The European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT)

Informationen zur Raumentwicklung Heft 7.2003 401 The European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) Maguelonne Déjeant-Pons Introduction The Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent stress the territorial dimension of human rights and democracy. Recommendation Rec (2002) 1 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe The Council of Europe s European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) brings together representatives of the Council s 45 Member States, united in their pursuit of a common objective: sustainable spatial devel-opment of the European continent. The CEMAT constitutes a forum enabling the member States to take into consideration sustainable spatial development problems and a platform for exchanging and dis-seminating information. It constitutes the only framework for Pan- European co-operation concerning policies of spatial development in which Member States and non-members States of the European Union can meet on a equal basis at the scale of Greater Europe. The activities of the Council of Europe relating to regional planning began in 1970 in Bonn, where the first European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning was held. Work in this field began because of a concern expressed by the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe back in the early sixties, reflected in the presentation in May 1968 of an historic report: Regional planning: a European problem. During the activities carried out over the years, fundamental documents have from time to time been adopted which have guided spatial planning policies: the European Charter of Regional Planning, adopted in Torremolinos in 1983, and the European Regional Planning Strategy put forward in Lausanne in 1988. Work on all of these was carried out in close co-operation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe. More recently, the 12 th Session of the CEMAT, held in Hanover on 7 and 8 September 2000, adopted the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent (see Appendix No 1). These Guiding Principles represent, for the Council of Europe s member States, including their regions and municipalities, both a reference document and a flexible and forward-looking framework for co-operation. They provide a vision, or blue-print, for the sustainable development of the European continent. The Guiding Principles are intended to highlight the local and regional dimension of human rights and democracy. The aim is to identify spatial planning measures enabling the populations of all Council of Europe member States to achieve an acceptable standard of living. This represents a fundamental prerequisite for implementation of the Council of Europe s social cohesion strategy and for the stabilization of democratic structures in the municipalities and regions of Europe. On 30 January 2002, the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe adopted Recommendation Rec (2002) 1 to member States on the Guiding Principles for sustainable spatial development of the European Continent. This recommendation states that the Guiding Principles make a major contribution to implementation of the social cohesion strategy adopted by the Heads of State and Government of Council of Europe member States at their second Summit in Strasbourg in 1997; constitute a policy framework, taking account of the relevant activities of the Council of Europe and its bodies, particularly those of its Parliamentary Assembly and Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE), in the field of Europe-wide spatial development policy, and with the potential to help to consolidate the COUNCIL OF EUROPE CONSEIL DE L'EUROPE Maguelonne Déjeant-Pons Council of Europe Spatial Planning and Landscape Division 67075 Strasbourg France E-Mail: maguelonne.dejeantpons@coe.int

402 Maguelonne Déjeant-Pons: The European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) European integration process through transfrontier, interregional and transnational co-operation; are a coherent strategy for the integrated and regionally balanced development of the European continent which, based on the principles of subsidiarity and reciprocity, will increase competitiveness, co-operation and solidarity among local and regional authorities across borders, thereby contributing to the democratic stability of Europe. The Committee of Ministers therefore recommends that the Guiding Principles be used as a basis for spatial planning and development measures; that they be put into practice as appropriate in the context of spatial planning projects; and that regional governmental and administrative bodies continue to be set up to facilitate better spatial integration of the various regions of Europe. The Guiding Principles take account, in the context of sustainable development, of the needs of all who live in Europe s regions, without jeopardizing the fundamental rights and development prospects of future generations. They are particularly intended to bring people s economic and social expectations into line with their regions ecological and cultural functions, thereby contributing to large-scale sustainable and balanced spatial development. Consequently their implementation requires close co-operation between the spatial planning sphere and the sectoral policies which influence the local and regional structures of Europe. The Guiding Principles also take account of world-wide international co-operation, especially as carried out within the framework of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development. The Council of Europe presented the Guiding Principles to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development held in Johannesburg from 26 August to 4 September 2002, as a contribution to the implementation of the United Nations Programme Agenda 21 adopted in Rio, notably to its Chapter concerning the integrated approach to planning and management, and as the start of an intercontinental dialogue. 1 Background to CEMAT, concept of regional planning and working structure Background to CEMAT In the 1960s, the Consultative Assembly and the Standing Conference of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) were the first to promote a European regional planning theory. In 1961 the Assembly considered the problems of overconcentration and regional disparities and stated its conviction in Resolution 210 that the harmonious geographical development of such (economic) activities...is impossible in the absence of a regional development policy. On this basis, it declared European regional planning to be one of the essential political tasks facing the European institutions at the present time. In 1964, the Assembly made a thorough study of the application of a regional planning policy (Resolution 289) and set up a joint working party in order to examine the opportunities for European co-operation in the field of regional planning in the light of proposals drawn up by the CLRAE. In May 1968 a final report, entitled Regional planning A European problem (document of the Council of Europe, 1968) was submitted to the Assembly by Mr Flämig, reporting on behalf of the Standing Com-mittee on Local and Regional Authorities. After three years of research and investigation by the joint working party, the Flämig report clearly highlighted the broad aims and particular target areas of a European regional planning policy and it also suggested the steps to be taken and the instruments required for a European solution to the various challenges facing the different governments of Europe. The two recommendations adopted by the Assembly (Recommendations 525 and 526) proposed that the Committee of Ministers should embark upon a new phase of European co-operation in regional planning and set up a standing conference of Ministers to work out broad guidelines and bring the different national policies into line. The second recommendation was designed above all to make adequate provision in the Council of Europe s intergovernmental work program for regional planning activities.

Informationen zur Raumentwicklung Heft 7.2003 403 The recommendations were followed up swiftly and forcefully: the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe agreed to the idea of the conference of Ministers in 1968 and the Government of the Federal Republic of Germany submitted a formal invitation to host the first conference in Bonn in 1970. To date, there have been twelve Ministerial conferences (see Appendix No 2). These conferences have been an opportunity for the countries of Europe to meet together in a single forum at pan-european level to exchange experiences and good practices. They help to promote transfrontier, interregional and transnational co-operation and to decide on the general thrust of European spatial development policies, and they help states to adopt or revise their regional/spatial planning legislation. A large number of publications and conference proceedings have been published between 1970 and the present (see Appendix No 3). These have been of considerable help to governments and specialists in framing spatial development policies. The adopted texts constitute reference documents both within Europe and beyond. The European Regional/Spatial Planning Charter adopted at the 6th Session of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) in Torremolinos in 1983 (the Torremolinos Charter ), incorporated into Committee of Ministers Recommendation (84) 2 to Council of Europe Member States on the European Regional/Spatial Planning Charter (see Appendix No 4), is known in many countries of the world and reference is still made to it. It is regarded as a pioneering and forward-looking text advocating sustainable development even before this issue was elaborated upon at the 1992 United Nations Conference on the Environment and Development in Rio and the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg in 2002. The Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent (GPSSDEC-CEMAT) adopted at the 12 th CEMAT Session and incorporated into Committee of Ministers Recommendation Rec (2002) 1 to member States, have already been translated into many European languages (including Bulgarian, Czech, English, French, German, Hungarian, Latvian, Norwegian, Russian, Slovenian and Spanish). They constitute a key reference text for sustainable spatial development policies for the new generation (see Appendix No 5). Concept of regional/spatial planning As the European Regional/Spatial Planning Charter states Regional/spatial planning gives geographical expression to the economic, social, cultural and ecological policies of society. It is at the same time a scientific discipline, an administrative technique and a policy developed as an interdisciplinary and comprehensive approach directed towards a balanced regional development and the physical organisation of space according to an overall strategy. The Charter mentions the European dimension and the characteristics of the spatial planning. Its European dimension: Regional/spatial planning contributes to a better spatial organization in Europe and to the finding of solutions for problems which go beyond the national framework, and thus aims to create a feeling of common identity, having regard to North-South and East-West relations. Its characteristics: Man and his well-being as well as his interaction with the environment are the central concern of regional/spatial planning, its aims being to provide each individual with an environment and quality of life conducive to the development of his personality in surroundings planned on a human scale. Regional/spatial planning should be democratic, comprehensive, functional and orientated towards the longer term: It should be conducted in such a way as to ensure the participation of the people concerned and their political representatives (democratic). It should ensure the co-ordination of the various sectoral policies and integrate them in an overall approach (comprehensive). It needs to take account of the existence of regional consciousness based on common values, culture and interests sometimes crossing administrative and

404 Maguelonne Déjeant-Pons: The European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) territorial boundaries, while taking account of the institutional arrangements of the different countries (functional). It should analyse and take into consideration the long-term trends and developments of oriented: economic, social, cultural, ecological and environmental phenomena and interventions (long-term). Its operation: Regional/spatial planning must take into consideration the existence of a multitude of individual and institutional decision-makers which influence the organization of space, the uncertainty of all forecasting studies, the market pressures, the special features of administrative systems and the differing socio-economic and environmental conditions. It must however strive to reconcile these influences in the most harmonious way possible. The fundamental objectives identified by the Charter are: Balanced socio-economic development of the regions Improvement of the quality of life Responsible management of natural resources and protection of the environment Rational use of land. Implementation of regional/spatial planning objectives The achievement of regional/spatial planning objectives is essentially a political matter. Many private and public agencies contribute by their actions to developing and changing the organization of space. Regional/spatial planning reflects the desire for interdisciplinary integration and co-ordination and for co-operation between the authorities involved. It must be based on active citizen participation. The Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent are giving a broader vision of the regional/spatial planning with the concept of sustainable spatial development. The concept of regional/spatial planning should therefore no longer be understood in a restrictive way but in a much broader sense covering spatial development policies. It involves a new form of spatial intelligence. Working structure The Committee of Senior Officials of the CEMAT, implementing the activities of the Council of Europe in the field of spatial planning and sustainable spatial and global development, has been meeting regularly since 1970 (see Appendix No 6). The following mechanism has been established for carrying out Council of Europe s activities in the field of regional / spatial planning: Ministerial Conferences every three years, under the request of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Meetings of the Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) and of his Task Force Seminars or Conferences. 2 Results of the 12th CEMAT Conference 2000 in Hanover The 12th Session of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) in Hanover (Germany), 7 8 September 2000, was organized by the Council of Europe at the invitation of the German Federal Minister for Transport, Building and Housing. The Council of Europe Parliamentary Assembly, the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe and the European Union were involved. The Ministers adopted at this Session three documents, the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent, the Resolution No 1: A 10-point Programme for greater cohesion among the regions of Europe; and the Resolution No 2: Organization of the 13th Session of the European Con-ference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (see Appendix No 7). The Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent The Ministers said the Guiding Principles were a coherent strategy for the integrated and regionally balanced development of the continent, based on the principles of subsidiarity and reciprocity. They would strengthen competitiveness, co-operation and solidarity among local and regional authorities across borders, thereby contributing to stability in Europe.

Informationen zur Raumentwicklung Heft 7.2003 405 The Guiding Principles specify that in spite of the European continent s diversity, which is a result from its history and geography, these Principles must be implemented in the same manner, at the national level, as well as on the local and regional level. In their six sections they consider the essential political and spatial objectives which are to be taken into account on this way (see Appendix No. 1). The Resolution No 1: A 10-point Programme for greater cohesion among the regions of Europe In the key points of their common programme, the Ministers mentioned (see Appendix No 7): Co-operation in concrete spatial development projects in areas at the border of the European Union and the rest of Europe (INTERREG III B co-operation areas) with the involvement of all Council of Europe Member States; continuation of projects launched by Germany as part of the INTERREG activities Backing for progress made in coordinating projects for the European Union (ESDP), the Baltic Sea region (VASAB 2010), the North Sea region (Norvision) and Central and Southeastern Europe (Vision Planet) A call for the Pan-European transport network (especially the 10 Pan-European Transport Corridors) to be set in place quickly since it is an indispensable prerequisite for making large areas accessible across the entire continent A call to strengthen trans-european, interregional and transfrontier co-operation between states, regional authorities and local authorities on spatial development, especially between Western Europe and Central and Eastern Europe to ensure the social and territorial cohesion of Europe; A statement that the Council of Europe, thanks to the activities of the Parliamentary Assembly and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe, is the suitable political body for the co-ordination of common, Europe-wide territorial development strategies A request to the Council of Europe Committee of Ministers to keep CEMAT in its intergovernmental programme and to start an immediate training programme to help regional and local planning authorities in the new Member States. The Resolution No 2: Organization of the 13 th Session of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) Resolution No 2 adopted at the 12 th Session of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Spatial Planning, on the organization of the 13 th Session instruct the Committee of Senior Officials to foster transnational and interregional co-operation by carrying out development projects supported by EU instruments and international financial institutes. It asked the Committee of Senior Officials to present concrete results or evaluations at the next CEMAT Session (see Appendix No 7). The Ministers also accepted the invitation from the Slovenian government to host their 13 th Conference in Ljubljana in 2003. They decided that the theme of that Session should be Implementation of strategies and visions for sustainable spatial development of the European continent. The Conference will focus in particular on the spatial dimension of sustainable development as a means of following up the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development held at Johannesburg in August-September 2002. 3 Work Programme of the CEMAT CSO for the period 2001 2003 In the wake of the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg 2002, the focus must be placed on promoting: Sustainable spatial development methods geared towards economic and social cohesion Efficient and sustainable transport systems and access to the information society Conservation, development and management of landscapes and the natural, cultural and landscape heritage Environmental protection, resource management and risk prevention.

406 Maguelonne Déjeant-Pons: The European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) To that end, it is essential to pool experiences in order to draft, adapt or revise national legislation in the field of regional/spatial planning and to set up spatial development entities in the new Council of Europe Member States which would like to gain access to the European Union Structural Funds. The Work Programmes of the CEMAT Committee of Senior Officials currently includes activities to promote governance and participation, vertical and horizontal co-operation, the integration of the large European areas, exchanges of experiences and proposals for sustainable spatial development models, information on national regional/ spatial planning systems, training programmes and the setting up of co-operation networks. The implementation of the Work Programm of the CEMAT CSO (Appendix No 8) is mentioned below: Promotion of the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent Adoption of Recommendation Rec (2002) 1 on the Guiding Principles At its 76 th meeting in Thessalonica, 27 June 2001, the Committee of Senior Officials of the CEMAT decided to transmit the draft Recommendation on the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent to the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe, for adoption. On 30 January 2002 the Committee of Ministers adopted the Recommendation Rec (2002) 1 of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to the Member States on the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent. Presentation of the Guiding Principles at the World Summit on Sustainable Development in Johannesburg 2002 At its 76 th meeting (Thessalonica, 27 June 2001), the Committee of Senior Officials of the CEMAT decided to present the Guiding Principles at the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, 26 August 4 September 2002). This document was presented with a preface by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe. A Political Message from the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe to the World Summit on Sustainable Development was made during the Summit. Implementation of the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent Implementation at national level National contributions for the 13 th Session of the CEMAT A document containing the national contributions will be presented at the 13 th Session of the CEMAT. These national contributions will present the role of spatial planning in the member states of the Council of Europe in: 1) securing sustainable development according to the content of the Draft Resolution Declaration on the territorial dimension of sustainable development, and 2) implementing the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent (GPSSDEC- CEMAT) through: the thematic aspects of the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent; horizontal and vertical co-operation; public participation. A synoptic paper will be prepared is on this basis and presented orally at the 13 th Session of the CEMAT. A debate is foreseen be held on this basis. CEMAT Pan-European Compendium of national policies in the spatial planning field for the Internet site A CEMAT Pan-European Compendium compiling information on national policies in the spatial planning field, to be placed on the Council of Europe s Internet site, is in preparation. It should provide data on the following items: general information (statistical data; administrative organisation; brief overview of spatial planning legislation); spatial planning content and process according to the relevant legislation and regulation (basic principles, authorities and instruments; content and role of the instruments coordination, monitoring and control; impact assessment environmental, strategic or territorial

Informationen zur Raumentwicklung Heft 7.2003 407 impact assessment; information and public participation; current situation and main problems (national, regional, local level; main problems in implementation and in spatial planning practice). Maps should be appended and the name and address of the institution which has prepared the Compendium should be mentioned. Implementation at international level Seminars and Conferences The following Seminars and Conferences mentioned in the CEMAT work programme for 2001 2003 were organised and conclusions were adopted. In the light of the priorities resulting from current events, it has been decided to organise also a Conference on Natural disasters and sustainable spatial development: prevention of floods. The integrated planning of large European areas, Thessalonica, Greece, 25 26 June 2001; Landscape heritage, spatial planning and sustainable development, Lisbon, Portugal, 26 27 November 2001; The role of local and regional authorities in European transnational co-operation in the field of regional/ spatial development, Dresden, Germany, 15 16 May 2002 (in cooperation with the CLRAE); Spatial planning for sustainable development of different types of European areas: mountains, coastal zones, rural zones, flood plains and alluvial valleys, Sofia, Bulgaria, 23 24 October 2002; Sustainable spatial development: strengthening inter-sectoral relations, Budapest, Hungary, 26-27 March 2003 (in collaboration with the United Nations Institute for Training and Research UNITAR); Natural disasters and sustainable spatial development: prevention of floods, Wroc³aw, Poland, 30 June 2003; The proceedings of the Seminars and the Conference are in the process of being published or are soon published in the Council of Europe s CEMAT European Regional Planning Series. The Seminar on The effects of enlargement, will be organised in Slovenia, at Maribor, on 17 and 18 September 2003 as a Side event of the 13 th Session of the CEMAT. Forum Setting up of partnerships for sustainable regional spatial development and possible actions CEMAT/CLRAE In application to the Resolution No 2 of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning, adopted in Hanover on 8 September 2000, a CEMAT/ CLRAE Forum was organised in Dresden on 16 May 2002 in co-operation with the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, on Setting up of partnerships for sustainable regional spatial development and possible actions CEMAT/CLRAE. It enabled elected national, regional and local representatives to have views on the implementation of the decisions taken at the 12 th Session of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning and on the main topics of the 13 th CEMAT. Texts and documents prepared for the 13 th Session of the CEMAT, Ljubljana, 16 17 September 2003 Draft Political Declaration As a follow-up to the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development (Johannesburg, August-September 2002), the following text is in preparation: Ljubljana Declaration on the territorial dimension of sustainable development. The Declaration will be accompanied by an explanatory report on the implementation of the GPSSDEC-CEMAT (Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe Recommendation Rec (2002)1), reporting on the implementation of Resolutions 1 and 2 of the Hanover Conference and the results of the CEMAT seminars and conference, and explaining the scope of the Declaration. Draft Resolutions The following texts are in preparation: Draft Resolution N 1 on public-private partnerships in spatial development policy; Draft Resolution N 2 on training of authorities responsible for sustainable spatial development;

408 Maguelonne Déjeant-Pons: The European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) Draft Resolution N 3 on sustainable spatial development and flood prevention; Draft Resolution N 4 on the terms of reference of the Committee of Senior Officials of the CEMAT and of its Bureau ; Draft Resolution N 5 on the organisation of the 14 th Session of the CEMAT. CEMAT European Observation Guide to the Rural Heritage At its 80 th meeting held in Budapest (Hungary) on 28 March 2003, the CEMAT Committee of Senior Officials adopted the CEMAT European Observation Guide to the European Rural Heritage as set out in the present document, deciding to bring it to the attention of the Ministers responsible for regional planning when they met in Ljubljana on 16 and 17 September 2003 for their 13 th Session. Implementation at transnational, transfrontier and interregional level: the CEMAT Model region projects Projects concerning the following regions are in preparation: Transnational co-operation: the Oblast of Moscow and the Oblast of Leningrad (Russian Federation and Germany). Transfrontier co-operation: the Tisza/ Tisa region (Bulgaria, Hungary, Romania, Slovak Republic, Ukraine, state union of Serbia and Montenegro). Inter-regional co-operation: Alpe-Adria Initiative. Information on the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent CEMAT Internet site The CEMAT Internet site (www.coe.int/ CEMAT) was created and opened in August 2002. Information material Postcards on the GPSSDEC-CEMAT were printed and an information leaflet on the CEMAT will be published. 4 Joint activities and co-operation CEMAT is closely co-operating with other bodies of the Council of Europe as well as with international organizations. So the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of Europe (CLRAE) have been participating since the beginning of the activities in the work of the CEMAT Committee of Senior Officials and in the European Conferences of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning. The Council of Europe Development Bank (CEB) was also represented in several CEMAT Seminars and Conferences. This co-operation could be developed. The Committee of Senior Officials is cooperating with international organizations, namely the European Union (EU), the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Conference of Ministers of Transport (ECMT). Several other international organizations (United Nations Environment Programme UNEP, United Nations Development Programme UNDP, United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation UNESCO, World Bank, European Bank for Reconstruction and Development EBRD) participated in CEMAT Seminars and Conferences and joint programmes could be developed, namely with United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). In the framework of the Resolution No 1, containing a 10-point Programme for greater cohesion among the Regions of Europe, adopted on 8 September 2001 at the 12 th Session of the CEMAT, the Ministers of Council of Europe member States emphasized that dialogue between the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) and European institutions, especially the European Commissio... on spatial development issues should be intensified, both within Europe and beyond its borders, and that the division of responsibilities among these institutions should be defined more clearly in order to avoid a duplication of activities.

Informationen zur Raumentwicklung Heft 7.2003 409 The Committee of Senior Officials of the CEMAT had welcomed the Joint Declaration on co-operation and partnership between the Council of Europe and the European Commission of 3 April 2001, as the framework for future consultation between the Committee on Spatial Development (CSD) and the CEMAT. A reinforced co-operation is being developed at the moment with the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON). Co-operation with non-governmental organizations is also well established. The International Federation for Housing and Planning (IFHP) has for several years been taking part in the work of the CEMAT Committee of Senior Officials and the European Conferences of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning. Non-governmental organizations, admitted by the Committee of Senior Officials in conformity with the Rules governing relationships between the Committee of Senior Officials of the CEMAT and nongovernmental organizations, adopted by the Committee of Senior Officials at its 77th Meeting on 28 November 2001 may participate to meetings of the Committee of Senior Officials. 5 Perspectives of the CEMAT and future activities In 2002, the Maltese Foreign Minister set out the priorities of the Council of Europe Maltese presidency. It focused on two basic objectives: to continue the process of unification of Greater Europe on the basis of the co-operation structures offered by the Council of Europe and to strengthen the social and cultural dimensions of European integration on a continent-wide scale, referring to the follow-up of the Johannesburg Summit. The document of the Secretary General of the Council of Europe on Priorities for 2003, moreover, lays down the following Political priorities: Developing the role of the Council of Europe in the new European architecture created by an enlarged and further integrated European Union and the role of a further developed Common Foreign and Security Policy within the Council of Europe Developing transfrontier co-operation with particular focus on the daily problems of border regions and extension of best practices Promoting a global and coherent approach to the concept of a European common heritage by presenting cultural heritage and natural heritage as means of developing spatial planning and social links and of enhancing peoples living environment. The activities of the Conferences of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning fit in perfectly with these priorities and objectives: the basic idea is to promote a new spatial development policy which will help foster economic and social cohesion, preserve the natural foundations of life and the cultural heritage, a best people s surrounding, and make for more balanced competitiveness throughout Europe. The six main reasons for such a policy: The growth of regional disparities The fact that traditional regional policies have been ineffective in terms of redistribution and compensation Traditional macro-economic policies have failed to prevent the growth in regional disparities A need to intensify structural and regulatory reforms A need to reconcile economic, social and environmental objectives, in other words to promote sustainable development A need for greater participation by civil society (new governance). This new strategy is based on the following premises: Prosperity is not merely quantitative but also relates to protection of the environment and natural resources, social cohesion and balanced growth between regions. There has to be a shift away from traditional regional redistribution policy and greater emphasis on the social, human and economic capital of regions. The advantages of such regions must be exploited to the full. There is a need for improved governance, a larger number of horizontal and vertical partnerships and control procedures.

410 Maguelonne Déjeant-Pons: The European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) (1) Ministry of Housing, Spatial Planning and the Environment, June 2001. (2) «La protection de l environnement et les organisations européennes». Annuaire français pour le droit international (1973), p. 921. Conclusion Spatial policy has become a major issue. Territorial governance is consequently a fundamental topic. There have to be new institutions and regulations and new generation projects for sustainable spatial development. The practical implementation of key documents such as the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent has to be followed up and assessed at regular intervals. Such assessments could take the form of national contributions to the general reports drafted for the CEMAT Sessions, reviewing the extent to which previous decisions have been implemented, subsequently presented to the Council of Europe s political organs (Committee of Ministers, Parliamentary Assembly and CLRAE). As the Netherlands 5 th National Policy Document on Spatial Planning 2000/2020 points out, the question to be addressed is one of Making space, sharing space 1. Back in 1973, Professor Alexandre Kiss stated his view that the future of environmental protection would appear to revolve around three concepts: management of natural resources, regional / spatial planning and international co-operation. International organizations which are required to engage in the last of these three will doubtless recognize the need to become increasingly more involved in addressing the first two 2. The 13 th Session of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning, which will be held in Ljubljana on 16 and 17 September 2003, will mark an essential step for the CEMAT in the effective implementation of strategies and perspectives for sustainable territorial development of the European Continent.