This chapter does not propose a distinctly new form of reporting, but limits itself to considering the evolution of the current form of "periodic reporting" into "reporting on spatial development matters". Attention should be given to the following subsidiary issues:
- Solutions to the Problem of Regionalisation
As regional comparisons are partly determined by regionalisation (levelling and differentiating effects), any form of reporting will first have to address this problem. On this point the previous type of reporting has suffered from distortions, which unfortunately have not yet been eradicated and which, in particular, have tended to show Germany to disadvantage. For example, NUTS Level-II is based on administrative districts, which do not represent higher-order regions. The previous form of reporting could be improved by aggregating NUTS Level-III units and, at the same time, taking account of interdependencies and accessibilities to create new diagnostic units. Such units could serve a useful function in detecting inter-regional disparities relating to economic development, the labour-market situation, supply of services, and the level of provision of regionally orientated infrastructure. In cases of the latter type (e.g. in airport regions), divergent forms of regionalisation may occur in some areas. In all of these areas the assumption must be made that regionalisation is spatially inclusive and comprehensive.
In addition to these regions, other areas which have a part to play in the analysis and evaluation of fields of action in spatial planning policy at the EU level could also be of some importance. Dealing with the problems associated with flooding or of rivers carrying pollutants into the seas, it would be expedient to proceed from the catchment areas of the major river systems; in the case of ground-water problems, the starting-point should be the hydrogeographic situation. In special cases of air pollution it will be necessary to determine spatial emission/immission problem areas. In the above cases spatially inclusive and comprehensive regionalisation does not appear to be necessary. A special case, however, is provided by what are known as "common pools" or "common goods". Here demarcation is required according to the homogeneity principle.
- Selection of Indicators
The selection of indicators should be orientated around the primary tasks of European spatial development. In the analysis of disparity problems, special attention needs to be given-as has previously been the case-to gross value added, income development and to the development of the labour market. This needs to be supplemented by improved clarification of the regional service-supply situation (in particular education, health, supply and disposal), the regional housing-market situation and the wider environmental situation (air pollution, drinking water).
Because of the problems associated with deriving standard European values for the evaluation of various sub-scales, it would be advisable in addition (e.g. as control variables) to establish migration indicators (proportions of internal, inward and employment-related migration per 1000 of population).
At the European level it would be expedient to create a typification according to major potential-factors. This would, in particular, need to take account of regional population densities, centrality (defined via the surplus population in respect of important services), the level of provision with regionally orientated infrastructure, and location. In the case of rail and road network infrastructures, the latter should be described in terms of accessibility indicators, defined in terms of the European long-distance transport network. This should also include the position of rail and road in the overall network (defined in terms of weighted regional centres), proximity to the nearest urban agglomeration and the population accessible within one, two and three hours (by rail and by road).
The analysis of the problems caused by flooding and air pollution calls for divergent indicators, in particular emission data at neuralgic points (spatial hot spots); the incidence and degree of flooding can be interpreted as emission values or as critical loads.
- Analysis of Spatial Segmentation Processes
In order to analyse the merging of European regions, it would be necessary to identify segmentation processes. Is a "European triad", for example, in the process of establishing itself (Mediterranean, Central Europe, Baltic Sea areas) revealing new centres of gravity? Are there regions with specific economic profiles? Are there regions with specific migration profiles? The task here will be to uncover the relevant spatial interdependencies and reference points.
- Identifying Disparities
In view of the heterogeneity of spatial preferences and spatial diversity, with the enlargement of the EU the notion of a European standard value is quite rightly being called more and more into question. At the very least intra-national regional disparities should be considered as a supplementary criterion, or equally the starting point should be areas characterised by immigration. The inclusion of population development and migration analyses would appear to be gaining constantly in importance.
The Commission already reports every three years to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions under Art. 130b (2) EC Treaty on progress in achieving economic and social cohesion.
If the EC were to commit itself under Art. 130a (3) to take account of the objectives of the spatial planning policies of Member States, as well as of the objectives of any common European Spatial Development Perspective put forward by Member States and by the Commission in exercising and within the framework of its powers, then it would be vital for the Community to be placed in a position where it can assess whether the spatial consequences of its departmental policies are in harmony with the aims of the E.S.D.P.
For this reason it is regarded as essential that a duty to report should be introduced to require the Commission to report to the European Parliament, the Council and the Committee of the Regions on the spatial consequences of its policies24. Art. 130b (2) sentence 1 of the EC Treaty should, therefore, be amended as follows:
"The Commission shall report every three years to the European Parliament, the Council, the Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of the Regions on progress in bringing about economic and social cohesion, and on the manner in which the means provided in this Article have contributed to such progress, and on the spatial effects of Community policies".
Notes and References:
1 H. Peters: "Auf ein Wort", article in Europäische Zeitung (July/August 1995), p. 23.
2 H.-G. Pöttering: "Grundlegende Reformen der EU notwendig", Europäische Zeitung (February 1995), p. 7; cf. also A. Mauer and D. Rometsch: "Die Berichte der EU-Organe im Vergleich", Europäische Zeitung (July/August 1995), p. 3.
3 M. Wulf-Mathies: address to the Conference on Regional Planning in an Enlarged Europe in Cooperation with the States of Central and Eastern Europe on 16 October 1995 in Prague.
4 J. Schönhofer: "Begriffe der Raumplanung", in Daten zur Raumplanung, Teil A, Allg. Grundlagen und Gegebenheiten, edited by the Academy for Regional Research and Regional Planning (ARL), Hanover 1981, Sp. A I. (1).
5 W. Ernst: "Raumordnung", in Handwörterbuch der Raumordnung, edited by the Academy for Regional Research and Regional Planning (ARL), Hanover 1995, p. 753 ff.
6 European Conference of Ministers for Regional Planning (CEMAT): European Regional/Spatial Planning Charter, published in four languages by the ILS-NRW, prepared and designed by V. Frhr. v Malchus and J. Tech, second edition, Dortmund 1985, p. 16
7 V. Frhr. v Malchus: "Europäische Raumordnung", Handwörterbuch der Raumordnung, edited by the Academy for Regional Research and Regional Planning (ARL), Hanover 1995, pp. 261-268
8 Federal Ministry for Regional Planning, Building and Urban Development (ed.): Grundlagen einer Europäischen Raumentwicklungspolitik (Principles for a European Spatial Development Policy), Bonn 1995
9 Commission of the European Communities, Directorate-General for Regional Policies (ed.): Europe 2000 - Perspectives for the Future Spatial Development of the Community, Brussels/Luxembourg 1991
10 European Commission (ed.): Europe 2000+ - European Cooperation in Spatial Development, Luxembourg 1995
11 C.-H.David: Europäische Tendenzen und gemeinschaftliche Grenzen einer Harmonisierung raumplanungsrechtlicher Vorschriften, Die Öffentliche Verwaltung 1993, S. 1021-1031
12a Federal Ministry for Regional Planning, Building and Urban Development (ed.): Grundlagen einer Europäischen Raumentwicklungspolitik (Principles for a European Spatial Development Policy), Bonn 1995, p. 43 ff
12b Federal Ministry for Regional Planning, Building and Urban Development (ed.): Grundlagen einer Europäischen Raumentwicklungspolitik (Principles for a European Spatial Development Policy), Bonn 1995, p. 44 f
13 M. Krautzberger and W. Selke: "Auf dem Wege zu einem Europäischen Raumentwicklungskonzept", in Die öffentliche Verwaltung (August 1994) Volume 16, p. 685 ff
14 In this context the regional level includes federal state (Land) level
15 cf. also Article B and Articles 129a and 130 a and b EC Treaty
16 cf. the resolution supporting the European Commission document Europe 2000+ - European Cooperation in Spatial Development, Luxembourg 1995
17 cf. statement of the Economic and Social Committee on "Europe 2000+ -European Cooperation in Spatial Development", CES 313/95 (FR) JK/K/ho of 29 March 1995
18 Resolution of the European Parliament, ibid. Point C
19 Draft proposal for a new paragraph (2) of Article 3 EC Treaty from the German Conference of Ministers for Spatial Planning (MKRO) to the Conference of European Ministers on 24 March 1995
20 cf. Federal Ministry for Regional Planning, Building and Urban Development (ed.): Grundlagen einer Europäischen Raumentwicklungspolitik (Principles for a European Spatial Development Policy), Bonn 1995
21 cf. footnote 1 above, EC Treaty
22 cf. Federal Ministry for Regional Planning, Building and Urban Development (ed.): Grundlagen einer Europäischen Raumentwicklungspolitik (Principles for a European Spatial Development Policy), Bonn 1995, p. 5 ff
23 European Commission 1995, Europa 2000+ ..., ibid., p. 9 ff
24 Resolution of the Conference of Ministers for Regional Planning "Spatial Planning Policy Requirements for Revisions to the Treaty on European Union (IGC 1996)" of 8 March 1995.
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