Alps2050 – Common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area. Towards a common vision

Programme 2014 - 2020 ESPON 2020

Date of latest update: 2024-05-18

Description

Description (EN):

The Alpine area is composed of territories with different demographic, social and economic trends and a rich cultural, linguistic and biological diversity. This diversity goes along with a variety of governance systems and traditions. The region has a strong identity and a longstanding tradition in cooperation. This unique territory has important potentials for dynamic development, but is facing major challenges at various levels including the pan-Alpine, regional and local levels as well as in cross-border areas. These challenges refer for instance to the specific geographical position, globalisation, demographic trends, climate change and its impact on the environment, biodiversity, territorial pattern of activities and living conditions. The major challenge for the Alpine area is to balance economic development and environmental protection through common innovative approaches which go beyond administrative borders and strengthen the area as a living space for people and as a natural habitat, as well as a field for sustainable economic and social activities in a sustainable way. The perimeter of spatial perspective covers the different administrative extensions of the Alpine Convention, the Interreg Alpine Space and the EUSALP.During the German presidency of the Alpine Convention (2015-2016), the ministers responsible for territorial development of the Alpine states signed a Declaration for sustainable spatial development in the Alps. The Declaration identifies the following ten main challenges and topics: climate change, the adaptation to climate change and natural hazards; demographic changes and organization of work; transport and connectivity; settlement structure and land use; saving, production, supply and storage of energy; tourism; ecosystem functioning, ecological networking and biological diversity; vitality of the mountain regions and their small and medium-sized towns; preservation of cultural and natural heritage; improving governance, cooperation and organizational needs.Ministers expressed the need to develop spatial perspectives and a vision for the Alpine area. The process to build such a vision and perspectives as well as the perspectives and vision themselves would greatly contribute to policy making by helping reduce obstacles to a common sustainable territorial development as well as strengthening joint actions. The latter aim at coping with challenges for the Alpine area, considering the wider context of cooperation provided i.e. by EUSALP and the Interreg Alpine Space Programme. In a unique, fragile and yet dynamic area such as the Alpine area, a common approach to spatial development is particularly important. A vision and common spatial perspectives would facilitate and improve harmonized cross-border territorial development. They would address the need for planned and coordinated development in the ten fields identified by the Declaration (see above) – and others, if relevant – and the latter’s influence on the regional economy, innovation landscape, rural areas, settlements, protection of landscapes and nature, transport and mobility as well as on quality of life. A vision and perspectives could be a foundation for further place-based cross-border and transnational cooperation and would help to identify further options for development for the Alpine area. The vision and spatial perspectives could also be used to contribute to other strategic cooperations in the Alpine area, such as Alpine Convention, EUSALP, and the Interreg Programmes.The topic of Alps2050 is very relevant to many other European regions as a similar territorial diversity can also be found in many other mountain ranges in different countries of Europe. Some of them have established similar treaties to the Alpine Convention, e.g. the Carpathian Convention. These regions could benefit from the results of Alps2050 to develop their own strategies for common spatial development. In general, not only mountainous regions, but also other types of regions engaged in territorial cooperation could benefit from the outcomes of this targeted analysis.

Achievements (EN):

The Alpine region is characterised by spectacular landscape features and precious cultural heritage, which make it a touristic destination of global importance. Overall, the region is prosperous but it is also an ecological hot spot – diverse, unique, and vulnerable. At the same time, the Alpine region is a space of important internal linkages and it is characterised by increasing embeddedness in global networks. Located in the heart of Europe, the region is part of the dynamic development of a globally integrated economy. Globalisation and the need for competitive economic activities are important driving forces for the Alpine region but also challenge the regional policies developed in this area. Some of the most important issues on the political agenda are related to the prosperity and quality of life, innovation, climate change, and agricultural transformation. The Alpine region has a long-standing experience in territorial cooperation that goes back at least to the 1970s. This cooperation is implemented through different EU and national instruments and cross-border programmes for various issues of regional policy and spatial development. The ESPON project “Alps 2050 – Common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area- Towards a common vision” provided an interesting analysis for the common future development of the area with a projection towards 2050. Although looking forward more than three decades is a very long period of time, especially in these dynamic days, strategic spatial development has to be able to draft future visions in order to provide ‘orientation’ for development. These scenarios start from the current status quo that carries forward existing patterns and trends and build three contrasting narratives that reflect the differences in priorities and political world views. Scenario 1 – Status quo: The status quo (or trend) scenario assumes that the hitherto dominant trends will be carried forward. Development paths are mainly based on national, domestic politics that lead to complex spatial patterns. The overall positive trend in economic development continues. However, this comes along with only limited success in achieving sustainable development and strategic spatial development. Different spatial trends in demography and settlement lead to dispersed developments, blurring the spatial structure of mountainous and non-mountainous regions and the urban-rural relations. Scenario 2 – Protected Alps: The second perspective underlines the necessity to protect the inner-Alpine mountainous areas. The Alpine mountains are precious and vulnerable natural and cultural heritage. Touristic demand, transport needs, settlement growth and other human activities have put this region under high pressure. Protection regimes as initiated by the Alpine Convention are more than necessary and are further strengthened. The dynamic of the ‘metropolitan ring’ surrounding the Alps will be organised in a way that does not question sustainable development within the Alps (e.g. with regard to settlement sprawl, transport emissions). Scenario 3 – Functional space: The scenario that describes the Alpine region as one ‘functional space’ underlines the necessity to improve linkages between the different subregions. Towards the year 2050, the relationship between mountainous inner-Alpine and the more urbanised pre-Alpine parts will be strengthened, and in parallel, the cross-border relations will be addressed more intensively. This has to be seen against the background that the territorial structure of the Alpine region is complex: The numerous borders between the Alpine countries have caused frictions for a long time. Moreover, the Alpine region has important relations to adjacent regions in terms of ecology, transport etc.. Smart spatial development strategies overcome existing frictions with innovative political agreements and with adequate infrastructure investments. Removing barriers and enhancing functional links is of key importance, e.g. for labour markets, budget organisation, public services. Scenario 4 – European core: The Alpine region is one of the most successful economic spaces in Europe and one of the most attractive touristic destinations worldwide. Its position in the centre of Europe results in high transit flows which ensure European economic prospering. It is of major importance to build on this strong basis. The metropolitan hubs and the major corridors are the basis of successful spatial development. Attracting skilled labour force and entrepreneurial investments is as important as ensuring good transport and economic flows on the Alpine and European level (e.g. with regard to transport and ICT infrastructure).

Website: https://archive.espon.eu/

Expected Results (EN):

The objective of this activity is the development of a vision and common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area to strengthen territorial cooperation among Alpine countries towards more effective sustainable development. The general aim of Alps2050 reflects the European priority to jointly face challenges related to balanced sustainable development as well as to contribute to the European goal of territorial cohesion.The main outcome of the service should be:- A territorial vision and common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area, which can (1) indicate how developments in selected thematic fields can influence sustainable territorial development and enhance territorial resilience, including ecosystem functioning and biological diversity until 2050; (2) identify broader impacts of the main developments in the selected thematic fields on different types of territories in the Alpine area (e.g. rural areas, urban areas).- A set of maps and related data showing the current state in the Alps concerning the selected thematic fields mentioned above.- A set of illustrations, projecting the possible development trends of the selected thematic fields until 2050.- A set of illustrations/schematic maps showing options for policy development for each of the selected thematic fields mentioned above.- Suggestions for more effective solutions for balanced sustainable development in the context of territorial cooperation as well as help to strengthen informal and formal cooperation between actors in a sustainable way.- Guidelines for the development of spatial perspectives and a spatial vision that can be used beyond the geographical scope of Alps 2050 by other European transnational cooperation areas (e.g. European macro-regions).

Thematic information

Regional planning and development

Specific Objective: Upgraded knowledge transfer and use of analytical user support

Thematic Objective:

(11) enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and efficient public administration through actions to strengthen the institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administrations and public services related to the implementation of the ERDF, and in support of actions under the ESF to strengthen the institutional capacity and the efficiency of public administration.

Investment Priority: (11 ETC) ETC specific for transnational cooperation: enhancing institutional capacity of public authorities and stakeholders and efficient public administration by developing and coordinating macro-regional and sea-basin strategies

Partners (6)

Lead Partner: Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Address: Schlossplatz 4, 91054 Erlangen, Germany

Legal status: public

Accademia Europea di Bolzano - EURAC Research

Name: Accademia Europea di Bolzano - EURAC Research

Address: Viale Druso 1, 39100 Bolzano, Italy

Legal status: public

Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL

Name: Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL

Address: Zürcherstrasse 111, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland

Legal status: public

Federal Institute For Less Favoured & Mountainous areas

Name: Federal Institute For Less Favoured & Mountainous areas

Address: Marxergasse 2, 1030 Vienna, Austria

Legal status: public

National Research Institute in sciences and technologies for agriculture and environment

Name: National Research Institute in sciences and technologies for agriculture and environment

Address: 2 Rue de la papeterie , 38402 Saint Martin d'Héres, France

Legal status: public

University of Ljubljana - Biotechnical Faculty

Name: University of Ljubljana - Biotechnical Faculty

Address: Jamnikarjeva 101Ljubljana, Slovenia

Legal status: public

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg

Alps2050 – Common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area. Towards a common vision

Partners and Projects info

Accademia Europea di Bolzano - EURAC Research

Alps2050 – Common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area. Towards a common vision

Partners and Projects info

Swiss Federal Research Institute WSl

Alps2050 – Common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area. Towards a common vision

Partners and Projects info

Federal Institute For Less Favoured & Mountainous areas

Alps2050 – Common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area. Towards a common vision

Partners and Projects info

National Research Institute in sciences and technologies for agriculture and environment

Alps2050 – Common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area. Towards a common vision

Partners and Projects info

University of Ljubljana - Biotechnical Faculty

Alps2050 – Common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area. Towards a common vision

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Alps2050 – Common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area. Towards a common vision

Project acronym: Alps2050

Project start date: 2017-10-27

Project end date: 2019-06-25

Project status: closed

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 252 589.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 206 543.04

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 206 543.04.

Documents

Documents on this project are listed below, and organised by category. Please note field "Data source", attached to each document. Keep.eu users are free to use these documents as long as they mention the data source and keep.eu.

Videos / films

Tobias Chilla: The Alps in 2050

Attachment type: link

Type of document: Video / film

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/Alps2050

Publication date: 2021-02-18

Document date: 2019-07-08

Brochures / magazines / manuals

The Alps 2050 Atlas

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Brochure / magazine / manual

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/Alps2050

Publication date: 2021-02-18

Document date: 2019-12-31

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Reports

Targeted Analysis - Final Report

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/Alps2050

Publication date: 2021-02-18

Document date: 2018-11-21

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Targeted Analysis - Scientific Annex

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/Alps2050

Publication date: 2021-02-18

Document date: 2018-11-21

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Targeted Analysis - Executive Summary: “Territorial Analyses”

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/Alps2050

Publication date: 2021-02-18

Document date: 2018-11-21

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Targeted Analysis Executive Summary “Vision Alps 2050”

Attachment type: file

Type of document: Report

Data source: https://www.espon.eu/Alps2050

Publication date: 2021-02-18

Document date: 2018-11-21

Languages: en

Attachment file: Download

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2014 - 2020 ESPON 2020

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2024-03-04

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

68 / 69 (98.55%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

353 / 370 (95.41%)

Notes on the data

Information provided by the Programme. Data from 3 projects ((MRS. ESPON TOOL, SoET and CPS 2.0) was retrieved by Interact from the programme´s website on the 2024-03-01. Regarding partners only data only main partners is available. Achievements were retrieved by Interact from the Programme website (http://www.espon.eu), or a website directly linked from it, on 2021-09-21 and 2023-01-03.

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Alps2050 – Common spatial perspectives for the Alpine area. Towards a common vision

Description

Thematic information

Partners (6)

Partners map

Summary

Documents

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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