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Reconsidering Cohesion Policy: The Contested Debate on Territorial Cohesion Martin Ferry

Reconsidering Cohesion Policy: The Contested Debate on Territorial Cohesion Martin Ferry. Introduction. Origins and evolution of territorial cohesion objective Territorial cooperation effects and lessons for territorial cohesion? Conclusions and discussion.

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Reconsidering Cohesion Policy: The Contested Debate on Territorial Cohesion Martin Ferry

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  1. Reconsidering Cohesion Policy: The Contested Debate on Territorial Cohesion Martin Ferry

  2. Introduction • Origins and evolution of territorial cohesion objective • Territorial cooperation effects and lessons for territorial cohesion? • Conclusions and discussion

  3. The concept of territorial cohesion • First mentioned in a report by the Association of European Regions (1997) • Since then, increasing profile through multiple documents

  4. What does it actually mean? • At least four different definitions: • Polycentric & endogenous development • Balanced development model • Accessibility • Form of networking • Member State opinions vary: • Overall assessment of the concept: (favourable - Finland & Greece); (not an urgent priority - Denmark & Ireland); sceptical (Austria & Germany) • Different meanings attached • Vague, ambiguous concept working as a compromise?

  5. Means of addressing territorial cohesion • General agreement on two paths to realising territorial cohesion: • Horizontal coordination of policies with a spatial impact • Territorial cooperation between subnational actors • INTERREG programme could offer some lessons

  6. INTERREG: quantitative effect • Financial resources not large (INTERREG III - €5.8 billion) • Physical measurable results and impacts limited and difficult to measure However… • Financial pooling & leverage • increase scale and scope of interventions • Cooperation across borders • new solutions to problems

  7. INTERREG: qualitative effect • Territorial cooperation does have a ‘qualitative effect’ on various aspects of territorial cohesion • Political symbolism • Additionality and innovation • Learning and exchange • Trans-border relationships • Internationalisation and decentralisation • Effects associated with a range of benefits and challenges

  8. Conclusions & questions for discussion • Incorporation of territorial cohesion as a regional policy objective focuses attention on potential role of territorial cooperation • What are the implications of the territorial cohesion objective for Cohesion policy? How can it be defined? What priorities should it have? • Is the INTERREG programme an important channel for reinforcing territorial cohesion in practice? What does INTERREG contribute to the goal of territorial cohesion?

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