ESPON Workshop15 December 2010 in Luxembourg

Rural Regions in Europe:

Potential and Challenges

ESPON Workshop on Rural Regions

Aims of workshop

Understanding the Diversity of European Rural Areas

Approaching corresponding Potentials for Development

−Typologies and methods −Trends and Futures of Rural Areas −Examples of successful Rural Territories −Policy Expectations and Implementation

Structural types of Rural Areas, 2006

Territories and places all have development potentials: Diversity is a strength if used effectivelyMany smart rural territories show the way

Good governance and tailored responses needed

Place based policy and governance important for success

Promotion of territorial competitiveness and cohesion:A place based approach integrating sectors

Larger territorial context important

Cooperation in larger territories at all scales

Europe’s cooperation of territories must increase:

Cooperation create larger markets and critical mass

Entails a great potential for added value

Supports territorial balance at all scales

Navigating Europe in a challenging, changing World

Smart Rural Regions at global scale

Rural areas as global players: Rural innovation regions worldwide trading and collaboration links: Examples from Finland, Norway but also southern Germany

Worldwide trade with natural resources:There are cases where the companies in the rural areas interact directly with their clients around the world

Worldwide branded agricultural products: Rioja, Tokaji, Champagne, Gruyère cheese, Scotch whisky, etc…

Rural tourist destinations known worldwide: The castle of Neuschwanstein in Germany, Kleinwalsertal in Austria, the Icehotel in Sweden or the Blue Lagoon on Iceland.

Demographic status, 2005

• Dark-blue = Euro standard close to the overall average of the ESPON space. A stagnating natural population balance, but a positive net migration rate is prevalent.

• Dark purple = challenge of labour force high share of population in young working ages and a slight population decline, driven by a negative natural population development.

• Light blue = family potentialsslightly younger than average age structure, high natural population increase, positive migration rate.

• Green = challenge of ageingolder population and natural population decreases; overall population size is increasing due to migration.

• Light purple = challenge of decline negative natural population balance, as well as a negative migratory balance depopulation accompanied by demographic aging.

• Yellow = young potentials young age structure, positive natural population increase, strong migratory balance.

• Brown = overseas high proportions of young people natural population increase counterbalances the negative migratory balance.

Change in working age population, 2000-2007

Areas with the highest decreases in Bulgaria and East Germany

Areas with the strongest increase in Spain, Ireland, Iceland, some regions in western France, and single regions in Portugal, Poland, Switzerland, the Benelux countries, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Scotland and Norway.

Expected territorial migration effects 2050

Most regions gain population due to immigration. In 24% of the regions the 2050 population would be higher by 30% or more compared to a non-migration scenario.EU15 regions mainly winners with some exceptions Most profound gains in Italy north of Naples, some south-eastern regions of Spain, southern France, and the east and west England. Emigration regions in the east, especially Romania and Poland.

Rural areas and their urban links, 1995-2004

Disparities decrease between major urban centres and their rural hinterland in Portugal, Germany, Belgium and Austria Disparities increase mainly in the Eastern European countries,

the UK and Nordic countries

Policy Expectations towards Rural Regions in Europe

− Rural regions shall contribute to smart, sustainable and inclusive growth

− Smart connected places are not only urban

− Intelligent use of unique endogenous development potentials

− New and innovative profiling of local assets for development a necessary challenge

− Accessibility to areas and services of general interest

− Strengthened partnership and cooperation between urban and rural territories conceived as new functional geographies

− Inclusion of rural diversity in more strategic programming in Structural Funds post 2013

Workshop ProgrammeMethods and Typologies: Understanding the Diversity of Rural Areas• 10.15-10.45 Typologies of Rural Areas in ESPON, Andrew Copus, ESPON EDORA Project• 10.45-11.15 Rural-Urban Typologies from OECD, DG Regio, Sandra Di Biaggio, ESPON

CU• 11.15-11.30 Open discussion and questions

Trends and Future of Rural Areas: Research Progress on the Table• 11:30-12:00 The Future for Rural Areas of Europe, Andrew Copus, ESPON EDORA Project• 12.00-12.30 Open discussion and questions

Buffet Lunch

Concrete examples: Rural territories in the ESPON PURR project 13.30-14.00 Potentials of rural regions: Notodden municipality, Cēsis District, North

Yorkshire County Council, Wales and Dumfries and Galloway Marjan van Herwijnen, ESPON CU

14.00-14.30 Discussion on interrelations: typology-trends-cases 

Expectations and Use in Policy• 14.30-15.45 Policy Expectation Statements

Kamila Matouskova, Czech Republic, ESPON MCDaniela Toccaceli, University of Florence, Rurality-Environment-DevelopmentPeter Mehlbye, ESPON Coordination UnitOpen discussion

Follow-Up and Conclusions• 15.45-16.00 Peter Mehlbye, ESPON Coordination Unit

Coffee – Tea

More information

Thank you for your attention!

www.espon.eu