ESPON Workshop 15 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 effectively Many smart rural territories show the way Good governance and tailored responsesneeded 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 Europes 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 potentials slightly younger than average age structure, high natural population increase, positive migration rate. Green = challenge of ageing older 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, 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, 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 Programme Methods and Typologies: Understanding the Diversity of Rural Areas Typologies of Rural Areas in ESPON, Andrew Copus, ESPON EDORA Project Rural-Urban Typologies from OECD, DG Regio, Sandra Di Biaggio, ESPON CU Open discussion and questions Trends and Future of Rural Areas: Research Progress on the Table 11:30-12:00The Future for Rural Areas of Europe, Andrew Copus, ESPON EDORA Project Open discussion and questions Buffet Lunch Concrete examples: Rural territories in the ESPON PURR project Potentials of rural regions: Notodden municipality, Cēsis District, North Yorkshire County Council, Wales and Dumfries and Galloway Marjan van Herwijnen, ESPON CU Discussion on interrelations: typology-trends-cases Expectations and Use in Policy Policy Expectation Statements Kamila Matouskova, Czech Republic, ESPON MC Daniela Toccaceli, University of Florence, Rurality-Environment-Development Peter Mehlbye, ESPON Coordination Unit Open discussion Follow-Up and Conclusions Peter Mehlbye, ESPON Coordination Unit Coffee – Tea

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