Latest Publications

Third ESPON 2013 Synthesis Report “Territories finding a New Momentum: Evidence for Policy Development, Growth and Investment”

The Third Synthesis Report presents new insights on Europe in the world and its neighbourhood, key territorial partners in Europe including macro-regions, the development of urban and rural areas, as well as areas with geographical specificities, and is garnished with examples from targeted analysis that have been initiated, delivered and used by stakeholders in Member and Partner States, regions and cities providing a European perspective on themes of their interest.

The report is in particular relating the discussion of Europe’s territorial diversity, potentials and challenges to the context of the economic crisis - although a lot of the research has been carried out before the territorial impacts of the crisis could be studied and analysed. The Third ESPON 2013 Synthesis Report is available here.

Vision and Scenarios for the European Territory towards 2050

“Making Europe Open and Polycentric”

This publication serves as an appetizer on the results of an ESPON applied research project, ET2050. It provides answers to the following key questions:

1. Why does Europe need a territorial vision now?

2. How will Europe develop if current policies are not changed?

3. How could different policy scenarios influence Europe?

4. How to make Europe more Open and Polycentric?

5. What policies could support this?

A territorial vision at European level would serve as a common reference framework for the long-term development of the European territory. This could bring several benefits, among which:

• Support Europe integrating in an increasingly interdependent world;

• Provide a territorial dimension to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth;

• Serve as a reference for policies as well as public and private investments;

• Give citizens a transparent view on ambitions for the development of the territory of Europe, the context of their region and city, and framework conditions to expect for their well-being and life quality.

"Making Europe Open and Polycentric" has been elaborated in a participatory process involving all 31 countries in the ESPON Monitoring Committee, the European Parliament (REGI), the Committee of the Regions (COTER), the European Commission (DG Regional and Urban Policy), related European organisations, stakeholders and experts.

However, further debate on a European Territorial Vision is necessary to generate a shared ownership and to ensure an anchoring of the vision and its aims in policy. It is now for the policy arena to take the next step. “Making Europe Open and Polycentric” is available here.

Territorial Observation 12 “Economic Crisis and the Resilience of Regions”

The economic crisis has witnessed the most severe economic downturn in the history of the European Union and has reversed a long trend of converging GDP and employment rates. Yet not all regions experienced economic decline and rates of recovery have varied greatly. These different experiences raise important questions as to why some regions prove to be more resilient to the economic crisis than others, and what influences the ability to withstand, and respond to, external shocks?

This Territorial Observation draws on ESPON research undertaken by a transnational project group of researchers from across Europe working on the Applied Research project “ECR2 – Economic Crisis: Resilience of Regions”. It gives a snapshot of the unfolding territorial impact of the economic crisis and, using selected case studies, the observed findings of the economic resilience of Europe’s regions. It provides some tools and principles to assess the economic vulnerability of territories and to prepare for the potential impact of future crises.

Territorial Observation No. 12 on Economic Crisis and the Resilience of Regions is available here.

Evidence Brief "Understanding Green Economy"

Green economy is about enhancing regional competitiveness and territorial cohesion in the long term, through more sustainable use of natural resources, preservation of environmental capital and fewer environmental risks.

Based on findings from the ESPON GREECO “Territorial Potentials for a Greener Economy” and ECR2 “Economic Crisis: Resilience of Regions” projects, this Evidence Brief sheds some light on the territorial dimension of the green economy.
ESPON Evidence Brief No. 10 “Understanding Green Economy” is available here.

Map of the Month “Regional Green Economic Performance, 2010”

“How far have different parts of Europe already progressed towards a green economy?” This is the question that this Map of the Month on the regional green economic performance, showing aggregated performance in different spheres, attempts to answer. More reading.

Seminar Report "Opportunities and threats for territorial cohesion: Blue Growth and Urban Poverty"

ESPON, in cooperation with the Hellenic Presidency of the Council of the EU, organised a Open Seminar in Nafplion, Greece, on the 4th and 5th of June 2014.

This report is based on the two key seminar topics that were addressed in presentations and discussions during the event, Blue Growth and Urban Poverty. It includes some of the key ESPON findings as well as the main issues discussed at the seminar and in its various workshops. More reading.

Events Register now for inspiring days of discussion and networking!

ESPON ITAN Event “What territorial cooperation between Europe and its Neighbourhoods?”

Brussels, 12 November 2014 - This event will highlight ITAN main results, with a focus on Western Balkans and on Ukrainian territories. Registration and agenda.

ESPON Workshop “Territorial Evidence for an Urban Agenda”

Brussels, 25 November 2014 - This workshop intends to address and discuss the territorial perspective of the increasing interest in strengthening the European Union’s urban development objectives.

ESPON has developed a wealth of knowledge and evidence relating to the territorial dimension of the European urban system which can contribute positively to this discussion and the development of a new shared European Urban Agenda.
Three presentations will set the scene by outlining the political ambition for a European Urban Agenda, the territorial and urban issues in the Sixth Cohesion Report and the policy objectives towards integrated and sustainable urban development in reformed Cohesion Policy.

Evidence will also be presented from a number ESPON projects with an urban focus organised around the Europe 2020 principles of smart, sustainable and inclusive growth. This will be supported by an ESPON Territorial Observation which will be available before the workshop. Further details, programme and registration here.

ESPON ITAN Event “Further steps for territorial analysis in the wider region Europe + Neighbourhoods”

Barcelona, 27 November 2014 - This event will gather the researchers who have participated in the ITAN project. The event will be dedicated to (1) the Mediterranean neighbourhood, (2) international cooperation in the field of local data. Registration and agenda.

ESPON Seminar “Territories Acting for Economic Growth - Using territorial evidence to meet challenges towards 2020”

Rome, 4 and 5 December 2014 – This seminar, which is organised in cooperation with the Italian Presidency of the Council of the European Union, will focus on ESPON’s results in relation to thematic priorities of the current Trio of EU Presidency countries, Italy, Latvia and Luxembourg. It will address themes and integrated approaches that can stimulate territories, regions and cities in providing the necessary contributions to economic growth.

In addition, the seminar will discuss the latest results from ESPON projects, progress made on the toolbox, experiences from outreach activities and present the latest news on the EPSON 2020 Cooperation Programme.

Further details, preliminary program and registration here.

Latest Reports from Projects

Final Reports

1. Governance - Final Report of TANGO - Territorial Approaches for New Governance

2. EU 2020 Strategy - Final Report of SIESTA - Spatial indicators for a Europe 2020 Strategy Territorial Analysis

3. Energy - Final Report of NSS - NORTH SEA STAR, North Sea - Spreading Transnational Results

4. Capitalisation - Final Report of ENECON - ESPON Evidence in a North European Context

Draft Final Reports

5. Landscape – Draft Final Report of LIVELAND - Liveable Landscapes: a Key Value for Sustainable Territorial Development

6. Atlas - Draft Final Report of ESPON Atlas on European Territorial Structures and Dynamics

Call for Tenders “e-MS of ESPON 2020 Programme”

This call for tenders concerns the design, development, technical support and maintenance of the programme electronic monitoring system and its modules for the ESPON 2020 Programme. The main outcome should be a web-based electronic monitoring system that supports the management and administration of the programme as required by the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) regulatory framework.

Deadline for requesting the documentation is: 2 December 2014 at 17h00 (CET - Central European Time). More at the ESPON Website.

Book “The European Territory - From Historical Roots to Global Challenges”

by Jacques Robert

Originally published in French, this book reflects the enormous changes that Europe has seen in the past half century; it is unique in its combination of in-depth analysis of the evolution of European territorial policies and paradigms, but also in its geographically comprehensive approach integrating the experience of both Western and Eastern Europe. It will be of interest to academics and professionals within territorial development and spatial planning.

In this book Jacques Robert deploys the experience amassed throughout his 35 years’ experience as adviser to European institutions in the field of territorial and regional development. More reading