Europa XXI (2018) vol. 35

European territorial governance and national spatial planning practices

Articles

Editorial: EU cohesion policy and domestic territorial governance. What chances for cross-fertilization?

Giancarlo Cotella

Europa XXI (2018) vol. 35, pp. 5-20 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.1
citation: Cotella, G. (2018). Editorial: EU cohesion policy and domestic territorial governance. What chances for cross-fertilization? Europa XXI, 35, 5-20. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.1

Further information

Abstract

Territorial governance is an extremely heterogeneous activity. Each European country is characterised by a complex system of legal acts, tools, discourses and practices that had consolidated through time, as a consequence of peculiar path-dependent processes. At the same time, since more than 30 years the European Union is developing territorially relevant actions and interventions, ultimately aiming at achieving the economic, social and territorial cohesion of the continent. The mutual relations entangling domestic and supranational territorial governance remain unclear: on the one hand, the European Union is required to produce a framework for delivering its policies that is flexible enough to accommodate domestic differences; on the other hand, domestic territorial governance and spatial planning systems should adapt in order to allow room for cross-fertilization with supranational interventions. This contribution builds on the evidence collected by the research project ESPON COMPASS to frame and explore this issue. In doing so, it serves as an introduction for this special issue that, in the following contributions, presents a number of concrete examples of interaction between EU spatial policies and domestic territorial governance and spatial planning.

Keywords: EU cohesion policy, territorial governance, spatial planning, cross-fertilization, ESPON

Giancarlo Cotella [giancarlo.cotella@polito.it], Interuniversity Department of Regional and Urban Studies and Planning (DIST), Politecnico di Torino 39 Viale Mattioli, 10125 Turin: Italy

Citation

APA: Cotella, G. (2018). Editorial: EU cohesion policy and domestic territorial governance. What chances for cross-fertilization?. Europa XXI, 35, 5-20. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.1
MLA: Cotella, Giancarlo. "Editorial: EU cohesion policy and domestic territorial governance. What chances for cross-fertilization?". Europa XXI, vol. 35, 2018, pp. 5-20. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.1
Chicago: Cotella, Giancarlo. "Editorial: EU cohesion policy and domestic territorial governance. What chances for cross-fertilization?". Europa XXI 35 (2018): 5-20. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.1
Harvard: Cotella, G. 2018. "Editorial: EU cohesion policy and domestic territorial governance. What chances for cross-fertilization?". Europa XXI, vol. 35, pp. 5-20. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.1

Organising regions: spatial planning and territorial governance practices in two Swedish regions

Lukas Smas, Johannes Lidmo

Europa XXI (2018) vol. 35, pp. 21-36 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.2
citation: Smas, L., & Lidmo, J. (2018). Organising regions: spatial planning and territorial governance practices in two Swedish regions. Europa XXI, 35, 21-36. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.2

Further information

Abstract

In some European countries, sub-national regions are important geographical arenas for spatial planning. However, in Sweden, statutory regional planning is rather limited and the regional level is often described as having a weak position in the spatial planning system. In this article, we investigate territorial governance practices in two Swedish regions, with a focus on their interaction with the EU and the national level, and with the local level, as well as how these regions function as organisations and arenas for coordination of different policy fields. The study is based on semi-structured expert interviews and document analysis. The results show that spatial planning is practised both through statutory planning and soft planning approaches, and that these practices in different ways coordinate sectoral policies i.e. transport infrastructure and regional development. Both cases also illustrate difficulties not only of external coordination between different institutions and policy fields but also internally within organisations. It is also highlighted that spatial planning at the regional level focuses on coordinating actors and policy fields but that spatial planning is also an instrument to implement regional policies. In conclusion, it is argued that the organisation and territorial governance practices within a given institutional arrangement and the perception of spatial planning are crucial in determining how regions might function as multi-level coordination actors and policy arenas within spatial planning.

Keywords: multi-level coordination, policy fields, regions, spatial planning, territorial governance

Lukas Smas [ukas.smas@humangeo.su.se], Department of Human Geography, Stockholm University
Johannes Lidmo [johannes.lidmo@nordregio.org], Nordregio

Citation

APA: Smas, L., & Lidmo, J. (2018). Organising regions: spatial planning and territorial governance practices in two Swedish regions. Europa XXI, 35, 21-36. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.2
MLA: Smas, Lukas, and Lidmo, Johannes. "Organising regions: spatial planning and territorial governance practices in two Swedish regions". Europa XXI, vol. 35, 2018, pp. 21-36. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.2
Chicago: Smas, Lukas, and Lidmo, Johannes. "Organising regions: spatial planning and territorial governance practices in two Swedish regions". Europa XXI 35 (2018): 21-36. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.2
Harvard: Smas, L., & Lidmo, J. 2018. "Organising regions: spatial planning and territorial governance practices in two Swedish regions". Europa XXI, vol. 35, pp. 21-36. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.2

Planning and development activities in functional regions – the Hungarian case

Éva Perger

Europa XXI (2018) vol. 35, pp. 37-55 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.3
citation: Perger, É. (2018). Planning and development activities in functional regions – the Hungarian case. Europa XXI, 35, 37-55. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.3

Further information

Abstract

The paper provides a short overview of the legal and institutional background of functional regions in Hungary, analyses the impact of EU cohesion policy and presents dilemmas concerning the management structures in territorial units crossing administrative borders. The Hungarian case demonstrates that although the need for a place based, territorially sensitive and integrated approach has become one of the most highlighted issues over the last decade, the overall impacts of EU cohesion policy on planning and development activities in functional regions have proved to be controversial. The paper partly relies on the case study of Central Hungary developed in the framework of the ESPON COMPASS project. -

Keywords: functional regions, EU cohesion policy, regional policy in Hungary, planning and management structures, Budapest Agglomeration, Lake Balaton Resort Area

Éva Perger [perger.eva@gmail.com], Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Citation

APA: Perger, . (2018). Planning and development activities in functional regions – the Hungarian case. Europa XXI, 35, 37-55. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.3
MLA: Perger, Éva. "Planning and development activities in functional regions – the Hungarian case". Europa XXI, vol. 35, 2018, pp. 37-55. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.3
Chicago: Perger, Éva. "Planning and development activities in functional regions – the Hungarian case". Europa XXI 35 (2018): 37-55. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.3
Harvard: Perger, . 2018. "Planning and development activities in functional regions – the Hungarian case". Europa XXI, vol. 35, pp. 37-55. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.3

Planning in Luxembourg: innovation and tradition under one umbrella?

Sebastian Hans, Kai Böhme

Europa XXI (2018) vol. 35, pp. 57-68 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.4
citation: Hans, S., & Böhme, K. (2018). Planning in Luxembourg: innovation and tradition under one umbrella? Europa XXI, 35, 57-68. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.4

Further information

Abstract

For quite some while Luxembourg has seen an impressive socio-economic development, rendering spatial planning interesting. Although the spatial planning system in Luxembourg is relatively young, it is used to digest and to distribute the socio-economic growth and push for a more polycentric territorial structure. For this, policy makers have a range of instruments available. These include traditional but also many forward-thinking approaches, which give spatial planning in Luxembourg an innovative edge compared to other European countries. Among these forward-thinking approaches are e.g. national public participation processes, soft territorial cooperation or cross-border planning. Therefore, we argue in this article that supplementary to the traditional elements, spatial planning in Luxembourg has many innovative features, deserving more attention in the international planners’ community. Indeed, policy makers from all around Europe can learn and capitalise from the Luxembourgish experiences.

Keywords: spatial planning, governance, Luxembourg, growth, innovation, participation, cross-border planning

Sebastian Hans [sebastian.hans@spatialforesight.eu], Spatial Foresight
Kai Böhme [kai.boehme@spatialforesight.eu], Spatial Foresight

Citation

APA: Hans, S., & Böhme, K. (2018). Planning in Luxembourg: innovation and tradition under one umbrella?. Europa XXI, 35, 57-68. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.4
MLA: Hans, Sebastian, and Böhme, Kai. "Planning in Luxembourg: innovation and tradition under one umbrella?". Europa XXI, vol. 35, 2018, pp. 57-68. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.4
Chicago: Hans, Sebastian, and Böhme, Kai. "Planning in Luxembourg: innovation and tradition under one umbrella?". Europa XXI 35 (2018): 57-68. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.4
Harvard: Hans, S., & Böhme, K. 2018. "Planning in Luxembourg: innovation and tradition under one umbrella?". Europa XXI, vol. 35, pp. 57-68. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.4

Spatial planning determinants of cohesion policy implementation in Polish regions

Tomasz Komornicki, Barbara Szejgiec-Kolenda, Bożena Degórska, Katarzyna Goch, Przemysław Śleszyński, Maria Bednarek-Szczepańska, Piotr Siłka

Europa XXI (2018) vol. 35, pp. 69-87 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.5
citation: Komornicki, T., Szejgiec-Kolenda, B., Degórska, B., Goch, K., Śleszyński, P., Bednarek-Szczepańska, M., & Siłka, P. (2018). Spatial planning determinants of cohesion policy implementation in Polish regions.Europa XXI, 35, 69-87. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.5

Further information

Abstract

The main objective of the paper is to present directions of mutual interrelationships between the state of spatial planning (at different levels of public administration) and effective cohesion policy, conceived as operational programmes carried out in Poland in the years 2004-2016. In the research study, the following results were attained: defining the basic planning conditions of development policies implementation resulting from integration with EU, indicating the consequences of these conditions for territorial governance and for the implementation of cohesion policy, as well as identifying the solutions adopted by Poland lying at the intersection between spatial development and investments financed by the EU funds. The paper presents the most important challenges, adopted solutions and effects of their utilization in Poland within three thematic issues: a) polycentricity and suburbanisation, b) transport infrastructure and accessibility and c) natural and cultural heritage.

Keywords: territorial governance, spatial planning, cohesion policy, Territorial Agenda 2020

Tomasz Komornicki [t.komorn@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
Barbara Szejgiec-Kolenda [b.szejgiec@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
Bożena Degórska [bodego@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. S. Leszczyckiego PAN
Katarzyna Goch [gochkatarzyna@gmail.com], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland
Przemysław Śleszyński [psleszyn@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania PAN
Maria Bednarek-Szczepańska [bednarek@twarda.pan.pl], Instytut Geografii i Przestrzennego Zagospodarowania im. S. Leszczyckiego PAN
Piotr Siłka [psilka@twarda.pan.pl], Institute of Geography and Spatial Organization Polish Academy of Sciences, Twarda 51/55, 00‑818 Warszawa, Poland

Citation

APA: Komornicki, T., Szejgiec-Kolenda, B., Degórska, B., Goch, K., Śleszyński, P., Bednarek-Szczepańska, M., & Siłka, P. (2018). Spatial planning determinants of cohesion policy implementation in Polish regions. Europa XXI, 35, 69-87. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.5
MLA: Komornicki, Tomasz, et al. "Spatial planning determinants of cohesion policy implementation in Polish regions". Europa XXI, vol. 35, 2018, pp. 69-87. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.5
Chicago: Komornicki, Tomasz, Szejgiec-Kolenda, Barbara, Degórska, Bożena, Goch, Katarzyna, Śleszyński, Przemysław, Bednarek-Szczepańska, Maria, and Siłka, Piotr. "Spatial planning determinants of cohesion policy implementation in Polish regions". Europa XXI 35 (2018): 69-87. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.5
Harvard: Komornicki, T., Szejgiec-Kolenda, B., Degórska, B., Goch, K., Śleszyński, P., Bednarek-Szczepańska, M., & Siłka, P. 2018. "Spatial planning determinants of cohesion policy implementation in Polish regions". Europa XXI, vol. 35, pp. 69-87. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.5

Examining the impact of EU cohesion policies aiming to reduce regional and social disparities with examples of policy impacts in Ireland

Brendan Williams, Johanna Varghese

Europa XXI (2018) vol. 35, pp. 89-109 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.6
citation: Williams, B., & Varghese, J. (2018). Examining the impact of EU cohesion policies aiming to reduce regional and social disparities with examples of policy impacts in Ireland. Europa XXI, 35, 89-109. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.6

Further information

Abstract

This research describes the evolution of the Irish spatial planning system and explores the impact of EU cohesion policies aiming to reduce regional and social disparities within the European Union with respect to recent developments in Ireland. The changing nature of the Irish planning system is seen as movement from a market or local development led approach towards a more strategic regional and national approach. This trend has in part been influenced by EU policies, directives and initiatives with evidence of both difficulties and successful delivery of some major projects. The discussion is complemented by evidence from two case studies in the transportation area and interviews with key participants in the policy processes. In conclusion the implications of such trends for future planning policy in Ireland and the EU are explored.

Keywords: EU, Ireland, spatial planning, transport infrastructure, peripheral regions

Brendan Williams [brendan.williams@ucd.ie], School of Architecture Planning and Environmental Policy, College of Engineering and Architecture, University College Dublin
Johanna Varghese [johannavarghese@gmail.com], School of Architecture Planning and Environmental Policy, College of Engineering and Architecture, University College Dublin

Citation

APA: Williams, B., & Varghese, J. (2018). Examining the impact of EU cohesion policies aiming to reduce regional and social disparities with examples of policy impacts in Ireland. Europa XXI, 35, 89-109. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.6
MLA: Williams, Brendan, and Varghese, Johanna. "Examining the impact of EU cohesion policies aiming to reduce regional and social disparities with examples of policy impacts in Ireland". Europa XXI, vol. 35, 2018, pp. 89-109. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.6
Chicago: Williams, Brendan, and Varghese, Johanna. "Examining the impact of EU cohesion policies aiming to reduce regional and social disparities with examples of policy impacts in Ireland". Europa XXI 35 (2018): 89-109. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.6
Harvard: Williams, B., & Varghese, J. 2018. "Examining the impact of EU cohesion policies aiming to reduce regional and social disparities with examples of policy impacts in Ireland". Europa XXI, vol. 35, pp. 89-109. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.6

How governance counts? Comparative analysis of activity and funding patterns of Central European cross-border cooperation programmes

Zoltan Pamer

Europa XXI (2018) vol. 35, pp. 111-126 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.7
citation: Pamer, Z. (2018). How governance counts? Comparative analysis of activity and funding patterns of Central European cross-border cooperation programmes. Europa XXI, 35, 111-126. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.7

Further information

Abstract

Cross-border cooperation – as objective 3 of cohesion policy since the 2007-2013 programming period – plays a key role in promoting Europeanisation, which is especially important in case of Central Europe that is dominated by small national states. Target areas of cross-border cooperation are the NUTS 3 units located along the state borders. As project generation, decision making and implementation is overwhelmingly done on regional level, territorial governance structures are decisive from cross-border cooperation point of view. The paper focuses on two programmes – the Slovenia-Austria and the Hungary-Croatia – whose target areas are lacking large urban centres, middle-size and small towns make up the backbone of the settlement network. The involved countries are very diverse in regional governance structures. Austria is a federal state with strong regional governments. Croatia and Hungary are unitary states with limited capacities on regional level. Slovenia is, again, a unitary state that lacks medium level of government, therefore the local level is the carrier of cross-border cooperation. Aim of the paper is to identify how different systems of territorial governance are reflected in the implementation of the programme and the allocation of funding. After presenting the premises of cross-border cooperation and a brief outline of the two programmes a quantified analysis will be presented based on primary ex-post programme data of the 2007-2013 Slovenia-Austria and Hungary-Croatia cross-border cooperation programmes. Analysis is conducted on LAU 2 level in order to show how different categories of the settlement structure contribute in terms of cooperation activity and absorption and how it is distributed between different types of beneficiary organisations.

Keywords: cohesion policy, territorial governance, cross-border cooperation, Central European countries

Zoltan Pamer [pamer@rkk.hu], Centre for Economic and Regional Studies, Hungarian Academy of Sciences

Citation

APA: Pamer, Z. (2018). How governance counts? Comparative analysis of activity and funding patterns of Central European cross-border cooperation programmes. Europa XXI, 35, 111-126. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.7
MLA: Pamer, Zoltan. "How governance counts? Comparative analysis of activity and funding patterns of Central European cross-border cooperation programmes". Europa XXI, vol. 35, 2018, pp. 111-126. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.7
Chicago: Pamer, Zoltan. "How governance counts? Comparative analysis of activity and funding patterns of Central European cross-border cooperation programmes". Europa XXI 35 (2018): 111-126. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.7
Harvard: Pamer, Z. 2018. "How governance counts? Comparative analysis of activity and funding patterns of Central European cross-border cooperation programmes". Europa XXI, vol. 35, pp. 111-126. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.7

Review

Book Review: The Poverty of Territorialism. A Neo-Medieval View of Europe and European Planning. Andreas Faludi. Cheltenham, Northampton: Edward Elgar, 2018; 200 pages, ISBN 978 1 78897 360 1

Jacek Zaucha

Europa XXI (2018) vol. 35, pp. 127-131 | Full text
doi: https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.8
citation: Zaucha, J. (2018). Book Review: The Poverty of Territorialism. A Neo-Medieval View of Europe and European Planning. Andreas Faludi. Cheltenham, Northampton: Edward Elgar, 2018; 200 pages, ISBN 978 1 78897 360 1. Europa XXI, 35, 127-131. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.8

Further information

Jacek Zaucha [jacek.zaucha@ug.edu.pl], Faculty of Economics, University of Gdańsk

Citation

APA: Zaucha, J. (2018). Book Review: The Poverty of Territorialism. A Neo-Medieval View of Europe and European Planning. Andreas Faludi. Cheltenham, Northampton: Edward Elgar, 2018; 200 pages, ISBN 978 1 78897 360 1. Europa XXI, 35, 127-131. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.8
MLA: Zaucha, Jacek. "Book Review: The Poverty of Territorialism. A Neo-Medieval View of Europe and European Planning. Andreas Faludi. Cheltenham, Northampton: Edward Elgar, 2018; 200 pages, ISBN 978 1 78897 360 1". Europa XXI, vol. 35, 2018, pp. 127-131. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.8
Chicago: Zaucha, Jacek. "Book Review: The Poverty of Territorialism. A Neo-Medieval View of Europe and European Planning. Andreas Faludi. Cheltenham, Northampton: Edward Elgar, 2018; 200 pages, ISBN 978 1 78897 360 1". Europa XXI 35 (2018): 127-131. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.8
Harvard: Zaucha, J. 2018. "Book Review: The Poverty of Territorialism. A Neo-Medieval View of Europe and European Planning. Andreas Faludi. Cheltenham, Northampton: Edward Elgar, 2018; 200 pages, ISBN 978 1 78897 360 1". Europa XXI, vol. 35, pp. 127-131. https://doi.org/10.7163/Eu21.2018.35.8