How to consider future generations? What we do today affects future generations, i.e. all people who will come after us. We have a moral responsibility to hand over a world full of opportunities to them. What we do today affects future generations, i.e. all people who will come after us. We have a moral responsibility to hand over a world full of opportunities to them.
A vision for the development of the Baltic Sea Region in 2040 What can be a desirable future for the Baltic Sea Region? VASAB has developed new and ambitious vision for a sustainable, digital and just transition of the region. What can be a desirable future for the Baltic Sea Region? VASAB has developed new and ambitious vision for a sustainable, digital and just transition of the region.
Western Balkan Just Green Transition Just green transition is an important topic for the Western Balkan, one of the regions in Europe expected to be most heavily affected by the impact of climate change. Just green transition is an important topic for the Western Balkan, one of the regions in Europe expected to be most heavily affected by the impact of climate change.
State of the art and perspectives for functional area approaches This blogpost challenges linear approaches to functional areas. It argues for involving bring relevant players from a given territory when defining functional areas. This blogpost challenges linear approaches to functional areas. It argues for involving bring relevant players from a given territory when defining functional areas.
Planning for territorial resilience Resilience relies heavily on territorial governance capacities. The question is, how to improve governance processes and plan for resilience in different types of places. Resilience relies heavily on territorial governance capacities. The question is, how to improve governance processes and plan for resilience in different types of places.
Preparing for unexpected future events In the current debates, various types of resilience are mixed. To better prepare for unexpected future events, we need to differentiate a few types of resilience. In the current debates, various types of resilience are mixed. To better prepare for unexpected future events, we need to differentiate a few types of resilience.
Territorial Cohesion: the new core of Cohesion Policy post-2027 The EU is in the process of reflecting on Cohesion Policy after 2027. The Territorial Thinkers rargue for making territorial cohesion the core of future Cohesion Policy The EU is in the process of reflecting on Cohesion Policy after 2027. The Territorial Thinkers rargue for making territorial cohesion the core of future Cohesion Policy
Synergy Potential: Unlocking the power of collaboration In times of declining financial means, it is important to have a closer look at potential synergies between policies. The question is how to identify synergy potential. In times of declining financial means, it is important to have a closer look at potential synergies between policies. The question is how to identify synergy potential.
What cohesion (policy) post 2027? Cohesion policy is a necessary but not sufficient ingredients to achieve cohesion. The debate on the future of cohesion policy post 2027 touches on fundamental issues. Cohesion policy is a necessary but not sufficient ingredients to achieve cohesion. The debate on the future of cohesion policy post 2027 touches on fundamental issues.
Cross Border Public Services About 1,500 Cross-border public services make life better for people living in EU border regions covering different policy fields. What can we learn from them? About 1,500 Cross-border public services make life better for people living in EU border regions covering different policy fields. What can we learn from them?
Political trends shaping territorial cohesion What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning political trends. What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning political trends.
Policy pointers for European lake regions Regional integration, land-lake integration, policy integration, vertical integration & European integration are essential for a better management of large lake regions. Regional integration, land-lake integration, policy integration, vertical integration & European integration are essential for a better management of large lake regions.
Economic trends shaping territorial cohesion What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning economic trends. What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning economic trends.
Cohesion policy responses to the Ukraine refugee crisis Russia’s war on Ukraine causes massive migration waves which have significant consequence for the EU . What does this mean for cohesion and cohesion policy? Russia’s war on Ukraine causes massive migration waves which have significant consequence for the EU . What does this mean for cohesion and cohesion policy?
Societal trends shaping territorial cohesion What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning societal trends. What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning societal trends.
Monitoring of cross-border labour markets – why and how? Monitoring cross-border labour markets is important. There are examples where data compilation and harmonisation challenges have been solved. What can we learn from them? Monitoring cross-border labour markets is important. There are examples where data compilation and harmonisation challenges have been solved. What can we learn from them?
Environment related trends shaping territorial cohesion What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning environmental trends. What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning environmental trends.
Territorial cohesion and performance-based financing There is an important and intellectually stimulating debate to be held, to explore how territorial cohesion and performance-based financing might come together. There is an important and intellectually stimulating debate to be held, to explore how territorial cohesion and performance-based financing might come together.
What is a cross-border labour market? Cross-border labour markets are signs of European integration. Yet, the term ‘cross-border labour markets’ means many different things in European policy discussions. Cross-border labour markets are signs of European integration. Yet, the term ‘cross-border labour markets’ means many different things in European policy discussions.
Mega-trends shaping territorial cohesion What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning technological trends. What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning technological trends.
European lake regions deserve more attention Lake regions in Europe are often overlooked, despite their economic, social and environmental importance. This concerns also governance arrangements of lake regions. Lake regions in Europe are often overlooked, despite their economic, social and environmental importance. This concerns also governance arrangements of lake regions.
Territorial Strategies A good strategy has to be transformative, of societal relevance and open up new pathways. This calls for strategic capacities, policy innovation, functional area, and ... A good strategy has to be transformative, of societal relevance and open up new pathways. This calls for strategic capacities, policy innovation, functional area, and ...
EU Green Deal going local & regional: Circular economy Moving towards circularity and sustainable consumption & production is one of the important aspect of the European Green Deal. What can local and regional authorities do? Moving towards circularity and sustainable consumption & production is one of the important aspect of the European Green Deal. What can local and regional authorities do?
Regional sensitivities to the energy crisis The war on Ukraine shows Europe's dependency on energy imports and how vulnerable our economies are to shocks. Which regions in Europe are particularly affected by this? The war on Ukraine shows Europe's dependency on energy imports and how vulnerable our economies are to shocks. Which regions in Europe are particularly affected by this?
EU Green Deal going local & regional: Building and Renovation Local and regional authorities can contribute to the EU Green Deal by developing place-based and participatory solutions to reducing energy consumption of buildings. Local and regional authorities can contribute to the EU Green Deal by developing place-based and participatory solutions to reducing energy consumption of buildings.
Urban shrinkage and population decline as opportunity for rethinking Population decline is challenging to accept. However, it also holds a chance for long-term objective setting and readjustment of the focus of planners and policy makers. Population decline is challenging to accept. However, it also holds a chance for long-term objective setting and readjustment of the focus of planners and policy makers.
EU Green Deal going local & regional: Zero Pollution Local and regional authorities can contribute to the EU Green Deal by developing local or regional actions and action plans to move towards zero pollution. Local and regional authorities can contribute to the EU Green Deal by developing local or regional actions and action plans to move towards zero pollution.
Connectivity and geographic specificities As energy prices rise, also mobility becomes increasingly more expensive in large parts of Europe. This has different implications for different types of regions. As energy prices rise, also mobility becomes increasingly more expensive in large parts of Europe. This has different implications for different types of regions.
Impacts of the energy crisis - scenario thoughts What happens if the EU becomes more closed in the light of growing de-globalisation, or if pragmatic decision making or the idea of accelerating green transition prevail? What happens if the EU becomes more closed in the light of growing de-globalisation, or if pragmatic decision making or the idea of accelerating green transition prevail?
Urban trends Urban areas are strongly shaped by their inhabitants, they are sensitive to the greatest challenges of our times, and still must be future-oriented and sustainable. Urban areas are strongly shaped by their inhabitants, they are sensitive to the greatest challenges of our times, and still must be future-oriented and sustainable.