European Regional Sustainable Development Network

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• European Regional Sustainable Development Network
• Rhodri Asby
  May 2003

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Objectives and strategies of network

• What does a Sustainable Region look like? -
  Regions thinking together
• Regional dimension of EU SD Strategy
• Help to inform the future shape of structural
  funds to tackle economic, environmental and
  social problems in an integrated way
• Work towards more holistic approaches of regional
  Sustainable Development
• Equip partners with knowledge and expertise to
  build for future activities

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How the network will work
Baseline Mapping reports
Feedback to EU Policy Making
Exchange Visits and reports
WEB
Policy Seminars (4)
Forum
Identification of joint issues for future work
Policy Studies (10)
Possible bids for further work e.g INTERREG III,
FP6
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Progress to date

• Identified a Focal Point for each region
• 2 meetings of the Focal Points held
• Brussels 14-15 October 2002
• Cardiff 4-5 December 2002
• First Policy Seminar - Asturias 3 April
• First Exchange Visit - Asturias 4 April

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Baseline mapping reports

• Proforma developed
• Governance and responsibilities for SD
• Main SD priorities
• Strengths and good practices in SD
• Areas where lessons want to be learned
• Regional expertise
• Results will feed into exchange visits, policy
  studies and seminars

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Basic Facts

• Population
• Emilia Romagna - 4,003,000
• La Rioja - 265,000
• Population Density (per kilometre squared)
• Limburg - 526
• Tampere - 34

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Expectations and priorities

• Provide forum to share know-how and best
  practice.
• Opportunity to develop joint projects and to
  establish links with the European Commission.
• In topics, such as health, environment and waste
  management, regions priorities are consistent
  with their mission.

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Strengths Weaknesses

• SD legislation and governance
• Environmental management systems
• Spatial planning
• Local agenda 21

• Health
• Sustainable tourism
• Social economy
• Natural resources
• Heritage protection
• Transport

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Policy Studies

• Agreement reached that the studies should
• Avoid duplication of other studies
• Strike a balance between the big, macro issues
  and more detailed SD approaches
• Focus on areas where the network can contribute
  to EU policy-making
• Collaborate with other networks to produce
  studies of common interest
• Consider the 6 unsustainable trends

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Policy Study Topics
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Framework of seminars, studies and visits
Policy Seminars
Studies Core Topics
Study Visits (2 per region)
Studies Specific Topics
1. Asturias
Post Industrial Regeneration
Rural Depopulation/Demographics
2. Emilia Romagna
REGIONS EXPERTS
Spatial Planning, Governance, Indicators
Low Carbon Economy
Sustainable Tourism
3. To be confirmed
Food Production
4. Brussels
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Policy Seminar 1 - Spatial PlanningKey Points

• Regional Level is Key! - Governance
• What does a more sustainable region look like?
  How will the region change?
• Engage all stakeholders and bringing them
  together!
• Spatial Planning - using it as an intensive
  goal-driven process

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Policy Seminar 1 - Spatial Planning

• Utilising the experience from Agenda 21
• Utilising stakeholders to work on key
  policies/documents
• Breaking the congestion of plans!!! Integrating
  to achieve SD
• Integrating good practice back into policy

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www.sustainableregions.net

• New website developed
• Mini homepage for each member
• Reports will be available for download
• Forum for members and others to share
  information

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The End

• Diolch am wrando Thank you for listening -
  Gracias por su atencion.