Policy pointers for European lake regions

February 2023

In December we discussed why it makes sense to pay more attention to large lake regions in Europe (see earlier blog post (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre)). This blogpost discusses concrete steps that could be taken to this end. We present policy pointers for a better management of large European lake regions, all drawn from the ESPON LAKES (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) project. These policy pointers are organised in four dimensions, which respectively address regional integration, land-lake integration, policy integration, vertical integration and European integration.

We then propose some concrete steps that lake region authorities and stakeholders could take right now. Each step is described in terms of required efforts and potential benefits.

Regional integration

Regional integration focuses on possibilities to mobilise EU funds for local and regional development, SME support, R&D&I and cross-border cooperation. An INTERREG Europe project could be set up to improve lake region stakeholders’ capacities in this respect. In more general terms, the following is needed:

• Use EU funding to promote sustainable development. Sustainable development is an important policy objective in large lake regions. Lake regions should make use of EU Cohesion policy funding and the 'Next Generation EU' recovery instrument to support connectivity, SME competitiveness and environmental protection.

• Increase the use of integrated tools with EU Cohesion Policy. Specific tools such as Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI), CLLD and other territorial strategies have proved effective in supporting sustainable development in various territorial contexts. Using these tools around large lakes could meet expectations from local stakeholders to be involved in implementing EU funds.

• Support cooperation beyond national borders. European territorial cooperation can support the implementation of projects in cross-border lake regions (Interreg A) as well as provide resources for lake-related transnational projects. Applying the European Grouping of Territorial Cooperation instrument (EGTC) and the European cross-border mechanism (ECBM) could support services of general interest in lake regions.

Land-lake integration

Land-lake integration is about improving synergies between policies that focus on water and water bodies, and on terrestrial development. The Water Framework Directive has made it compulsory to establish river and lake basin management plans that integrate environmental goals, social concerns and economic factors. Over two decades of experience setting up participative approaches (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) to this end could be better capitalised on for integrated lake region development.

• Promote integrated land-lake management. planning requires assessing critical land-lake interactions related to social, economic and ecosystem-based activities. The principle of Integrated Coastal Zone Management (ICZM) applied in coastal regions and the ecosystem approach could both promote integration.

Policy integration

Policy integration is promoted to challenge silo mentality among sectoral actors in the context of lake region. A wide range of actors need to be mobilised to preserve aquatic ecosystem and ensure continued access to unpolluted freshwater in sufficient quantities throughout the year. Mobilisation to reach this essential objective may also help to address other aspects of balanced and sustainable development in lake regions.

• Strengthen the role of spatial planning in policy coordination. The limited availability of land around large lakes requires cross-sectoral trade-offs. Preparing a spatial plan for a lake region could trigger interactions between policy sectors and prospective thinking.

• Capitalise on integrated river basin management practices. EU large lakes are part of wider river basins whose activities are monitored through river basin management plans. Lake regions should capitalise on communities responsible for these plans to implement sustainable development beyond a strict understanding of water management.

• Establish and support lake-centred economic clusters. They can create additional value from lake resources, and the lake can be a catalyst (a common reference) to strengthen sectoral interactions.

Vertical integration

Two essential objectives are pursued under the heading ‘Vertical integration’. On the hand, to ensure that higher level authorities recognise the specificities of lake regions and consider them when they design sectoral policies. On the other hand, to empower local actors to interact with decision makers at the national and European levels.

• Link large lake regions to the Territorial Agenda 2030. The Territorial Agenda 2030 (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre)is a European strategic policy document for spatial planning and territorial development. A new pilot action with a focus on lake regions could be developed and launched with the next round of Territorial Agenda 2030 pilot actions. This would highlight the specificity of large lake regions in Europe and support place-based solutions in them.

• Illustrate contributions to policy goals. Highlighting the contribution of lake regions to EU or global policy goals would help to position lake regions in broader policy discourses. Two examples are the UN Sustainable Development Goals (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) and Territorial Agenda 2030. This could be done by screening local and regional strategies, communication and a monitoring system for these regions.

• Empower local and regional players through capacity building. policies entails new requirements, especially for local and regional authorities. These include ensuring capacity to implement EU policies. In addition, different programmes and arenas could be mobilised by lake regions such as the EU Policy Learning Platform, Technical Assistance and Information Exchange (TAIEX), the Smart Specialisation Platform and the EC Urban Development Network.

European integration

European integration partly addresses the same types of needs with a specific focus on European Union policy debates and institutions. However, it is also about establishing EU-wide forums of exchange and dialogue between proponents of integrated sustainable development in lake region.

• Raise a voice in Brussels. Having a unique voice in the EU policy debate could help lake regions to promote their interests in EU institutions. These regions could establish an association and set up a contact point, secretariat or office in Brussels. Such an association would provide a network for exchanging experiences, support lake-related events and be a contact point for EU expertise

• Promote European exchange and learning. Exchange arenas and dialogue platforms can bring together local or regional development practitioners. An online platform for integrated lake development, working on joint projects and ensuring visibility at major EU events could raise interest and keep the discussion alive on the future of lake regions.

Four concrete next steps

As an input to discussions among authorities and stakeholders of large lake regions, the ESPON Lakes study also proposed four possible concrete next steps, inspired by the recommendations above :

•  Communicate on how integrated strategies for Lake Regions could help reach overall objectives of EU and UN strategies such as the Territorial Agenda 2030 and the UN Sustainable Development Goals. This would be a “low cost” option to help make authorities and policy makers aware of lake regions.

• Actively engage with regional and national EU programmes, including programmes funded by the European Structural and Investment Finds (ESIF) and by Horizon Europe. The objective would be to address the most pressing issues and policy gaps. This would require some effort, but with significant potential benefits.

• Develop pilot actions (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) focused on large lakes and territorial development in the framework of the Territorial Agenda 2030. Such pilot actions could for example focus on “land-lake interaction”, “synergies between spatial planning and water management” and “climate change”. However, the ratio between efforts required and potential benefits may be less favourable than for the previous proposal.

• The most ambitious next step would be to set up a networking platform for European lake regions, for example with support from the Interreg Europe programme (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre). This could significantly contribute to capacity building in large lake regions. It would also raise awareness on the importance of addressing large lake issues across Europe. However, major coordinated efforts would be needed. A key question would be – who would be prepared to initiate such a process?

Lake regions are important for Europe´s biodiversity, climate change adaptation, economic prosperity and social well-being. The above proposals offer first steppingstones to ensure that lake regions can play these roles fully also in the future. EU authorities could support them by developing synergies between existing policies to support balanced regional development (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre) and Water Framework Directive implementation (S'ouvre dans une nouvelle fenêtre).

by Erik Gløersen