Nino PFUNDSTEIN, Technische Universität Kaiserslautern, Deaprtment Regional Development and Spatial Planning, Germany
“The accessibility, proximity, affordability and quality of public services is important to quality of life and business development.” (Informal meeting of Ministers responsible for Spatial Planning and Territorial Development and/or Territorial Cohesion, 2020) However, the provision of Services of general interest (SGI) is becoming an increasing challenge in particular in (peripheral) rural regions. Why? Because peripheral regions are often affected by the impacts of demographic changes, like e.g. out-migration of young adults and an ageing population. Those developments lead to problems of the economic viability of some SGI. There are several problem-solving approaches to this dilemma, like a transformation to mobile Services or the digitalisation of Services as well as strengthening the inter-communal or even regional cooperation of municipalities and providers. (Mangels, Riethmüller, 2018) Border areas are in a special situation due to their spatial position and must overcome additional challenges if they want to cooperate with their neighbors.
The contribution deals with the potential of inter-communal/regional cooperation in border regions initiated by the actors of spatial planning to provide SGI. It is the result of findings in a research project funded by the German Federal Ministry of Education “Linking borderlands”. Areas studied are the Greater Region and the Brandenburg/Lebus region.
Spatial Planning in Germany is required to contribute to the provision of SGI for all citizens. The Governance approaches involve formal (e.g. binding spatial programmes) and informal instruments (e.g. regional development concepts). But spatial planning systems, the range of tasks for spatial planning differ between neighbouring countries, different planning cultures collide. The role of spatial planning and regional development actors is thus worth analysing in a cross border context to identify their potential to contribute to the provision of accessible, affordable SGI.
Mots clés : Services of general interest|cross border cooperation|spatial planning|regional development|demographic change
A102760KM