Arndt Husar

Towards Territorial Cohesion: the Role of the European Parliament Arndt Husar

The notion of Territorial Cohesion sprung up shortlyafter the European Spatial Development Perspective(ESDP) was adopted and has since gained considerablyin relevance. Territorial cohesion is likely to be integrated intothe Treaties as a Community objective - be it in aConstitutional Treaty or in the Treaty establishingthe European Community. As a transversal objective itadds to the social and economic cohesion objectivesand potentially changes sectoral thinking at allspatial levels by approaching territorial and spatialdevelopment in an integrated way. Its many facetstouch upon issues such as governance, liberalisation, equity and quality of life and it has beenintertwined with the strategies of Lisbon andGothenburg. This makes territorial cohesion a policyconcept that deserves debate by the EU institutionsand the relevant stakeholders. The author describes the evolution of EU CohesionPolicy, explores how the notion of TerritorialCohesion been debated at the European Parliament (EP) and its Committee on Regional Development and makesrecommendations for a deepened discussion within theEP as well as with other EU institutions and experts.