EU spatial policies for a green, just and cohesive Europe (1/2)

Abstract der Sitzung

The European Union is undergoing substantial changes following decades of crisis-management. The evermore pressing Climate Crisis, the Covid-19 Pandemic and the Russian Invasion of Ukraine are notably the most prominent drivers that shaped EU policy responses. In response to these drivers, the European Union considerably diversified their funding tools, and decided new overarching goals to support a more sustainable transformation. At the same time the EU has broadened their narrative from being an economically and cohesive strong actor in the world, towards fostering a pioneering narrative of a greener and fairer Europe (Rauhut, Sielker & Humer, 2021).

Key EU Frameworks that are of relevance for spatial development are, on the one hand, the today’s overarching frameworks such as the EU’s Green Deal, the New European Bauhaus, the Recovery and Resilience Fund, as well as the Just Transition Fund. On the other hand, In the EU’s traditional regional and cohesion policy, the new 5 common policy objectives, as well as the Territorial Agenda 2030 and the Urban Agenda provide today’s strategic framework for key targets, collaboration and funding distribution. Furthermore, the sectoral policies with their substantial legal and financial frameworks are of continuing, even if at times indirect or underrated, relevance to spatial development. This means policy areas of EU environmental legislation, the climate law, the Connecting Europe Facility, or the Common Agricultural Policy, amongst others. Next to these, EU Regional and Cohesion Policy continues to be a prime example of an EU policy with a spatial dimension.

The grand drivers mentioned above have been suggested to challenge the EU’s Regional and Cohesion Policy in terms of disintegration, lack of discretion, and discontent (Rauhut, Sielker & Humer, 2021). These raise questions, for example about the limits of future European enlargement and integration, about sharing competences in various policy sectors, or about a Europe closer to its citizens.

We welcome contributions in German or English language that may contextualise, reflect, discuss and inform on the EU Regional and Sector Policies’ history, current functioning and future outlooks. Contributions are welcome from theoretical, conceptual, or empirical nature alike and could engage with but are not limited to…

• failure and success of EU policies in and for certain types of territories,
• inter-sectoral and multi-level governance arrangements,
• future visions of and alternatives to cohesion and competitiveness,
• influence of international cooperation on European spatial and policy dynamics.

Particularly, we invite contributions that engage with the current key policy frameworks of the European Green Deal, the Urban Agenda and the Territorial Agenda 2030.

Reference:

Rauhut, Sielker & Humer (2021) EU Cohesion Policy and Spatial Governance: Territorial, Social and Economic Challenges; Cheltenham: Edward Elgar, 320p.; ISBN: 978-1-83910-357-5