Highlights

Message from the ESPON Coordination Unit: New territorial evidence in support of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth

ESPON has just before the summer released several new reports providing territorial evidence for policy reflection and development.

An ESPON Atlas on the Territorial Dimension of the Europe 2020 Strategy is meant to support countries, regions and cities in contributing to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. In addition, it offers managing authorities of programmes funded by European Structural Investment Funds evidence and tools for the development of their new operational programmes.

Another new major report is the Second ESPON Synthesis Report, which connects territorial evidence from ESPON to the eleven key themes for investment of the ESIF. This report brings many key messages concerning the recent territorial dynamics on the European territory that constitute important territorial framework conditions for an efficient and effective use of the ESIF for investment and for achieving the objectives of Europe 2020.

ESPON will during the next 18 month continue providing a wealth of new territorial evidence that can nourish policy development with a territorial dimension and territorial cohesion considerations in general. Many projects of applied research and analyses are heading towards final results which makes knowledge transfer to the policy arena a key effort.

Second ESPON Synthesis Report - Territorial insight: Where to focus what types of investments

EU Cohesion Policy post-2013 focuses on eleven investment themes where cities and regions need to improve their performance in order to contribute to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. In seeking better integration to maximise the benefits from investment of public money, all key themes of the future European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) need to take account of Europe’s territorial diversity.

The ESPON Synthesis Report connects territorial evidence from ESPON to the eleven key themes for investment of the ESIF.

ESPON ATLAS - Territorial Dimensions of the Europe 2020 Strategy

The ATLAS delivers territorial evidence and maps that illustrate the diversity of trends, potentials and challenges facing regions and cities in their efforts contributing to the Europe 2020 Strategy. It allows policy makers comparing and benchmarking their territories towards the targets related to the Strategy.

Territorial Dynamics in Europe: Natural Hazards and Climate Change in European Regions

The seventh volume of ESPON Territorial Observations focuses on Natural Hazards and Climate Change. Observing impacts of natural hazards and climate change is of relevance on two accounts: (1) there is a need to become aware of challenges that might affect development negatively and even pose risk for the economy as well as for people; (2) there are future development opportunities and dynamics that could become new potentials for growth.

ESPON Map of the Month - “Hot Spots” of land-sea interactions

This month ESPON presents a map on Land – Sea interactions across Europe from the ESPON Applied Research ESaTDOR. The map shows where the landsea interactions are at their most intense, and thereby it reveals where integrated management is more needed.

ESPON published 8 whiteboard videos introducing ESPON Tools

To address today’s policy development, territorial diversity and cohesion challenges, ESPON provides a number of tools with valuable information and data for countries, regions, cities, and citizens. Tools like the Database, Hyper Atlas, Data Navigator, Online Map Finder, Typologies and Territorial Impact Assessment. ESPON helps policy makers and stakeholders to better understand and adapt to today’s fast changing conditions for development, to manage the impact of these changes and to make informed decisions. Watch the videos

Future Events

(1) Supporting Lead and Project Partners: ESPON Financial Managers Seminar

London, 19 July 2013 - ESPON invited Lead and Project Partners to the 9th Financial Managers Seminar which is organised in cooperation with the Central Approbation Body of the United Kingdom, Department for Communities and Local Government.

(2) ESPON Scientific Conference in Luxembourg, 12-13 September 2013

Call for Papers: 40 abstract submitted by ESPON Lead and Project Partners and Representatives of AESOP, ECTP-CEU, ERSA, EUGEO, RSA

Researchers from 15 countries submitted 40 abstracts by the deadline of the call. The abstracts cover the themes “Concepts”, “Methods”, “Communication” and “Data”; 55% of the submitted abstracts cover the theme “Methods”, followed by “Concepts” (18%).

Researchers will have the possibility to present a paper at the ESPON Scientific Conference on 12 – 13 September 2013 in Luxembourg.

Next steps: end July 2013, publication of the conference programme; 12-13 September 2013, ESPON Scientific Conference in Luxembourg

Past Event

ESPON Open Seminar “Territorial Cooperation for growth and jobs”

Dublin 13--14 June 2013 - ESPON organised a two day Open Seminar on “Territorial Cooperation for growth and jobs” in cooperation with the Irish Presidency of the Council of the European Union. 225 people, including policy makers, practitioners, scientists and experts were welcomed by Jan O’Sullivan (Irish Minister of State) and representatives of Dublin City Council.

The Seminar addressed the contribution of Territorial Cooperation towards recovery from the economic crisis, the usefulness of ESPON tools as well as territorial evidence in the development of Operational Programmes 2014-2020.

New Reports

Final

• Airports: ADES - Airports as Drivers of Economic Success in Peripheral Regions
• R&D: AMCER- Advanced Monitoring and Coordination of EU R&D Policies at Regional Level
• Rural migration: SEMIGRA - Selective Migration and Unbalanced Sex Ratio in Rural Regions
• Metropolitan Regions: BEST METROPOLISES - Best Development Conditions in European Metropolises: Paris, Berlin and Warsaw

Draft Final

• Territorial governance: SMART-IST - Smart Institutions for Territorial Development
• Services of general interest: SeGI - Indicators and Perspectives for Services of General Interest in Territorial Cohesion and Development

Interim

• Economic Crisis: ECR2 - Economic Crisis: Resilience of Regions
• Growth Poles: GROSEE - Growth Poles in South-East Europe
• Scenarios: (Second Interim Report) ET2050 - Territorial Scenarios and Visions for Europe
• Landscape: LP3LP - Landscape Policy for the 3 Countries Park

Inception

• Energy: NSS - NORTH SEA STAR, North Sea - Spreading Transnational Results