Learning from the Application of the ESDP: Influences on European Territorial Governance

Abstract

European Territorial Cooperation, and the EU INTERREG Initiative in particular, is one of the five main means of application identified by the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP). An entire chapter of the ESDP is in fact devoted to considering the application of its concepts and ideas. The five main means of application comprise: (1) application at the European Community level; (2) application via transnational cooperation between member states; (3) application via cross-border and interregional cooperation; (4) application of the ESDP in member states; and (5) application via pan-European and international cooperation. The influence and application of the ESDP clearly have an important transnational learning dimension. This paper examines the influences of the ESDP on territorial policy and governance and on the associated learning effects, looking specifically at the supra-national level. Three areas of influence are considered here: (1) cooperation within the European Commission, looking at sectoral policy-making; (2) cooperation between member states under the INTER-REG Initiative, focusing on cross-border, transnational and interregional cooperation; and (3) pan-European spatial planning cooperation, focusing on activities of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Spatial Planning (CEMAT).

Europeanization as Discontinuous Adjustment: A Düsseldorf Court's Impact on Land Development Practice

“…A third meaning is that of Europe's penetration into national systems of governance. In terms of the ESDP, for example, this is concerned with how the latter has been "applied" (Faludi, 2001;Stead & Waterhout, 2008). Various studies have been made of the EDSP's impact (Giannakourou, 2005) and that of other European policies (Waterhout, 2007) on domestic planning practices.…”

Identifying Processes of Smart Planning, Governance and Management in European Border Cities. Learning from City-to-City Cooperation (C2C)

“…Moreover, it also should be highlighted the EU Cohesion Policy, such as: The 2007-2013 program, the initiatives European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) since 1999, the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON), or even the European Territorial Cooperation (INTERREG); these initiatives been so relevant in terms of development in EU territories [11][12][13]. Furthermore, the ESDP establishes five means for their implementation: (i) Application via EU regulatory oversight; (ii) via member states inter-cooperation; (iii) via borderlands and regional cooperation; (iv) application of the ESDP in member states; and (v) application through international cooperation-i.e., pan-European.…”

“…Furthermore, the ESDP establishes five means for their implementation: (i) Application via EU regulatory oversight; (ii) via member states inter-cooperation; (iii) via borderlands and regional cooperation; (iv) application of the ESDP in member states; and (v) application through international cooperation-i.e., pan-European. In fact, ESDP represents the most relevant policy document for EU guidelines in development [12]. According to Rabé, Toto, and Dhima [10] and Loures et al [9], the ESDP is: "( .…”

“…since for the first time the EU was starting to pay explicit attention to territorial planning as an instrument to achieve broader social and economic goals". One of the main goals of ESDP was to clearer territorial impact orchestration of EU policies, which could be divided vertically and horizontally, respectively: (i) Across the different sectors (ii) across the levels of government and administrative boundaries [9,12]. Based on the main goals of EU policy, the ESDP follows the same objectives, operating on three main pillars: (i) Cohesion; (ii) conservation of natural resources and cultural heritage; and (iii) a more balanced competitiveness of the European territory.…”

The Multivariated Effect of City Cooperation in Land Use Planning and Decision-Making Processes: A European Analysis

“…The influence and application of the ESDP clearly have an important transnational learning dimension. As a result, the ESDP remains the most significant policy document guiding the EU's determinations in the territorial development sphere [22].…”