Seminar "The ESPON Knowledge Base as Potential for Territorial Analysis and Policymaking at Regional Level" in Malmö, Sweden

The ESPON Coordination Unit organised in close co-operation with the Swedish Presidency of the Council of the European Union the second internal Seminar under the ESPON 2013 Programme on 2 and 3 December 2009 in Malmö (Sweden).

In the presence of Christer Larsson, City of Malmö, Sverker Lindblad, ESPON MC from Sweden, Charlotte Lindström, Director General of the Regional Development Directorate of the Skåne Region, Mikael Stamming, Öresund Committee, Lewis Dijkstra, European Commission / DG Regio as well as a representative from Spain which will take over the EU Presidency in January 2010, about 150 researchers, stakeholders and policymakers discussed how regional territorial analysis and policymaking can be given added value by using European wide territorial information from the ESPON knowledge base.

In addition, the seminar stimulated a lively dialogue between the ESPON Monitoring Committee, the stakeholders participating in Targeted Analyses, the Project Groups and the network of ESPON Contact Points.

 

 

During the seminar, plenary sessions provided for inspiration and a debate on potential use of results from the ESPON Programme. New results coming from the ongoing projects have been unfolded during 3 sessions that presented the following issues:

 

 

The concluding session placed clearer focus on the positive outcomes and future challenges. First of all, ESPON knowledge has important opportunities for detecting territorial development potential for regions and cities. The Targeted Analysis projects have already initiated new forms of territorial co-operation and have introduced the European dimension into the policymaking debate, in some regions resulting in a more sustainable approach to territorial development.

Nevertheless, it remains a challenge to make European wide knowledge operational for practical use at regional and local level. Targeted Analysis projects should clearly focus at the practical use of the project results and undertake communication efforts addressing regional and local actors. The ESPON 2013 Programme can consider to reinforce the practical use of the knowledge base by developing scientific tools to translate Europe-wide information to the regional/local level.

By clicking here you can find the Programme, the list of participants as well as the presentations given during the day. A Seminar Report will be made available early 2010.

 

 

More pictures (*) of the ESPON Seminar in Malmö HERE.

(*) Courtesy Roland Silwer