Open Seminar “Territorial Development Opportunities in the Global Economic Recession”

The World is facing the major challenge of responding to a global economic recession which affects more and more countries, their regions and cities. The crisis seems to influence the different parts of Europe, and different sizes of cities with diverse magnitude. Understanding this diversity is important for European countries, their regions and cities that all need to maximise their contribution to reversing the unfortunate current economic situation for enterprises and people.

The ESPON 2013 Programme have taken up the challenge creating a first understanding of the territorial dynamics related to the crisis and invited for a two days Open Seminar on Territorial Development Opportunities in the Global Economic Recession. The Seminar took place in Prague on 3 – 4 June 2009 and was organised in cooperation with the Czech Presidency of the European Union in the presence of Minister Rostislav Vondruška, Ministry for Regional Development of Czech Republic, Dirk Ahner, General Director of the European Commission DG Regio and representatives of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Investment Bank (EIB).

Around 250 participants attended the seminar, among them policy makers and scientists from Europe and neighbouring countries.
 
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The purpose of the Seminar was three-fold:

  • In the light of the global economic challenges to debate territorial development opportunities based on ideas and evidence from ESPON projects, joining together policy-makers, stakeholders, scientists and practitioners involved in European territorial development.
  • To present and to share experiences in building territorial strategies supporting European competitiveness and fostering development of European regions by setting up common visions and coordinating efforts of various actors.
  • To discuss approaches and tools for Territorial Impact Assessments of EU Policies in support of territorial objectives related to Territorial Cohesion.

More information, photos and the presentations given during the Seminar are available on the next page.

The introductory session on the morning of the first day set the mindset for the seminar discussions through key note speeches focusing on the diversity of impacts of the global economic crisis and on new territorial development opportunities for European regions and its cities. In the afternoon, a detailed discussion in parallel workshops addressed opportunities and new avenues for territorial development in the current global economic situation. The challenge was to take stock of effects from changing markets, possibilities for valorising regional endowments as well as searching for options for strategic development options through territorial cooperation.
 
The morning of the second day was devoted to sharing experiences on Territorial Strategies promoting economic development in a territorially balanced way in transnational, national and cross-border contexts. The idea was to debate how fighting the economic crisis and better exploiting development opportunities can be supported by territorial strategies and accompanying measures. The following plenary session on Territorial Impact Assessment, including parallel Workshops during the afternoon, debated the demand from policy makers and presented a test of two EU Policies and their impacts on the regions of Europe. 

The Seminar at the end gave insights on the further development of the ESPON 2013 Programme, including on data, indicators and typologies of regions related to European territorial development and cohesion.

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).

Photos of the event

Prague, 3 – 4 June 2009

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Photos of the event

Prague, 3 – 4 June 2009

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Documents

Final Programme

  • Acrobat Document | 28KB

Press Release 29/06/2009

  • Acrobat Document | 33KB

Press Release

  • Acrobat Document | 32KB

Practical Information

  • Acrobat Document | 128KB

Participants

  • Acrobat Document | 30KB

Session 1, Introductory Speech

  • Acrobat Document | 80KB

Strategic responses to economic crisis: which role for regional policies?

  • Acrobat Document | 197KB

JESSICA Assisting cities in the current recession

  • Acrobat Document | 635KB

Introduction to Workshops: Looking for development opportunities in different types of European regions

  • Acrobat Document | 141KB

Session 2, Workshop A-Northern Europe: regional responses to demographic and energy challenges

  • Acrobat Document | 151KB

Workshop A – Northern Europe: regional responses to demographic and energy challenges

  • Acrobat Document | 636KB

Workshop A – Northern Europe: regional responses to demographic and energy challenges

  • Acrobat Document | 804KB

Workshop A – Northern Europe: regional responses to demographic and energy challenges

  • Acrobat Document | 1.09MB

Workshop B - Southern Europe: economic growth factors and tools in support of regional policies

  • Acrobat Document | 788KB

Workshop B - Southern Europe: economic growth factors and tools in support of regional policies

  • Acrobat Document | 809KB

Workshop B - Southern Europe: economic growth factors and tools in support of regional policies

  • Acrobat Document | 788KB

Workshop C – Central and Eastern Europe: cross-border regions in relation to polycentric development

  • Acrobat Document | 137KB

Workshop C – Central and Eastern Europe: cross-border regions in relation to polycentric development

  • Acrobat Document | 493KB

Workshop C – Central and Eastern Europe: cross-border regions in relation to polycentric development

  • Acrobat Document | 912KB

Plenary

  • Acrobat Document | 433KB

Plenary

  • Acrobat Document | 99KB

Plenary

  • Acrobat Document | 99KB

Plenary

  • Acrobat Document | 797KB

Plenary

  • Acrobat Document | 788KB

Update of the Territorial State and Perspectives of the EU

  • Acrobat Document | 1.52MB

Session 3, Territorial Strategies Supporting Territorial Competitiveness and Cohesion

  • Acrobat Document | 99KB

Territorial Strategies Supporting Territorial Competitiveness and Cohesion

  • Acrobat Document | 406KB

Territorial Strategies Supporting Territorial Competitiveness and Cohesion

  • Acrobat Document | 2.73MB

Territorial Strategies Supporting Territorial Competitiveness and Cohesion

  • Acrobat Document | 134KB

Session 4, Territorial Impact Assessment: How?

  • Acrobat Document | 257KB

Territorial Impact Assessment: How?

  • Acrobat Document | 538KB

Workshop A - Rural regions

  • Acrobat Document | 1.21MB

Workshop A - Rural regions

  • Acrobat Document | 1.37MB

Workshop A - Rural regions - Report

  • Acrobat Document | 13KB

Workshop B - Urban regions

  • Acrobat Document | 493KB

Workshop B - Urban regions

  • Acrobat Document | 1.38MB

Workshop B - Urban regions

  • Acrobat Document | 1.53MB

Workshop B - Urban regions - Report

  • Acrobat Document | 32KB

Workshop C – Peripheral regions

  • Acrobat Document | 120KB

Workshop C – Peripheral regions

  • Acrobat Document | 1.94MB

Workshop C – Peripheral regions - Report

  • Acrobat Document | 45KB

Session 5, Perspectives on further Analysis and Indicators by ESPON

  • Acrobat Document | 288KB

Perspectives on further Analysis and Indicators by ESPON

  • Acrobat Document | 3.93MB

Perspectives on further Analysis and Indicators by ESPON

  • Acrobat Document | 2.80MB

ESPON Project on Climate Change and Territorial Effects on Regions and Local Economies

  • Acrobat Document | 1.24MB

Closing Remarks

  • Acrobat Document | 141KB