First draft submitted 3rd March 2006


Spatial planning actions relevant Interreg projects



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Spatial planning actions relevant Interreg projects





  • Implementation of the Stockholm Declaration on Sustainable Spatial Development Policy

  • Further Development of Integrated Coastal Zone Management

  • Integrate Baltic 21 into European Spatial Planning Documents

As mentioned above the INTERREGIIIB BSR programme is based – among others – on VASABs strategies. The VASAB 2010 report (Towards a Framework for Spatial Development in the BSR, 1994) and the subsequent working programme, “From Vision to Action” formed an important basis for the Operational Programme9. Thus there is a close relationship between VASAB and INTERREG, in that VASAB has provided a vision to INTERREG and INTERREG a tool to implement VASAB.


Given the close link between VASABs vision papers and its declared aims under the Baltic 21 Action programme and the close interrelationship between VASAB vision papers and the INTERREG programme, both processes are almost identical.
It has therefore been decided that the current report will mainly reflect the views of VASAB itself on the current implementation stage of INTERREG as expressed in its new policy document “Connecting Potentials” (Gdansk, Sept. 2005). These views will be underlined by a number of examples of key INTERREG projects (if they have not already been provided under other sectoral headings), in line with the general structure of this report.
The Stockholm Declaration 1996 enhanced VASABs first common visions and strategies for future spatial development (“Pearls, Strings and Patches”) by adding another three areas:

  • Sustainable settlements and urban networks (“pearls”)

  • Sustainable regional transport corridors combined with regional development (“strings”)

  • Management of specific natural areas (“patches”)

  • Creating networks of marinas under consideration of their environmental and social impact assessment (EIA)

  • Linking the ports with their hinterlands

  • Building up a monitoring system for spatial development of the BSR

  • Ensuring the implementation of the Common Recommendations for Spatial Planning of the Coastal Zones in the BSR, prepared by VASAB in 1996

The subsequent VASAB 2010+ Spatial Development Programme operationalised those earlier “Visions and Strategies” (1994) in the following six major themes:


Key theme 1: Co-operation of urban regions on key issues of sustainable development

Key theme 2: Strategic development zones important for transnational integration within the BSR

Key theme 3: Transnational transport links important for cross-BSR and cross-Europe integration

Key theme 4: Diversification and strengthening of rural areas

Key theme 5: Development of transnational green networks, incl. cultural landscapes

Key theme 6: Integrated development of coastal zones and islands


As can easily be seen these themes are very closely reflected in the INTERREG programme. According to VASAB itself10, however, its Action programme has (only) “to some extend, been implemented through various INTERREG IIIB BSR and Tacis-CBC programmes” and only around half of the INTERREG IIIB BSR projects were directly related to one of these six themes.
The majority of INTERREG projects that have an impact on spatial planning have their main focus in another sector such as e.g. transport or tourism. For this reason many projects in this field have already been described in the previous chapters of this report.
The Key Theme 1: urban networks was fulfilled by an impressive number of projects, such as the Baltic Palette II – a network of metropolitan areas around Helsinki, St Petersburg, Stockholm, Riga and Tallinn (see more in Chapt. 3.1.2 Regional Fora), Metropolitan Areas+ and ABC II. The last one can be especially highlighted for its commitment to future-oriented, environmentally friendly urban planning.
Metropolitan Areas+ is a transnational platform of the cities: Berlin, Warsaw, Vilnus, St.Petersburg, Stockholm and Oslo. It should foster the co-operation and exchanging experiences between metropolises and their functional regions, elaborate harmonised plans of settlement and transport, as well as highlight human capital such as education.
The ABC- Alliance of Baltic Cities project created international networks between city planners and architects by the means of six seminars dealing with the solution of their cities’ planning problems. In a long term, the establishment of the “Baltic Academy of City Planning” for research and education on sustainable planning is aspired.
Key Theme 2: Transnational developement zones was covered by such large-scale projects as the South Baltic Arc, Via Baltica Nordica Developement Zone (both in Chapt. 3.2.7 Transport), Via Hanseatica Developement Zone, and the Bothnian Arc (both in Chapt. 3.2.6 Tourism).
Key Theme 3: Transport links, was a subject of a vast number of projects as described above (read more in Chapter 3.2.7 Transport).

Key Themes 4 and 5: rural areas and green networks were to a large extend generally combined in form of regional development concepts with a strong focus on “sustainable tourism”. VASAB 2010+ defines green networks as a complementary to NATURA 2000 system of “green areas” (protected and unprotected areas, as well as cultural landscapes), “linking protection with development for economic prosperity in harmony with nature”11. The vast majority of the relevant projects found just one answer to this challenge: sustainable tourism, otherwise known as “soft” or “environmentally-friendly” tourism. The project Big Lakes (see more in Chapt. 3.2.6 Tourism) is such an example of a typical regional development concept covering small investments and a regional brand12.

The SuPortNet project has addressed the economical problems of minor fisher or commercial harbours by redesigning them into a trans-national network of marinas and linking them with the mainland tourism base. The main objective was to promote boat tourism as a means of alternative income for the inhabitants.


Baltic Forest, the Baltic 21 Lighthouse Project (see more in Chapt. 3.2.4 Forestry) is the only project in this round dealing with the wood ecosystems. Furthermore the Balance project (see more in Chapt. 3.2.3 fisheries) shows how fishery management can be merged with nature conversation and develops a coherent transnational approach towards marine protected areas. It is also a good example for the general impression, that the environmental system and the protection of the Baltic coastal ecosystems plays the biggest role within projects related to ICZM.
The Key Theme 6: Strengthening integrated management of coastal zones has been reflected by numerous projects, which have thus substantially supported this specifically mentioned Baltic 21 Spatial Planning Action.
Most notably the Baltic 21 Lighthouse project BaltCoast has furthered the development of ICZM by establishing a BSR wide framework for sea-use-planning and recommendations on the role of spatial planning within ICZM. COASTSUST shall improve communication between coastal protected areas and COASTMAN focuses on conflict resolution techniques. Watersketch aims towards improvements in River Basin Planning and SEAREG has developed a Decision Support Frame helping spatial planners to take into account the effects on rising sea levels and BalticMaster aims to improve maritime safety.
Overall all projects together have greatly enhanced the development of ICZM policy, processes and tools throughout the BSR, which now need to be taken up and consistently and permanently applied by the various stakeholders.
The Baltic21 Lighthouse Project BaltCoast has supported a number of ICZM pilot projects, which demonstrated practical ways of how to promote economic development, urban expansion and nature protection simultaneously. Most notably the project has promoted the integrated planning and development of off-shore regions by developing the first overview (including GIS based maps) on the current state, future plans, possible use conflicts, use coordination and current planning procedures of offshore activities in the BSR. As a result BaltCoast has developed two major policy recommendation papers (Part A: Sea-Use-Planning / Part B: The role of spatial planning within ICZM), which have been integrated into international, national and regional policy documents and regulations on ICZM and spatial planning in Germany, Sweden, Finland and Poland. As a result the German region „Mecklenburg-Vorpommern“ will now start with Sea-Use-Planning within its 12sm zone.
The project "Coastal Sustainability as a Challenge" – CoastSust – aims towards strengthened co-operation and information exchange within and between the protected areas in the Baltic Sea Region. The goal is to develop models for co-operation and communication with the aim to better integrate coastal protected areas into the surrounding local communities based on a survey, existing models and local pilot activities. The work will be documented in distance education materials and a coastal communication tool box.
Within the framework of the WATERSKETCH project a strategy will be developed for effective and sustainable river basin planning in the Baltic Sea region. On the basis of an analysis of the different directives and conventions focused on use of watercourses and their expressions at regional scale land use planning as well as a number of case studies a Water Planning Decision Support System will be provided for spatial planners, which takes into account all main components needed for economically, socially and ecologically sustainable use of watercourses. A handbook will be made available as to transfer the know how to other BSR areas.
The COASTMAN project is aimed on developing approaches for conflicts resolution in coastal zone areas. The project starts from well defined case studies which include conflicting interest in coastal zone management (CZM), which will then form the basis for exchange of experience how methods for conflict resolution have to adapt to cultural and economic differences in the different countries. The project aims towards the harmonisation of methods and evaluation criteria which could avoid serious conflicts related to a sustainable development of the BSR.
The already mentioned project SEAREG "Sea Level Change Affecting the Spatial Development of the Baltic Region" focused on demonstrating the possible spatial effects and impacts of sea level rise by presenting the results of climate modelling and subsequent changing shoreline calculations to end-users, such as planners and stakeholders. Within the project a Decision Support Frame (DSF) has been developed as a major tool including a) climate modelling / GIS calculations; b) discussion platform; c) a vulnerability assessment that takes natural and socio-economic impacts as well as institutional coping capacity into consideration; d) a knowledge base.
The BalticMaster project aims to improve maritime safety by integrating and bringing forward local and regional perspectives. It included measures to improve prevention and preparedness for ship accidents as well as the wider perspective of regional development and spatial planning. He project is based on example scenarios, think tanks, conference, studies and reports.



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