Ilona Raugze, Director ESPON-EGTC speaking at the High Level Roundtable on integrated territorial development at the World Urban Forum (WUF9)

This video contribution was part of a conference about "Green economy in the Apennine Region" on 22-23 May 2018

Reliable data is needed to make informed decisions on the development of Europe, its regions and cities.

To address today’s policy development, territorial diversity and cohesion challenges, the ESPON programme provides a number of tools with valuable information and data for countries, regions, cities, and citizens.

Maps are a useful and easy way to make complex information accessible to a wide audience.

Scientists depend on reliable data for successful research.The ESPON Database supports scientists with systematic, comparable and reliable data on regions and cities.

Rural, mountainous, sparsely or highly populated – regions have different opportunities and challenges. Decision-makers need reliable data to plan successful development.

When new policies are implemented, some regions are more affected than others. To enable a better understanding of future impact of policies before decisions are made, ESPON has developed territorial impact assessment tools.

For an effective policy development, policy makers take into account the specific characteristics of the different regions.

Maps are an important tool for policy makers, who need reliable data and an easy way to visualize information.