STATISTICAL OFFICE OF THE EUROPEAN COMMUNITIES
Directorate E: Social and regional statistics and geographical information system
Unit E-4: Regional indicators and accounts, population and geographical information system /
Document:E/GIS/52/EN
Meeting of the Working Party
"Geographical Information Systems for Statistics"
Joint meeting with National Statistical Offices
and National Mapping Agencies
Luxembourg, October 25-26, 2001
Bech Building (Room "Quételet")
Beginning of the meeting: 10 a.m.
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European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON)
Guidelines for 2001-2006
Working document concerning item 9 of the agenda of Day 2 of the meeting
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EUROPEAN SPATIAL PLANNING OBSERVATION NETWORK (ESPON)
GUIDELINES FOR 2001-2006
1.Rationale
With the integration and expansion of the EU, increased emphasis is placed on the development and cohesion of the European territory. In reflection on the future of the regional policy, a better understanding of the situation and territorial development prospects of different parts of the EU is an important guide and complement to the objectives of economic, social and territorial cohesion.
In the conclusions of the informal meeting of the Ministers responsible for Spatial Planning and Urban/Regional policy at Tampere (October 1999), the Ministers and the Commission emphasised the need “to take concrete steps in applying the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP)” and, in particular, “to improve knowledge, research and information on territorial development as well as to prepare for an enlarged territory of the European Union”[1].
The Commission had already launched and co-financed from 1998 to 2000 a study programme on European regional planning with the aim of deepening certain ESDP concepts and to test the criteria retained by the ESDP[2] .
When adopting the guidelines for the Community Initiative INTERREG III, the Commission declared its intention to answer the Tampere conclusions by co-financing the setting up of a European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON). This document presents the Observatory’s objectives (section 2) and Commission guidelines for the 2001-2006 research programme (section 3).
2.ESPON objectives
The Observatory aims, on the one hand, to provide the knowledge base necessary to promote harmonious development of the Community stipulated in Article 158 of the Treaty and, on the other hand, to operationalise the territorial cohesion concept from Article 16.
In this context, ESPON activities are based on a network of co-operation between the Member States (research institutes, administrations and public authorities), following six complementary objectives:
–Improving understanding of the diversity of the European territory, including territorial dynamics which go beyond the NUTS framework as defined by EUROSTAT;
–to specify the implications of ESDP policy options on transnational spaces (to be defined);
–to place at the disposal of national and regional actors the tools necessary for applying ESDP polity options;
–to better understand the territorial consequences of Community and national sectoral policies;
–to clarify how territorial decisions taken at Community, national, regional and local levels can be better co-ordinated
–to analyse territorial trends in the 13 candidate countries and neighbouring countries, including those from the Mediterranean, and to draw conclusions for the territorial development of the Union.
3.Commission guidelines for the period 2001-2006
Guidelines are organised by two subjects: « indicators» and « thematic studies ».
These two subjects are closely dependent: thematic research may bring up questions requiring new indicators; work on the indicators may supplement and clarify thematic research. Each research project should therefore cover both aspects.
3.1.Thematic studies
To enrich research and to prepare the formulation of policy post-2006, certain topics need to be studied in greater detail.
Eight priority fields are proposed by the Commission :
–The three political objectives of the ESDP : polycentric development and city-countryside partnership, equal access to infrastructures and to knowledge, management of the natural and cultural heritage.
The following topics should be covered: development of a typology of weaknesses as regards territorial cohesion (lack of physical networks and transport and communication services, lack of cultural identity, significant divergence of the development pathways, etc) and identification of areas with low territorial cohesion; analysis of the role of sectors of general interest as vectors for territorial cohesion; identification of urban poles likely to play a major role as a catalyst for development; the role of «gateway cities»; the role of medium-sized and small cities in a rural context; the role of eurocorridors; territorial implications of the information society; potential for decoupling economic growth from transport flows; territorial management of natural and technological hazards; territorial management of climate changes (impact of measures to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases; anticipation of territorial impacts of climate changes).
–The situation of EU cities: identifying the common problems linked to polycentric development and specifying what solutions could be supplied by Community intervention.
The following subjects should be tackled: phenomena of urbanisation; urban spread, mobility in cities, management of the urban ecosystem, co-operation between cities.
–Evaluation of trends affecting certain groups of territories “at risk” (the outermost regions of the EU, coastal areas, islands, mountain areas, areas with very low population density).
–Analysis of the territorial incidence of sectoral Community policies, in order to better understand their effects on redistribution and location of economic activity.
–Analysis and comparison of national territorial and urban development policies. Evaluation of the extent to which they incorporate a European frame of reference.
–Analysis of mechanisms in the Member States linking various levels involved in territorial and urban policy. Assessment of how the European level could be incorporated in these decision-making processes.
–Evaluation of the future implications of enlargement on EU territorial development, notably in regions bordering the candidate countries. Provision of the elements necessary for extending the ESDP to candidate countries.
–Specification of trends affecting countries bordering the EU, where they could have direct effects on EU territorial development. This exercise should include contributions from EFTA and Mediterranean countries.
3.2.Databases, indicators and map-making
Research on territorial criteria, indicators and map-making is essential to improve understanding of EU territorial development and to gather the information necessary for the definition of the policies. Each thematic study should therefore be supported by a statistical analysis.
The study programme of the ESDP showed the validity of this approach. However, it also demonstrated the lack of data available at the Community level.
For the topics outlined above, the Observatory should concentrate research on the following priorities :
–accessibility : consolidation of accessibility indicators, in the light of both large physical transport networks and of developments in information and communication technology (infostructures);
–polycentric development : design of indicators at the EU level to identify overall integration areas and potential development zones; definition of indicators to characterise the territorial structure - polycentric or not - of regional or infra-regional territorial units;
–the environment : design of indicators to measure the pressures exerted on the environment, using work from the European Environment Agency; listing sensitive sites for natural and technological hazards;
–urban areas : on the basis of a joint definition of urban-ness, evaluating the role played by urban areas in the territorial structure.
–territorial impact : definition of a methodology for evaluating territorial consequences of Community and national sectoral policies and of major infrastructure projects. Close attention will be paid to the definition of a methodology for simulating the impact of new transport, energy or telecommunication infrastructures.
–new methods in territorial information: satellite information, digital elevation models.
Data gathering should occur at the lowest territorial level possible. It should cover the 15 Member States and, where available, the candidate countries.
Geographical information will be an essential component of research work. Spatial analyses should be based on suitable geographical information from EUROSTAT’s GISCO reference base, supplemented by other sources where necessary.
New geographical information resulting from the studies, will be produced in Arc/Info format and will be compatible in scale and projection, with EUROSTAT’s GISCO reference base, including its latest coding. Quantitative information linked to geographical entities should use coding systems compatible with the same reference base.
Mapping of results should be compatible with the Commission technical environment (Arc/Info - ArcView).
4.Work programme
By 2001, consensus should be reached on the indicators to be retained.
By end 2003, work should have led to:
For thematic studies
- Agreement of a methodology for elaborating future scenarios;
- Definition, by combining territorial and socio-economic indicators, of areas with a common economic dynamic, having a European dimension and an interregional and transnational character. Establishment of a diagnosis for these areas;
- Provision, notably to actors involved in transnational cooperation, of a methodology enabling the systematisation of spatial analyses, in relation to the political options of the ESDP.
- Specification of potential fields for Community intervention and how this could be linked to national, regional and local policies.
For “databases, indicators and mapmaking”
- to collect and use the necessary data;
- to define methodologies for assessing the territorial impact of Community transport policy, policy on the information society, the common agricultural policy, and policies for research & development and major infrastructure projects;
By end 2006, work should have led to:
For thematic studies
- Delineation of two scenarios for the year 2020 in the context of an enlarged Union:
–an « optimum » scenario of polycentric, balanced and sustainable territorial development;
–a “status quo” scenario, not taking account of the ESDP options;
- Specification of ways in which sectoral, Community and national policies could contribute to making the « optimum » scenario happen.
For “databases, indicators and mapmaking”:
- to develop methodologies for Community policies not hitherto covered.
5.Implementation methods
Implementation methods are specified in a separate document.
1
[1]Tampere Ministerial, Presidency conclusions, Tampere, October 1999, p. 3.
[2]Study Programme on European Regional Planning, final report, March 2000.