Sharing experience Listening to practiceInforming policy

Krakow 30 November 2011Cliff Hague, UK ECP

ESPON-INTERSTRAT

9 Partners – territorial diversity

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To explore the usefulness of ESPON findings in the development of Integrated Territorial Development Strategies (ITDS);

 To feedback to the ESPON Programme on the priorities and questions identified by users of ESPON findings;

 To develop approaches to dissemination and transnational learning that are transparent, innovative and transferable;

 To develop the ECPs and their networking by sharing knowledge and skills for delivery of the ECP role.

Main objectives

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• Website / shared portal

• Country Reports

• Library

• National Engagement Strategies

• 15 Workshops in 9 countries

• Demonstration booklets about ESPON

• Telephone survey of partners.

What we did

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Diversity in ITDS: regional scale fragile?

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Added value from TNA?Creation of unique resource that was ONLY possible because of ECPs’ expertise & joint work.

National Engagement Strategies

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High power/influence and high immediate benefit from ESPON INTERSTRAT Spatial planning ministries Regional government departments and government agencies at regional scale which produce ITDS. Regional economic development agencies.

High power/influence but less immediate benefit from ESPON INTERSTRAT Sector ministries (e.g. transport, environment). Providers of Services of General Interest (e.g. public transport companies, health boards, retailers). Private sector developers and infrastructure providers. Local / municipal level governments. National and regional media.

Low/diffuse power/influence but high immediate benefit Consultants. Spatial planning research institutes. Professional institutes representing spatial planners. INTERREG projects. Individuals working on ITDS.

Low/diffuse power/influence and less immediate benefit Environmental NGOs Students on territorial development-related courses. Other individuals.

The events

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Some small and intensive, some more traditional and larger.

Transnational presence, national core.

Only possible through P4 project.

Demonstration materials

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Common approach, but content is designed by each ECP in relation to their National Engagement Strategy.

Would not have happened without P4 funds.

An experiment to learn from.

1: The ITDS approach is uneven between the countries and underdeveloped or fragile in several partner countries. Unique ECP national knowledge is vital to making the right connections.

2: There is value in preparing a National Engagement Strategy. Every ECP should have one.

3: Focused and intensive interventions such as the INTERSTRAT events can have impact and generate innovation. ONLY the ECPs can deliver but they need RESOURCES & know-how.

4: ESPON needs to better address the needs of national and sub-national stakeholders to deliver its full benefits. They don’t want long academic reports, but guides and helpers.

5: An enhanced role for ECPs offers the best route for capitalisation of ESPON in the post-2014 programme. TRAIN and RESOURCE them properly.

5 Messages from INTERSTRAT to ESPON

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