areas

The EU long-term vision for rural areas is a great step forward. Learning from it, a long-term vision for the full EU territory could improve policy making. The EU long-term vision for rural areas is a great step forward. Learning from it, a long-term vision for the full EU territory could improve policy making.

November 24, 2021 November 24, 2021

COVID-19 impacts regional disparities

The COVID-19 pandemic risks to widen spatial inequalities in Europe. These increase when going beyond measurable indicators and looking at different types of places. The COVID-19 pandemic risks to widen spatial inequalities in Europe. These increase when going beyond measurable indicators and looking at different types of places.

November 18, 2021 November 18, 2021

Tourism regions from pandemic shock to a new normal

The tourism sector is severely hit by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. For many tourist areas it will take years before they are back to pre-pandemic level. The tourism sector is severely hit by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. For many tourist areas it will take years before they are back to pre-pandemic level.

November 8, 2021 November 8, 2021

Cohesion Spirit Compass

To stop further fragmentation and disintegration, Europe must rethink cohesion and act on it. The ‘Cohesion Spirit Compass’ proposes nine concrete steps for this. To stop further fragmentation and disintegration, Europe must rethink cohesion and act on it. The ‘Cohesion Spirit Compass’ proposes nine concrete steps for this.

November 2, 2021 November 2, 2021

People’s well-being as mission for Europe

Can a stronger policy focus on people’s quality of life help cohesion and reverse the increasing fragmentation and conflicts between societal groups and places in Europe? Can a stronger policy focus on people’s quality of life help cohesion and reverse the increasing fragmentation and conflicts between societal groups and places in Europe?

October 25, 2021 October 25, 2021

A rightful place for territorial cohesion in the European Commission

Derek Martin & Peter Schön argue that improving the governance of territorial cohesion within the Commission is a crucial cross-sectoral aim for the future of the EU. Derek Martin & Peter Schön argue that improving the governance of territorial cohesion within the Commission is a crucial cross-sectoral aim for the future of the EU.

October 12, 2021 October 12, 2021

A spatial vision in the making: Baltic Sea Region 2040

What can be a desirable future for the Baltic Sea Region? Contribute to shaping a desired future so that we can build back our policies better for the next generations. What can be a desirable future for the Baltic Sea Region? Contribute to shaping a desired future so that we can build back our policies better for the next generations.

October 8, 2021 October 8, 2021 1 reaction

Cohesion – integration – solidarity

European cohesion, integration and solidarity needs stronger interpersonal ties across Europe, i.e. cohesion, integration and solidarity between us as individuals. European cohesion, integration and solidarity needs stronger interpersonal ties across Europe, i.e. cohesion, integration and solidarity between us as individuals.

September 24, 2021 September 24, 2021

Imagine European governance and integration by 2050

First insights of an ongoing scenario project display four extreme cases of European governance and integration. What European integration we want and how to enable it? First insights of an ongoing scenario project display four extreme cases of European governance and integration. What European integration we want and how to enable it?

September 13, 2021 September 13, 2021

What if European integration were guided by a spatial vision?

Scenarios of different European pasts can help to illustrate how polices can shape European integration and support a future for all places and people in Europe. Scenarios of different European pasts can help to illustrate how polices can shape European integration and support a future for all places and people in Europe.

September 3, 2021 September 3, 2021 1 reaction

Cohesion is Europe's future

Territorial cohesion, as both (socio-) economic and political policy aim, is at the very heart of Europe's future. Therefore, we need clarity on what it actually is. Territorial cohesion, as both (socio-) economic and political policy aim, is at the very heart of Europe's future. Therefore, we need clarity on what it actually is.

August 20, 2021 August 20, 2021 1 reaction

What do we mean by cohesion?

As imbalances between people and places increase, there is more and more talk about cohesion. What do we actually aim for when we refer to cohesion? As imbalances between people and places increase, there is more and more talk about cohesion. What do we actually aim for when we refer to cohesion?

August 19, 2021 August 19, 2021