Testing the Rural Planning and Innovation Lab (RUPIL)
This case report seeks evidence of how strategic planning in rural areas may respond to complex demographic changes that would not have happened without the successful cooperation of three interested and relevant parties. The Albula region in the Graubünden Canton of Switzerland, Malung-Sälen Municipality in Dalarna County in Sweden, and Os Municipality in Innlandet County in Norway have proved to be the best cases we could hope for in a fast-moving project like this.
Innovative Planning in Shrinking Societies
Currently, 40% of the population in Europe lives in a shrinking region, which means they experience a declining and/or ageing population. This especially impacts rural regions, where natural decline, continued urbanisation, and accompanying centralisation are expected to accelerate shrinking in these regional areas. Policy challenges are evident in, for example, labour market shortages, fiscal sustainability, infrastructure provision and access to services. Local planning is crucial to meet these changes and identify new and innovative strategies and solutions.
RURALPLAN final report
RURALPLAN project provides a theoretical and practical framework for innovative strategic planning for development without (population) growth. This perspective constructively addresses the complex challenges of such areas without placing the stigma of ‘failing to grow’ on local and regional entities and societies. Such a change of mindset is challenging in traditional planning terms when development equals growth.
[DEMODAT] - Demographic data: combining datasets, filling data gaps and providing reliable estimations
Demographic data – combining datasets, filling data gaps and providing reliable estimations (DEMODAT24) is a collaborative effort by ESPON and the JRC to provide spatio-temporarily complete datasets on demography. The main data source is Eurostat (the Statistical Office of the European Commission), complemented, where necessary, by other appropriate national and international sources. The resulting database contains a set of long time-series variables and indicators for EU regions, as well as for regions in all EFTA and most candidate countries, at all NUTS scales (NUTS1, NUTS2, NUTS3).
[DESIRE] - Analysis on provision of public services in lagging regions and areas with special needs
In the European Union access to essential services is guided by the European Pillar of Social Rights (EPSR) where Principle 20 stipulates that everyone has the right to easy-to-use and affordable key services, including water, sanitation, energy, transport, financial services and digital communications.
ESPON Seminar: Ensuring quality services for all people and places
The European Pillar of Social Rights stipulates that everyone has the right to easy-to-use and affordable key services, including water, sanitation, energy, transport, financial services and digital communications.
House for All: Access to Affordable and Quality Housing for All People
The European Research Project [House4All] Access to affordable and quality housing for all people aims to provide a comprehensive and comparative overview of how housing policies are delivered across the ESPON territory and develop a comprehensive definition of housing affordability at the EU level, taking into account a broad range of indicators and the diversity of European territories and their specificities.
