Stichting Strathclyde University (EPRC Delft), together with TUD Delft, is carrying out an ESPON study on territorial instruments in national policies in Europe.
The study takes stock of the different types of territorial instruments used to implement territorially sensitive interventions. Specifically, the research team examines the rationale and design of these instruments, investigating three organising principles: a territorial focus that is tailored to the type of targeted territories, an integrated approach that goes across sectors, and governance arrangements that involve subnational levels. This includes a focus on links with spatial planning, use of territorial impact assessments and coherence with Cohesion Policy territorial tools.
The study investigates five case study examples from different European countries: Strategic Intervention Areas in Poland, NOVEX areas in the Netherlands, State-Region Planning Contracts in France, the National Strategy for Inner Areas in Italy, and Metropolitan Regions in Germany.