The European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) is a document approved by the Informal Council of Ministers of Spatial Planning of
European Commission
The European Commission (EC) is the executive of the European Union (EU). It operates as a cabinet government, with 27 members of the Commission (informally known as "Commissioners") headed by a President. It includes an administrative body o ...
in
Potsdam
Potsdam () is the capital and, with around 183,000 inhabitants, largest city of the German state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream of B ...
in 1999. It is a legally non-binding document forming a policy framework with 60 policy options for all tiers of
administration
Administration may refer to:
Management of organizations
* Management, the act of directing people towards accomplishing a goal
** Administrative assistant, Administrative Assistant, traditionally known as a Secretary, or also known as an admini ...
with a planning responsibility. The
strategic aim is to achieve a balanced and
sustainable
Specific definitions of sustainability are difficult to agree on and have varied in the literature and over time. The concept of sustainability can be used to guide decisions at the global, national, and individual levels (e.g. sustainable livin ...
spatial development strategy.
Key concepts
With the aim to provide an
integrated, multi-sectoral and indicative
strategy
Strategy (from Greek στρατηγία ''stratēgia'', "art of troop leader; office of general, command, generalship") is a general plan to achieve one or more long-term or overall goals under conditions of uncertainty. In the sense of the "art ...
for the
spatial development, the key ideas of ESDP are:
* an integrated approach - Not just to look at specific sectors of development activity (e.g. environment, economic development, or transport), but to recognise that they all affect each other;
* spatial development - a much wider view of the development, vital for integrative approach;
* strategic aspects - interlinked actions to achieve balanced and sustainable territorial development;
* indicative views - the responsibility lies with the developed regions and territories to implement the development principals.
* Inclusive growth - regional approach to address disparities.
Spatial policy guidelines
# Development of a
polycentric
Polycentric is an English adjective, meaning "having more than one center," derived from the Greek words ''polús'' ("many") and ''kentrikós'' ("center"). Polycentricism (or polycentricity) is the abstract noun formed from polycentric. They may r ...
and balanced urban system, and strengthening of the partnership between urban and rural areas, so as to create a new urban-rural relationship.
# Promotion of integrated transport and communication concepts, which support the polycentric development of the EU territory, so that there is gradual progress towards parity of access to infrastructure and knowledge.
# Wise management of the natural and cultural heritage, which will help conserve regional identities and cultural diversity in the face of globalisation.
See also
*
ESPRID
*
Interreg
Interreg is a series of programmes to stimulate cooperation between regions in and out of the European Union (EU), funded by the European Regional Development Fund. The first Interreg started in 1989. Interreg IV covered the period 2007–2013. I ...
Further reading
* Andreas Faludi, Bas Waterhout: ''The making of the European spatial development perspective: no masterplan'', Routledge, 2002
External links
ESDP Report Potsdam
Potsdam () is the capital and, with around 183,000 inhabitants, largest city of the German state of Brandenburg. It is part of the Berlin/Brandenburg Metropolitan Region. Potsdam sits on the River Havel, a tributary of the Elbe, downstream of B ...
, May 1999
Urban planning by region
Urban economics
Regional science
European Commission projects
Geography of the European Union