January 2009

Welcome to the fifth electronic ESPON 2013 Newsletter. It offers information on the latest developments of the ESPON Programme.

At the end of the first year of the ESPON 2013 Programme, Luxembourg had the pleasure of a visit by General Director Dirk Ahner of the European Commission DG Regio. During the visit the implementation of the ESPON 2013 Programme was discussed and Mr. Ahner expressed recognition on the efforts made by ESPON. He invited for a closer cooperation with DG Regio on analytical activities and studies in order to maximise complementarity and ensure exchange and mutual technical support. Together with the Luxembourg Minister of the Interior and for Spatial Development, Jean-Marie Halsdorf, the necessity of a longer term perspective on a European Observatory for Territorial Development and Cohesion, established in cooperation between the European Commission and Member States, was addressed.

2009 will in many ways be an important second year for the ESPON 2013 Programme. The planning includes several new applied research projects, in total 8-10, to be launched as call for proposals and later in the year starting their implementation. The ongoing applied research projects will begin delivering the first results during 2009 in Inception and Interim Reports, and even the first Final Report will arrive.

The new project type with stakeholder involvement, the Targeted Analysis, are envisaged to have a second boost in terms of a call for expression of interest opting for the selection of up to 10 additional project ideas by the Monitoring Committee. Once selected, project specifications developed together with the stakeholders involved will be the base for an open call for proposals from groups of analytical experts.