Perspectives on European Spatial Planning: North-western Europe (Germany, France, the Netherlands)

1. The Hidden Face of European Spatial Planning: Innovations in GovernanceUmberto Janin Rivolin & Andreas Faludi Perspectives on European Spatial Planning: • North-western Europe (Germany, France, the Netherlands) • UK • Nordic countries • Sothern Europe Regional perspectives on European spatial planning

2. Regional perspectives on European spatial planning

3. Southern Experience: Innovations in Governance • Concern with urban design, townscape and building control • ESDP as driver of innovation: beneficial challenge • Southern experiences represents the hidden face of European spatial planning and gives ESPD the visibility it deserves as a strategic tool • The process in southern parts is local and diversified, so it does not have the capacity to be visible in a larger scale Regional perspectives on European spatial planning

4. Statements • The background of the political culture differs a lot between Mediterranean countries of Nordic Europe The common European way of making decisions (tradition of course comes from nothern european countries and from the most important ones of them) and a common spatial planning system to use for the politicians has worried some of the southern countries. Spain has been very sceptical. Some of the southern countries do not have so tight and strict regulations, the tradition is different. They have had more flexibility inside of the system. Some of the southern countries have had also a lack of resources to follow the change on time and tighten their national way of decisionmaking and rules to follow the European union way. Why to change the system if the people feel the old traditional system is good enough? What are the best practices in there? Financing and how it is shared between southern and nothern countries of course is having an important role in there, it is unfortunately almost always the main motor to start up a change faster. Regional perspectives on European spatial planning

5. Statements • The unique architectural and cultural background in southern parts has played a significant role to make a success of ESDP • The countries have been shown to be distinct blokes in other political and socio-economic aspects Esping-Andersen: Christian-Democratic, Liberal, Social-Democratic welfare state Southern welfare state • Does ESDP create similar innovations in the UK or Nordic countries? UK: creation of regions Nordic Europe: combining physical planning and regional economic policy 27.3.2012 Regional perspectives on European spatial planning Petr Bocharnikov, Mahtab Mokhlesi & Mia Bungers