In the European Union there is not any specific approach developed for the integrated development for regions of large lakes, their social-economical space and catchment areas. This targeted analysis is aimed at overcoming that challenge and to provide to stakeholders’ regions and other regions in Europe recommendations for developing an effective spatial development tool for European large lakes.

The Strategic urban region Eurodelta (SURE) comprises the lower river basins of the Rhine, Meuse and Scheldt. A polycentric area, comprising a network of metropolises with medium-large cities and cross-border regions. In its capacity of an entrance gate for goods and persons to Europe, it has developed into a densely populated and economically strong area.

ERMES is focused on the reinforcement of land-sea interactions through policies and soft governance solutions that allow for the promotion of Blue Growth and the maximization of regional benefits of sustainable maritime spatial planning.

The Interreg Central Europe (CE) programme area encompasses the territory of nine EU Member States, i.e. Austria, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, as well as parts of Germany and Italy. It makes up 23% of the EU territory and covers countries from both sides of the former ’Iron Curtain’.

Digitalization in public administration is gaining momentum in many European countries and spatial planning is no exception. The digitalization process is driven by ideas of efficiency, expressed for example in the concept of “smart cities” and “digital governance”, ideas of participation and improved public service, like “open government” and “open data”, and an aspiration for new economic growth and business opportunities based on this data. The topic of this ESPON Targeted Analysis is highly relevant as digitalization plays an increasing role also in spatial planning.

Scope

Port cities have historically been an essential element of European society and economy. Despite overall growth in maritime transport, many European port cities are experiencing the relocation of port-related activities from central areas to other locations. The loss of this economic activity is leaving deteriorating inner city areas. Today brownfield waterfront sites are strategically valuable but their development can be hugely constrained by costs of decontamination treatment, plot fragmentation and complex landownership.

The Baltic Sea Region (BSR) includes Poland, Belarus, Lithuania, Latvia, Estonia, Finland, Norway, Sweden and Denmark as well as North-West Russia and Northern Germany. The BSR is the first European macro-region having a vision for spatial development (adopted in 1994, renewed in 2009).

The region is a highly heterogeneous area in economic, environmental and cultural terms. Spatial integration is hindered by the existing divides. Some of the countries are EU member states, whereas the others are not foreseeing EU accession.