[ResiLIAnce] – Improving local intermediate authorities’ crises preparedness and territorial resilience

Around 70% of the European population is living in local intermediate authorities, which are categorised as NUTS 3 level units in the EU statistical system (e.g. provinces, départements, Landkreise, judeţ, powiat, diputación…), and which cover nearly 90% of the European territory. Depending on the institutional framework of the member state they belong to, they are responsible for important infrastructure and public services such as schools, waste management, provincial roads, local public transport, social services, tourism, hospitals, or civil protection.

The territories of the local intermediate authorities to be covered by this targeted analysis are all predominantly or partly rural areas: Aude Provincial Council (France), Var Provincial Council (France), Segovia Provincial Council (Spain), Jaén Provincial Council (Spain), Harghita Provincial Council (Romania), Maramureş Provincial Council (Romania), Province of Lucca (Italy), Province of Pesaro-Urbino (Italy), County of Karlsruhe (Germany), Poznan Provincial Council (Poland).

Some of these territories combine mountain and maritime-coastal areas (i.e. the Province of Lucca, the Province of Pesaro-Urbino, Aude Department, Var Department), others are located inland and made up of large rural areas (the Province of Segovia, the Province of Jaen, Harghita County, Maramureş County, Poznan County). Limited accessibility and mobility options, as well as a lack of infrastructure and public services, have contributed to intensifying the sharp contrast between wealthy urban areas and less developed rural and remote areas. Consequently, some of these regions are affected by severe problems of depopulation, brain drain and unemployment (e.g. the provinces or counties of Segovia, Harghita, Aude and Maramureş).

Other territories are frequently affected by floods and landslides (in the case of Pesaro and Urbino even by earthquakes) because of their geographical location and topographical characteristics (i.e. the Province of Lucca, the Departments of Var and Aude, Maramureș County, the Province of Pesaro and Urbino, Karlsruhe County). The occurrence of these natural hazards has devastating effects on the landscape and the local economy. Paradoxically, in some of these territories (e.g. in the Province of Jaén, Karlsruhe County and Poznań County) climate change has also intensified drought problems. Alternating periods of heavy rainfall and dryness bring about serious economic repercussions. As parts of these regions are covered by forests, droughts increase the risk of wildfires. Considering the effects of water shortages on tourism, agricultural production and some industrial sectors like the paper industry, the socio-economic consequences of natural hazards on these territories are significant.

Occurrences of natural hazards and social crises have turned resilience into a political priority, thus far with varying degrees of effective absorption in public policies in the different local intermediate authorities involved in the ResiLIAnce project. Because of the public policies they are responsible for, local intermediate authorities are therefore at the forefront of the response to natural disasters and social crises as they play a pivotal role in linking and coordinating public and private actors to harmonise responses throughout their territories.

To implement this service contract, the ESPON EGTC is supported by CEPLI (Confédération Européenne des Pouvoir Locaux Intermédiaires / European Confederation of Local Intermediate Authorities), a broad European network grouping seven national associations representing almost 900 public authorities of seven European Countries.

Policy questions

What defines good management of risks and crises at the local intermediate level? In particular, what are efficient means of raising awareness/informing policymakers and citizens about risks and potential crises in their territories? What are the key data that need to be collected and shared for efficient crisis management?
Against that background, how effective are response mechanisms to crises currently in place in the stakeholder territories?
What are the best practices identified in the stakeholders’ territories which could be transferable to other local intermediate authorities? What would be the key characteristics of a place-based action plan aiming at implementing an integrated preparedness approach?

Main expected outputs

Data on natural risks and social crises, and interactive maps and graphs resulting from the research and provided in the format compatible with the environment of the ESPON Portal.
An analysis of existing policies and tools in the stakeholder’s territories for monitoring and managing risks related to social crises and natural hazards.
A risk prevention and management toolkit consisting of successful and suggested risk prevention measures for different types of territories and good management practices.
A methodology for raising awareness about potential risks the territory is subject to, aimed at policy makers, local stakeholders and citizens.

Stakeholders

•    European confederation of local intermediate authorities – CEPLI (Belgium)
•    Aude Provincial Council (France)
•    Var Pronvicial Council (France)
•    Segovia Provincial Council (Spain)
•    Jaen Provincial Council (Spain)
•    Harghita Provincial Council (Romania)
•    Maramures Provincial Council (Romania)
•    Province of Lucca (Italy)
•    Province of Pesaro-Urbino (Italy)
•    County of Karlsruhe (Germany)
•    Poznan Provincial Council (Poland)