Klaus R. Kunzmann

Jean Monnet Professor of European Spatial Planning . University of Dortmund . Germany

Intensifying territorial co-operation in the EU:what challenges lie ahead?INTERREG NWE Mid-Term event, Lille/France, 18-11-2004

Territorial co-operation: a European success story

Immense progress has been made over the years Growing awareness of the need for internationalisation among local politicians and professionals Many trans-border projects have been initiated Much transfer of knowledge can be observed Much intercultural prejudice has been softened The territorial dimension of economic development has been promoted Spatial planning as an action area has been introduced The need for international benchmarking has been acknowledged City marketing has received more attention Sustainable city networks have been established

Hence: no reason not to intensify territorial co-operation!!!!!

1

What are the challenges ahead?

The weakening of the European project Unbound metropolisation The widening gap between spatial planning and economic policy The neglected spatial impacts of European competition policy on local economies and spatial identities The mismatch between spatial planning poetry and local reality The undue instrumentalisation of spatial planning

2

The weakening of the European project

The renaissance of nationalism all over Europe and growing scepticism The erosion of the welfare state in Europe The ” Old Europe” syndrome and the difficulty to define a European identity The rising unwillingness of Europeans to share The rise of fundamentalism and the demise of liberal policies

2.1

... and the threatening non-acceptance of the European Constitution

2.2Unbound metropolisation

Territorial polarisation of space in Europe in 100 miles cities The competition among city regions and changing policy priorities The spatial effects of Trans-European Corridors and international hubs The metropolisation of life styles The dominance of the property industries and the media in the production of locations The growing economic and social disparities within metropolitan regions

2.3The widening gap between spatial planning and

economic policy

The growing economic bias of the European project The China fever and its local implications The negligence of non-economic dimensions of regional policy The low political interest in European and national spatial policies The stagnation of the ESDP process Spatial planning (and the funds behind) as an instrument to cushion economic policy and to promote the European project

2.4The neglected spatial impacts of European competition policy on local economies and spatial identities

The internationalisation of public utilities and public procurement The loss of local and regional commitment The willingness to sacrifice local identity to market forces

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2.5The mismatch between spatial planning poetry and local reality

The rhetoric of spatial planning: too much poetry and insufficient reality Spatial planning is in danger to become an elitist ”Geheimwissenschaft” The low political interest in spatial visions The absence of spatial planning discourse in the media The low profile of spatial planning in the knowledge society The inability of spatial planners to promote their competence The frustrating deficiencies of the regulatory system in border regions

2.6The undue instrumentalisation of spatial planning

Spatial planning as a bait for European funds The power and vested interests of agile consulting industries The pleasure of travelling across Europe Spatial planning as a playing field for activists The danger of planning talk shows

3What can be done? What should be done?

Intensify territorial co-operation in the following fields: Promoting the international dimension of endogenous economic development, Strengthening resource conserving regional economic circuits Improving regional knowledge and learning Developing intelligent mobility concepts Raising the international awareness of regional actors

and communities

Thereby

Reducing the rift between spatial planning poetry and project reality, Simplifying application and implementation procedures Monitoring performance and efficiency Seeking and controlling more transferability and replicability without European funds Continuing work on ESDP+ along thematic corridors with high political and media interest, such as migration, transport and mobility or cultural heritage