Regional & Urban Policy

Christian SvanfeldtEuropean CommissionRegional and Urban Policy Rome, 4 December 2014

Reflections ona European Territorial Vision

Regional & Urban Policy

Can we agree upon a shared vision?

"A shared image of a desirable future described in precise terms"

1. aims, i.e. the general goals perceived as an ideal that can be achieved;

2. major projects and their expected outcomes, which will plot the future path;

3. a system of shared values, which will help to achieve the vision if supported collectively;

4. a collective desire to achieve the objectives which must have the potential to be expressed symbolically.

Regional & Urban Policy

Spatial planning not EU competence…BUT

Territorial cohesion (EU Treaty objective)• …harmonious, sustainable and polycentric development

Leipzig charter (Intergovernmental)• Inclusive and integrated sustainable urban development

Toledo declaration (Intergovernmental)• Implementing the Leipzig charter in Europe 2020 context

Territorial Agenda of the European Union 2020 – (Intergov.)• Balanced economic growth• Balanced territorial organisation • Polycentric urban structure• Good accessibility to services of general economic interest• Compact settlement structure with limited urban sprawl• High level of protection and quality of the environment

… agreement on principles & objectives at European level

Regional & Urban Policy

Consensus on a vision?

The future EU territorial development pattern

• sustainable development of Europe based on balanced economic growth & balanced territorial organisation with a polycentric urban structure;

• strong metropolitan regions & other strong urban areas (also outside the core areas of Europe) provide good accessibility to services of general economic interest;

• compact settlement structure with limited urban sprawl through a strong control of land supply & speculative development;

• high level of protection & quality of the environment around cities; strong links and articulation between cities & their environments.

Regional & Urban Policy

Can the EU adopt a vision?

THE 7th ENVIRONMENT ACTION PROGRAMME TO 2020 – ‘LIVING WELL, WITHIN THE LIMITS OF OUR PLANET’

[Annex 1] "The following 2050 vision is intended to help guide action up to and beyond 2020:

In 2050, we live well, within the planet’s ecological limits. Our prosperity and healthy environment stem from an innovative, circular economy where nothing is wasted and where natural resources are managed sustainably, and biodiversity is protected, valued and restored in ways that enhance our society’s resilience. Our low-carbon growth has long been decoupled from resource use, setting the pace for a safe and sustainable global society."

Regional & Urban Policy

A "Lego-approach" to visions

Build a vision top-down or bottom-up?

Construct a vision based on already agreed principles, objectives, targets?

Seems to be accepted to have visions in areas related to planning, e.g. environment, but also transport (TEN-T)

Some EU policies promote implicit visions e.g., Smart Cities initiative, Sustainable Urban Mobility Plans;

….

Regional & Urban Policy

A gateway city?Storuman (Sweden)

Area: 8 286 km2

Population: 6 087•(8 761 in 1970)Density•0,82/km2

Largest agglomeration•Storuman (2 255)•Stensele (578)•Tärnaby (533)

Regional & Urban Policy

Cohesion policy evolution

Need to demonstrate the rationale of a territorial approach in a growth perspective

Regional & Urban Policy

Implicit implementation of a territorial vision?

• Partnership Agreements & Operational Programmes negotiations

• Territorial instruments (ITI, CLLD, 5% SUD, etc.)

• Macro-regional strategies

• European Territorial Cooperation

• 6th Cohesion Report – territories matters

• Strengthened Territorial Impact Assessment

• Constantly improved data, e.g., land use efficiency, functional territories analysis, etc.

Regional & Urban Policy

Is a territorial vision useful?

NO!• EU cannot impose a spatial model

• Pointless to have principles that are not operationalised

• Mainly dependent on Member States development strategies, which lack coherence

YES! • We should be able to answer to the questions what

Europe we would like to see in

• We have to be aware of the qualitative aspects of policies

• A point of reference in any discussion on territorial impacts of policies

Regional & Urban Policy

Thank you!

christian.svanfeldt@ec.europa.eu