1. Workshop 3 – Social and Governance November 2006

2. Territorial aspects considered
Social
1.4.2
Gover-nance
2.3.2
ESDP
2.3.1
Future

3. Key questions
Besides key factors & dimensions and identified current territorial patterns, discussion focussed on
Which are the main factors & principles when speaking about governance?
How to explore less tangible assets for competitiveness & cohesion?
Which recommendations can be given to future ESPON projects approaching the first two questions?
How can ESPON 2013 better inform political actors and how can the policy evidence interface be developed?

4. Which are the main factors & principles when speaking about governance?
Governance as structure
Governance actions: Governance as process
vertical vs. horizontal (cross-sectoral/territorial/multi-channel) dimensions
- dimensions have been evolving differently & have different logics (needs / benefits / objectives of actors)
- analysis tools are still missing for appropriate consideration of horizontal dimension (future aspect)
- Why should regions cooperate horizontally / vertically? Are there linkages between governance and economic development etc.? Are ‘soft’ aspects influential on regional economic success?
Fulfilment of good governance principles (participation, openness, effectiveness, accountability, coherence) – normative settings / starting points (also in other projects): make used norms clear; local needs need more investigation
Governance within a specific (functional) territory (at different possible spatial levels)

5. How to explore less tangible assets for competitiveness & cohesion?
In principal, regards all 3 discussed projects
Severe data limitations need to be overcome (qualitative aspects) by e.g. stronger relation of analysis to selected (typical) types of regions
Processes matter & actors are in centre of analysis
Consider linkages between these 3 topics & and other ESPON topics
Practical examples can inspire spatial planning (ESDP)
Overcome problems of very limited direct effects (of ESDP application) by
- following more systematic investigation of planning practices
- international comparative studies on dynamics of planning practices
- further development of methodologies of policy implementation

6. How to explore less tangible assets for competitiveness & cohesion
How to explore less tangible assets for competitiveness & cohesion? (cont.)
‘How-questions’: How is it done? How is integration etc. achieved?
Ask for relationships of phenomenon / occurrences at different spatial levels resp. of different territorial aspects
Reconsider time perspective of the analysis
Reconsider possibilities to combine qualitative & quantitative methods

7. Which recommendations can be given to future ESPON projects approaching the first two questions?
Discussion about future programme and useful projects rather than about recommendations for future projects in general
Investigate the ESDP more critically – providing visions not sufficient for being influential
Structures & processes need to be explored more deeply
Use successful policy application & implementation for lessons (INTERREG IIIB)
In many cases the relations between 2 aspects are somehow known but their specific cause-effect relationships are still unknown – elaborate on this problem

8. Which recommendations can be given to future ESPON projects approaching the first two questions? (cont.)
Develop projects along selective policy aspects within one sector rather than considering it at a whole (narrow down) & relate such specific policies to territorial development
- example for social aspects: Impact of education and child care on regional employment, migration and territorial cohesion (likely to answer a lot of why questions raised by other projects, but difficult to approach)
- example for governance: development of series of demonstration projects on trans-frontier cooperation (show precise barriers & catalysts)

9. Which recommendations can be given to future ESPON projects approaching the first two questions? (cont.)
Focus on specific types of regions (typical regions) on the basis of common typology (as reference point)
- Example from social aspects: Relationship of social aspects of territorial development in theory and practice in typical regional territorial settings (similar phenomenon under different institutional settings)
- Example from governance: more concrete-oriented research into special problems of applying governance processes in specific areas (e.g. metropolitan, rural, regional polycentric)
Project proposals overall: more specific & precise - policy makers are interested in specific relationships