VASAB & Spatial Foresight workshop “Baltic Sea Region vision and strategies for thriving regions and cities” at 19th European week of Regions and Cities
VASAB & Spatial Foresight workshop “Baltic Sea Region vision and strategies for thriving regions and cities” at 19th European week of Regions and Cities
About event
VASAB & Spatial Foresight workshop “Baltic Sea Region vision and strategies for thriving regions and cities” at 19th European week of Regions and Cities, 12 October, 14.30-16.00 CET
Global trends and developments serve as impetus for collaboration beyond individual regions and cities. Such cooperation, especially at macro-regional level, enhances methods to tackle challenges outside of regular administrative structures. The macro-regional approach is well acknowledged, yet it is rarely practised in spatial planning.
One example is VASAB – intergovernmental ministerial cooperation on spatial planning, and on preparing visions and strategies for balanced territorial development in the Baltic Sea Region. It is a joint effort being carried out in a highly diverse region among EU and non-EU countries. Recently, VASAB updated its Long-Term Perspective for the Territorial Development of the Baltic Sea Region, which is a strategic spatial planning document targeting territorial cohesion by 2040.
The workshop discussed the prospects and benefits of macro-regional spatial planning for European regions and cities, and what can be transferred to other areas beyond existing practice in the Baltic Sea Region. The workshop also discussed how strong visions and territorial perspectives can help tackle global challenges (e.g. the effects of the pandemic, climate resilience, digital transformation) at macro-regional/cross-border level.
Recording from the session is HERE.
Workshop overview is HERE.
WORKSHOP PRESENTATIONS ARE AVAILABLE BELOW!
Workshop agenda (CET)
Opening & welcome by moderator Dr Kai Böhme
What is VASAB cooperation?
Alda Nikodemusa, Head of VASAB Secretariat
Update of the VASAB Long-Term Perspective
Maria Toptsidou, Analyst at Spatial Foresight GmbH, Coordinator of the Update of the VASAB Long-Term Perspective
From Vision to Rail Baltica: case study of Estonia
Tiit Oidjärv, Deputy Head of the Spatial Planning Department at the Estonian Ministry of Finance
Long-Term Perspective and regional development: case study of the Rostock Region in Germany
Holger Janssen, Head of the Office for Regional Planning for the Rostock Region, Germany
Discussion
- How can macro-regional visions (such as the LTP) be applied at different levels – national, regional and local? What role can cooperation play in highly diverse European regions? Who needs to be on board?
- What are territorial perspectives and visions for the sustainable and prosperous development of European regions and cities, considering global trends, such as the effects of the pandemic, decarbonisation/climate resilience, digital transformation, etc.? What is missing/what has been overlooked?
Wrapping up & conclusions by the moderator
End of the workshop
