First ESPON High Level Conference
"Targeted Analyses for Stakeholders: Territorial Evidence in Practice"
Brussels, 11 May 2011
ESPON organised its first High Level Conference on 11 May 2011 in Brussels (Belgium). The conference highlighted the use of territorial evidence in practice on the basis of the experiences with Targeted Analysis for Stakeholders.
The purpose of the Conference was to exchange experiences on added value and use of evidence provided by Targeted Analyses as well as pinning down future needs for evidence in support of an effective implementation of EU Cohesion Policy post 2013.
In the presence of Johannes Hahn, European Commissioner for Regional Policy, Claude Wiseler, Minister of Sustainable development and Infrastructures of Luxembourg, Michel Delebarre, Chair of the Commission for Territorial Policy at the Committee of the Regions and Michael Smyth, President of the ECO Section “Economic and Monetary Union and Economic and Social Cohesion” at the European Economic and Social committee, the Conference brought together around 90 participants from 18 countries, amongst them European policy makers and Stakeholders involved in ESPON Targeted Analyses at national, regional and local level.
Morning Session “Use of ESPON Targeted Analyses by Stakeholders”
The morning session was devoted to an exchange of detailed views and experiences among Stakeholders involved in the ESPON Targeted Analyses.
As these ESPON projects are defined bottom-up, they reflect a direct political demand and relevance for national, regional and local stakeholders.
Their ability to contribute to (1) European growth, (2) the competitiveness and cohesion of territories and places as well as (3) cooperation between territories was at the centre of discussion.
Afternoon Session “European Policy Perspectives on Regions, Cities and Territories”
The afternoon session started by European policy makers looking into future needs for territorial evidence support by ESPON. EU Cohesion Policy post 2013 as well as the expected Territorial Agenda 2020 for the European Union underline the necessity of regions, cities and larger territories to explore and unlock their unique diversity of potentials for contributing to an intelligent, sustainable and inclusive growth.
Minister Claude Wiseler underlined the importance of a European perspective to the development of territorial cohesion policy: “We need comparable information and evidence about all regions and the variety of conditions for development. This is becoming a must for defining policy and actions. This is where ESPON has its main relevance and delivers important contributions to countries, regions and cities. Targeted Analyses allow them using the ESPON evidence for their policy making in practice", Mr. Wiseler stated (read the speech).
Commissioner Johannes Hahn said: “Territorial Development is for the European Commission, today and in the perspective of the post 2013 programmes of high importance. I would also like to highlight the role ESPON plays in informing policy makers and facilitating the design and implementation of Territorial Development policies. It is a key priority for the Commission to have a better knowledge and understanding of the EU regions and territories in order to discuss the quality and the content of regional and territorial development strategies. For the post 2013, there are several emerging issues where ESPON could clearly provide an important contribution”, he added (read the speech).
Michel Delebarre indicates that ESPON can become even more efficient by putting further emphasis on recognizing territorial impacts as starting point for the political discussion.
Michael Smyth also sees some windows of opportunities for ESPON beyond 2013 as territorial evidence could generate more value for money from the macro-regional strategies that are being prepared and implemented.
The Conference stimulated a lively dialogue between key policy makers, stakeholders and participants. The knowledge base on territorial structures, trends, perspectives and policy impacts that ESPON has set up since 2002 has become a sound and recognised reference for evidence based decision-making at European, national, regional and local level.
ESPON Targeted Analyses are considered to be an important analytical support in using ESPON results to reveal territorial development potentials and challenges from a European perspective. Bringing together stakeholders and experts/scientists in an analytical policy-oriented process is perceived highly valuable and should be expanded in the period beyond 2013. The role that stakeholders play ensures the operational use at the end, both by the involved ministries, regions, cities and stimulates the relevance and transfer of results to other players in territorial development.
Speeches and Presentations
All presentations from the Conference are available below.
More photos are available in the next pages.
Should you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact the ESPON Coordination Unit at [email protected].
This event was organised within the framework of the ESPON 2013 Capitalisation Strategy
(Actions related to European Seminars and Workshops)
"Targeted Analyses for Stakeholders: Territorial Evidence in Practice"
Brussels, 11 May 2011
Photos
"Targeted Analyses for Stakeholders: Territorial Evidence in Practice"
Brussels, 11 May 2011
Photos
"Targeted Analyses for Stakeholders: Territorial Evidence in Practice"
Brussels, 11 May 2011
Photos
"Targeted Analyses for Stakeholders: Territorial Evidence in Practice"
Brussels, 11 May 2011
Photos
