Territorial Agenda Research Articles

EL ABANDONO ESCOLAR PREMATURO EN ZONAS RURALES DE EUROPA Y ESPAÑA

The rural environment has changed and is changing. The diversity of definitions of rural and applied methods difficult to compare data and research on the rural. So the invisibility of rural education is promoted and it is unclear whether rural improvement in educational indicators. There are some socio-economic conditions that appear to influence educational outcomes and in turn the educational level of the community influences the development of it. Early school leaving (ESL) is one of the key indicators of education in Europe. In rural areas ESL is typically higher. In this short article will present data and sources, but above all be evident that the low presence of rural factor in education and that the rural / urban divide still exists. Referencians Europe cited Spain and the start of the indicators of quality of life and early school leaving is estimated in Spain, rural or not, 2020 in relation to the proposed European Territorial Agenda 2020 target of 15%. Besides conclusions and proposals to be referred.

Dywersyfikacja terytorialna w działalności samorządu terytorialnego

The article presents the concept of internal differentiation of a territory of an entity of territorial self-government within the scope of its tasks (mainly own tasks), which – according to the terminology specific for economic and management studies – is defined as territorial diversification in the entity’s activity. The initial thesis on acceptability of diversification includes the Constitutional principle of territorial uniformity of the state as well as the principle of equal justice under law in the sense that the internal territorial differentiation that consists in; among others, isolating certain areas within which an entity of territorial self-government pursues the municipal economy in an different way than within other or different areas, is possible and lawful. Territorial diversification in the activity of entities of territorial self-government can be considered as a strategic management tool supporting development; especially, in the conditions of limited resources and economic stagnation. This approach is additionally supported by the assumptions of the Territorial Agenda of the European Union 2020, and the opinions of the European Economic and Social Committee on the sustainable territorial development policy of the European Union. The article analyses the regulatory status of the positive law and doctrine within the frameworks of territorial diversification in the functioning of the entities of territorial self-government at the level of voivodeships, districts and communes. The analysis was referred to the selected spheres of these entities’ activity, as spatial planning and development, waste management and establishing certain local public imposts.

Zur Bedeutung endogener Potenziale in klein- und mittelstädtisch geprägten Regionen – Überlegungen vor dem Hintergrund der Territorialen Agenda 2020

Small and medium-sized towns are often the losers in times of economic crisis, as their internal innovation and growth potentials are low. Such places are especially reliant on external investment and public funding, a fact which aggravates the economic, social and demographic repercussions of the current crisis. Against this background this paper discusses the role that endogenous growth potentials—also highlighted in the EU’s Territorial Agenda 2020—might play in stabilizing such regions. The argument rests on two case-studies in old industrial regions, where the strategic utilization of such potentials by local actors is analysed and their overall influence on regional development discussed. By linking these examples to discussions from the 1980s and 1990s on endogenous potentials, the paper points out that today the primary consideration is not the direct economic impact of potentials. Instead the focus is on the role of endogenous potentials in triggering regional development processes (catalyzing function), highlighting regional uniqueness (identification function) and strengthening regional self-confidence (symbolic function).

Foreword [to special issue: Geographical evidence in changing Europe

This is perhaps the most ‘political’ moment of the Europe life because it is directly related to the addresses, themes, projects and activities that states and regions and territories should dictate in order to harmonize their needs and diversities with the challenges to be again competitive in the global world. It is no coincidence that several research projects have followed and supported European development for more than a decade, drawing from research and analysis many important insights for the understanding of the local socio-economic effects of the crisis, which proved useful for the actions of decision-makers at the local level. Studying the effects of the European crisis at the territorial level, starting by empirical evidence, and analyzing the different impacts on regional and local trends are already a breakthrough for countries because they have allowed us to highlight the regional experience and how these realities, although characterized by some critical issues, were able to better react to the crisis by bringing into play their own territorial capital. Taking inspiration from geographical and economic research results from several European programmes in the field of geographical applied researches, the issue proposes a critical analysis and discussion on the so defined “territorial evidence” in policy planning processes. In this regard, experiences on the planning process of European Territorial Agenda 2020, transnational planning cooperation and also national level documents are included.

Entrepreneurship and Territorial Behavior. How to Exercise Competitiveness in Sustainability in Europe

The paper focuses on territorial impacts of the European policy with regards to the enterprise systems in the last decade and how the effects of this policy could have irreparable modified the enterprise network relationships (socio-functional and interrelated/cohesive) in regions. This suspicion has suggested European choices include the territorial dimension in the development directions by the intra and inter-regional co-operation. The searching new forms of balanced growth for enterprise is the future objective; it could be followed by assuming a territorial polycentric cohesive organization. Important European documents, like Europe 2020 Strategy and Territorial Agenda (2011), stress this orientation. A critical review of Economic Geography literature with regards to main localisation theories of enterprise opens this contribution, in order to accompany the reader in understanding of new strategic parameters able to measure `the regional productive capability' of enterprises in the framework of European recent directions. By using innovative methodologies, the performance of enterprise systems and networks looking at these parameters, highlights European specific territorialised typologies of behaviour. Finally, some policy recommendations are suggested in this direction in order to improve the regional productivity, as well as the employment in relation with to specific economic-social-environmental parameters of cohesion and competitiveness in sustainability, looking at the regional productive capability of Small/Medium Firms (SMFs) in Europe with regards to main pillars of the 2014-2020 Strategy.

Can multiple streams predict the territorial cohesion debate in the EU?

This article contributes to the debate over the fashionable but contested concept of ‘territorial cohesion’ in the European Union. Scholars have long recognised and traced discursive shifts in EU territorial development policies, but theoretical accounts of the drivers and parameters of such shifts are rare. This article applies the multiple streams model of agenda-setting to the territorial cohesion debate in order to explore how useful this model is in analysing and predicting the outcome of a debate. The article is structured according to the three ‘streams’ that are relevant to agenda-setting: problems, policies and politics. The analysis relies on the responses to the 2008 Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion in order to determine how politically feasible different policy solutions are. More recent developments such as the Territorial Agenda 2020 and the European Commission’s proposals for Cohesion Policy for 2014–2020 are then used to assess the predictive power of multiple streams. It is shown that the model successfully predicts the endurance of solidarity-based cohesion goals, the emergence of territorial capital as a key policy solution, and the rejection of geographical criteria for the allocation of EU Structural Funds. At the same time, the multiple streams model fails to predict the introduction of spatial planning tools into EU cohesion policy. This shows that explaining a substantial redefinition of existing policy terms requires some reference to key actors’ broader discursive strategies. The article concludes that the multiple streams model has some predictive and explanatory power; criticisms of the model as overly descriptive are exaggerated.

La dimensión territorial en la programación comunitaria y el nuevo marco de políticas públicas: Desarrollo rural territorial, reforma de la PAC y nuevo LEADER

What we’ve been calling as territorial development perspective is a rather recent phenomenon in the context of the European Union, just two decades. In essence this perspective has focused on the local approach to development processes in rural areas, guided mainly of instruments such as LEADER. The need to integrate the territorial dimension of development processes comes not only from the overall success of these instruments, but also by the belief that they can be a key factor in the economic and social cohesion within the EU. Recent advances, such as the Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion, the approval of the Territorial Agenda 2020 and what will be the policy of cohesion for the period 2014- 2020, show the willingness of the authorities to deepen the territorial dimension of sectoral policies and to advance in the necessary greater coordination of policies maintaining territorial criteria. On the other hand, the reform of the CAP which is discussed in these months, which will result in the design of the instruments to be applied during the period 2014-2020, is also a great opportunity to consolidate this territorial approach in rural areas. This article examines, first, the public framework policy in terms of the territorial dimension in the context of the European Union, deepening on the meaning of the recent advances in this field. Second, we analyze the main elements that are leading, to date, the reform of the CAP and to what extent this reform includes a component as important as the territorial perspective for the development of rural areas. The findings point to the continuity and even deepening in the productivist and environmentalist orientation of the CAP. Third, we analyze what is going to be the territorial rural development policy in the strict sense, ie the continuation of the LEADER approach. In this regard we emphasize that the drop in the next programming period 2014-2020 of the structure by the four axis of the 2007-2013 period, and its replacement by a more simple, and apparently more flexible and powerful structure, will (always depending on the final budget allocations) deepen and consolidate LEADER as the main instrument for implementing local development strategies in rural areas. In this context, in the coming years they would be open possibilities for cooperation between rural and urban areas, in both cases under the focus of publicprivate partnerships and implementing local development strategies. These possibilities of territorial cooperation require vision by the regional stakeholders and a high capacity for commitment towards the implementation of these effective ways of cooperation and regional development.

Territorial Keys for Bringing Closer the Territorial Agenda of the EU and Europe 2020

ABSTRACTThe recent developments of the economic theory suggest that due attention to territorial context increases efficiency and improves delivery of the policies. This in turn calls for better linkages between spatial and socio-economic efforts. The paper analyses the concept of policy territorialization and proposes policy tools for that purpose. The relevant theoretical models are used, mainly evolutionary economics and new economic geography. The key outcome is a set of territorial keys supposed to enhance territorial approach in developmental policies. Also some plausible ways of making use of those keys are proposed and then tested using Polish territory as a case study.

Strategies for Enhancing Attractiveness of the Cities in Latgale Region

Policy creators and planners at different administrative levels adopt decisions regarding distribution of social activities in space. Many political decisions influence decisions in other sectors, the latter being related to launching activities in a particular place or extension thereof. The regional political framework of Latvia is formed by important long ‑ term documents of the European Union (EU), namely, the strategy “Europe 2020”, and the European Union Territorial Agenda 2020 which are international agreements on important principles facilitating territorial development. The researchers of the European Spatial Planning Observation Network have started to pay more attention to investigation of new theories and concepts, including territorial attractiveness. The concept “territorial attractiveness” here refers also to such notions as regional attractiveness, place attractiveness and city attractiveness. The city and regional attractiveness has come up high on the agenda of urban policy planners across the European countries. Attractiveness of cities and regions is defined as a key issue to maintain and strengthen their competitiveness in the era of global competition and knowledge-based economies. Each territory has specific combination of factors ensuring its attractiveness and each territory can focus, in its development, on the strengths (social, economic, cultural, natural diversity) and competitive advantages in comparison with other cities. Depending on the attractiveness factors of the territory, it is necessary to choose strategies for increasing the territorial attractiveness. Therefore, to perform an analysis of attractiveness and to identify the most important attractiveness factors of the cities in Latgale region, twelve criteria of attractiveness have been selected. The aim of the research is to explore the importance and future perspectives of the city attractiveness in Latgale region and the way it could become an element of spatial policy to contribute to balanced development of Latgale region. Three tasks have been set within the framework of the research: - to investigate the theoretical aspects of territorial attractiveness; - to identify the most important factors of city attractiveness for the residents of Latgale; - to set up the spatial strategies’ priorities of the cities located in Latgale region to enhance their attractiveness. As a result of the research it was concluded that the most essential factors of city attractiveness for the residents of Latgale region are: (1) the quality and availability of state and municipal services; (2) the quality and availability of publicly controlled services (energy and water supply, et al.); (3) material welfare, employment and safety; (4) the quality and availability of health care services; (5) culture and leisure time activities. Other significant factors are the quality and opportunities of education, safety, the ecological quality, public transport, et al. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5755/j01.eis.0.6.1601

Engaging in European Spatial Planning: A Central and Eastern European Perspective on the Territorial Cohesion Debate

The following paper sets out to determine the differential extent of the engagement of Central and Eastern European (CEE) member states with the European spatial planning (ESP) debate over territorial cohesion. It focuses on the written statements submitted in response to the European Commission “Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion” consultation in 2009. The geographical distribution of the respondents is analysed, before CEE member states’ responses are examined in detail, to explore the diverse interpretations of the concept of “territorial cohesion” among CEE actors. While the data collection for this paper has been restricted empirically to the consultation process, it reflects its findings in consideration of member states’ engagement with the debate as it manifested before and after the Green Paper. The debate over the exact conceptual and operational “framing” of territorial cohesion, launched by the European Commission's Green Paper, constitutes one of the many arenas through which ESP currently evolves, together with the transnational initiatives developed in the framework of the European Territorial Cooperation objective, the European Observation Network for Territorial Development and Cohesion (ESPON) and the process that recently led to the publication of the Territorial Agenda of the European Union 2020. The paper concludes that the overall level of engagement of CEE actors in ESP is proportionally lower in comparison with that of their northwestern European counterparts. The increasing involvement of some CEE member states within the ESPON 2013 Programme, as well as the activities undertaken by the Hungarian and Polish EU Presidencies in 2011, suggests that this level of CEE engagement is growing albeit differentially.

National Climate Change Adaptation Strategies of European States from a Spatial Planning and Development Perspective

The aim of this article is to give an overview and systematic characterization of different national approaches to developing strategies of climate change adaptation from a spatial planning or regional development perspective, respectively. Based on this analysis, recommendations are made for the implementation of the Territorial Agenda of the European Union. The central research hypotheses addressed in this article are: (1) climate change impacts in Europe are distributed differently in European regions which influence the design of national adaptation strategies (NASs) in Europe as well as the planning-related fields of action; (2) the legal framework and the political-administrative system significantly determine how national adaptation responses are designed and by which institutions they are implemented and (3) spatial planning has the potential to play an important role in climate change adaptation due to its integrative, cross-sectoral character. In order to discuss the hypotheses, a meta-evaluation of already existing assessments of climate adaptation strategies was carried out, as well as nine in-depth country studies (Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Spain, The Netherlands and the UK). The results show that spatial planning is only given minor attention in the assessed analyses and national strategies and that it is rather a matter of political willingness and capacity building than particular instruments or a high climate change vulnerability if spatial planning, however, plays an important role in an NAS.

Geopolitical Games and Malaysian Mediation in the Philippines

This article assesses the complex strategic environment prevailing in East and Southeast Asia, where a “vacuum war” may be underway between China and the United States, with the southern Philippines as the bone of contention. The author argues that Malaysia is a keystone player in the peace process in Mindanao region of the Philippines and that it has a convergence of interests with the US. Malaysia’s involvement as a peace mediator between the Philippine government and the Moro Islamic rebel movement is driven by Kuala Lumpur’s own territorial agenda and is not necessarily in alignment with the aims of the Philippines itself. The article delves into the various geopolitical calculations of major players in the Philippine conflict and demonstrates how peacemaking diplomacy can open doors for strategic domination by great powers

Europeanization of Spatial Planning through Discourse and Practice in Italy

Characterized by a prescriptive but often ineffective “urbanism” tradition, spatial planning practice in Italy has changed over the last two decades under the influence of the EU territorial governance agenda. Whereas some experiences have shown that more “performative” spatial development policies are possible, most planning practices continue to be largely based on a “conformative” idea of spatial planning. Surveying the role of actors and epistemic communities in the framework of recent spatial planning changes in Italy, this paper argues that an almost spontaneous and heterogeneous impact of the EU territorial governance agenda on domestic practices occurred initially but could not take root because of the resilience of professional culture. The Europeanization of spatial planning in Italy has progressively lost momentum and there is little evidence to date of any wholesale reform of the Italian spatial planning system.

Prospective Future Trends in Urban–Rural Relationships Within the Territorial Agenda of the EU: A Critical Analysis of Implementation with a Special Focus on the Example of the Czech Republic

In recent years, urban–rural relationships have attracted an increasing interest for more than just the issues they represent, i.e. the growing polarization of economic growth and the ever widening disparities between cities and the countryside. Another factor includes their conceptual context that concerns—above all—the implementation of the Territorial Agenda (TA) of the EU. This paper mainly focuses on identifying the solutions of urban–rural relationships under the umbrella of the TA EU within the practical context existing in the Czech Republic. The conclusions from this paper were used as the expert basis for primary research on this issue within the framework of the Czech Presidency of the Council of the EU in 2009. The recommendations for policy-making at both the EU and the CR levels can be applied over the long-term horizon and should also be seen in the next programming period.

European Spatial Planning Between Competitiveness and Territorial Cohesion: Shadows of Neo-liberalism

This paper analyses the use of the concept of territorial cohesion in policy documents produced by the European Union. It is an idea celebrated in community documents, such as cohesion reports, the Territorial Agenda of the European Union and the Green Paper on Territorial Cohesion; after more than a decade of political debate, the concept is about to gain a legitimate institutional role, after being included in the Lisbon Treaty, and is among the competences that the EU shares with other member states. At first, territorial cohesion seems to oppose the logics of neo-liberalism by reinscribing welfare problems and policies in spatial terms. However, using the analytical framework of cultural critics, and intending cohesion to be a discourse carried on by a community of European scholars and policymakers, the research will discuss the conceptual relationship between competitiveness and territorial cohesion in European policies and narratives.

A turning point in the development of European spatial planning? The ‘Territorial Agenda of the European Union’ and the ‘First Action Programme’

The European Union has always had a territorial agenda, albeit implicit. Existing spatial planning systems in Europe, in particular French aménagement du territoire, have shaped the thinking about how to tackle it more systematically, lately under the flag of an EU territorial cohesion policy. Drawing on work by the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON), the member states collectively have produced an ‘evidence-based’ document, ‘The territorial state and perspectives of the European Union’. This forms the basis of a political document entitled the ‘Territorial Agenda of the European Union: Towards a more competitive and sustainable Europe of diverse regions’. The subsequent First Action Programme came at a time when it appeared that the Treaty of Lisbon would make EU territorial cohesion policy official. This paper gives an account of the process, pointing out that a turning point has been reached, in that the member states have come to accept the need for EU territorial cohesion policy. Section 1 sets out the theoretical framework and the research approach. Section 2 sets the scene as regards the EU and it institutions. Section 3 looks at spatial planning systems in Europe and, in particular—since it has been instrumental in formulating EU regional and territorial cohesion policy—French aménagement du territoire. Section 4 identifies the implicit EU territorial agenda and how this has been articulated further by the member states formulating the ESDP. Section 5 gives an account of the fledgling EU territorial cohesion policy. Section 6 focuses on the member state initiative to produce the ‘evidence-based’ document, ‘The territorial state and perspectives of the European Union’, which forms the basis for the Territorial Agenda. As a background to this, the section discusses ESPON, which provided the research base for this undertaking. Sections 7 to 9 are about the Territorial Agenda process as such, particularly its making, the substantive policies and the institutional measures proposed therein, and the First Action Programme adopted in the wake of the Territorial Agenda. Section 10 identifies challenges ahead, followed by the final section, which explores issues whose resolution is not immediately in sight.

The territorial agenda of the European Union: Progress for climate change mitigation and adaptation?

The Territorial Agenda of the European Union (Territorial Agenda) document agreed by EU Member States at Leipzig in May 2007 aims at strengthening territorial cohesion in Europe and supporting the growth and jobs and sustainable development objectives of the EU's Lisbon and Gothenburg strategies. It seeks to foster and reconcile sustainable economic growth and job creation, as well as social and ecological development in all EU regions. In light of these aspirations, this article assesses: whether the Territorial Agenda document can be considered to represent progress for climate change mitigation and adaptation when its policy goals are set against the climate change dimensions of its predecessor document, the European Spatial Development Perspective; the evidence and impacts of climate change in Europe; and the EU's wider evolving policy response to climate change. It concludes that the Territorial Agenda can be seen to indicate some progress in the treatment of climate change, even if the territorial c...

BEYOND HEURISTICS: APPLYING SCENARIOS TO EUROPEAN TERRITORIAL DEVELOPMENT

ABSTRACTScenarios, unlike forecasts or prognoses, do not seek to predict future events. Instead, the intent is to understand how the future is produced by examining a number of possible developmental pathways. These pathways are created by adjusting a limited number of variables within a particular cause‐effect chain of events. The insights generated by the scenario method not only produce knowledge about driving forces but also regarding the capacity to change the future. A scenario study carried out by the ESPON programme on the territorial development of Europe has not only cast light on how the spatial structure of Europe is likely to evolve, and identified a number of challenges which any future spatial policy will need to address. These insights have since made their way into a number of important policy documents, including the Territorial Agenda.

The Importance of Context and Comparison in the Study of European Spatial Planning

The European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) was agreed in 1999 at Potsdam, Germany, as a non-binding framework intended to guide spatially significant policy-making at different spatial scales in order to achieve a more balanced and sustainable growth of the EU territory. This paper develops a conceptualization of the nature of transnational planning frameworks such as the ESDP and presents a framework for the investigation of the application of their policy orientations in the spatial planning systems of European states. It is argued that investigations of the application of transnational spatial development frameworks like the ESDP and the ‘Territorial Agenda of the European Union’ document adopted by EU member states in 2007, need to be sensitized to the diversity of territorial contexts in which these apply, and that a contextualized and comparative approach is therefore essential in evaluating their influence in Europe's varied territories.

European Territorial Cooperation and Learning

European territorial cooperation is the third objective of the EU Cohesion Policy for 2007–2013, as well as being the new umbrella under which ESDP follow-ups, such as INTERREG and ESPON, can continue. Cooperation is inherent to planning, and so is learning, and this is even more the case for European planning. Learning in itself can become a source of change, such as when ESPON gave rise to the Territorial Agenda. The papers in this issue cast light upon the various aspects of European territorial cooperation and learning, both within the mainstream instigated by the European Cohesion Policy as well as cross-border and bilateral projects. This introduction also speculates on the wider implications of cooperation and learning: the emergence of a transnational group of experts who promote change.