Trends

Important Projects of Common European Interest

In the proposed EU budget for 2028–34, the term 'Important Projects of Common European Interest' (IPCEIs) appears at various points: A good reason to take a closer look. In the proposed EU budget for 2028–34, the term 'Important Projects of Common European Interest' (IPCEIs) appears at various points: A good reason to take a closer look.

September 25, 2025 September 25, 2025

Making EU policies youth-proof

The EU's efforts to encourage youth participate in policymaking show promising signs of gaining momentum. Could this become a cornerstone of future-proof EU governance? The EU's efforts to encourage youth participate in policymaking show promising signs of gaining momentum. Could this become a cornerstone of future-proof EU governance?

July 14, 2025 July 14, 2025

Europe, a union of skills: Tackling Europe's talent trap

Skills shortage is a pressing structural challenges in the EU. A Union of Skills could be a game changer for individuals and regions seeking to escape the talent trap. Skills shortage is a pressing structural challenges in the EU. A Union of Skills could be a game changer for individuals and regions seeking to escape the talent trap.

May 14, 2025 May 14, 2025

Is the Western World losing its grip?

The West is losing its global dominance. But this transition does not have to mean decline and misery. It must redefine its role in a multipolar world. The West is losing its global dominance. But this transition does not have to mean decline and misery. It must redefine its role in a multipolar world.

December 10, 2024 December 10, 2024

Anticipating the future: Major risk clusters

To strengthen resilience and cohesion, we need proactive and anticipatory policy approaches to future risks, i.e. possible undesirable effects associated with an event. To strengthen resilience and cohesion, we need proactive and anticipatory policy approaches to future risks, i.e. possible undesirable effects associated with an event.

November 25, 2024 November 25, 2024

Forced displacement - a growing problem seeking solutions

In our interconnected world, forced displacement is a pressing issue. With the number of refugees expected to rise, the current global response is unsustainable. In our interconnected world, forced displacement is a pressing issue. With the number of refugees expected to rise, the current global response is unsustainable.

September 27, 2024 September 27, 2024 2 reactions

Emigration due to remigration?

Will people leave regions with far-right parties in power? The right-wing parties' talk of remigration may drive people away, but not only those they want to drive away. Will people leave regions with far-right parties in power? The right-wing parties' talk of remigration may drive people away, but not only those they want to drive away.

September 21, 2024 September 21, 2024 3 reactions

Is there a territorial dimension to the Metaverse?

Depicted as the successor to the Internet, the Metaverse seems to promise a future where digital and physical realities converge. What are its territorial implications? Depicted as the successor to the Internet, the Metaverse seems to promise a future where digital and physical realities converge. What are its territorial implications?

June 20, 2024 June 20, 2024

Looking for a positive future perspective (part 2)

The latest ESPAS report highlights trends and strategic choices that could define Europe's path towards 2040. How about their territorial dimension? (This is part 2 of 2) The latest ESPAS report highlights trends and strategic choices that could define Europe's path towards 2040. How about their territorial dimension? (This is part 2 of 2)

May 27, 2024 May 27, 2024

Looking for a positive future perspective (part 1)

The latest ESPAS report highlights trends and strategic choices that could define Europe's path towards 2040. How about their territorial dimension? (This is part 1 of 2) The latest ESPAS report highlights trends and strategic choices that could define Europe's path towards 2040. How about their territorial dimension? (This is part 1 of 2)

May 21, 2024 May 21, 2024

The Tyranny of Merit: A dive into growing inequalities

The tyranny of merit paints a grim picture of our socio-economic landscape. This translates into diverging land use effects and disparities between people and places. The tyranny of merit paints a grim picture of our socio-economic landscape. This translates into diverging land use effects and disparities between people and places.

November 6, 2023 November 6, 2023

Mega-trends between present, past & future

Mega-trends are not about unescapable external forces. They are a tool to discuss future opportunities and actively participating in the creation of a better tomorrow. Mega-trends are not about unescapable external forces. They are a tool to discuss future opportunities and actively participating in the creation of a better tomorrow.

August 13, 2023 August 13, 2023

Political trends shaping territorial cohesion

What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning political trends. What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning political trends.

March 6, 2023 March 6, 2023

Economic trends shaping territorial cohesion

What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning economic trends. What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning economic trends.

February 13, 2023 February 13, 2023

Societal trends shaping territorial cohesion

What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning societal trends. What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning societal trends.

January 23, 2023 January 23, 2023

Environment related trends shaping territorial cohesion

What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning environmental trends. What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning environmental trends.

January 9, 2023 January 9, 2023

Mega-trends shaping territorial cohesion

What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning technological trends. What trends will shape territorial developments and cohesion outlooks in the years to come? This blog post summarises some key findings concerning technological trends.

December 14, 2022 December 14, 2022

Urban trends

Urban areas are strongly shaped by their inhabitants, they are sensitive to the greatest challenges of our times, and still must be future-oriented and sustainable. Urban areas are strongly shaped by their inhabitants, they are sensitive to the greatest challenges of our times, and still must be future-oriented and sustainable.

September 4, 2022 September 4, 2022

Trend molecules for the city of tomorrow

What trend molecules shape our cities of tomorrow? Trend molecules bundle individual trends into causal-relationships and offer overviews on complex trend landscapes. What trend molecules shape our cities of tomorrow? Trend molecules bundle individual trends into causal-relationships and offer overviews on complex trend landscapes.

August 16, 2022 August 16, 2022

Demographic decline will influence territorial futures

If we fast forward to 2050, demographic decline is expected to consolidate and expand to new territories, so called blind spots of future shrinkage. If we fast forward to 2050, demographic decline is expected to consolidate and expand to new territories, so called blind spots of future shrinkage.

March 29, 2022 March 29, 2022

Trends affecting territorial development in the Danube, Adriatic &…

The ten trends considered by the stakeholder in the region to affect territorial development most in the coming decades provide a glimpse of the territorial diversity. The ten trends considered by the stakeholder in the region to affect territorial development most in the coming decades provide a glimpse of the territorial diversity.

February 8, 2022 February 8, 2022

Prepared for population decline?

Shrinking places are a growing challenge for European municipalities, regions and even countries. They do not necessarily need to be places in a vicious downward circle. Shrinking places are a growing challenge for European municipalities, regions and even countries. They do not necessarily need to be places in a vicious downward circle.

January 10, 2022 January 10, 2022 1 reaction

Tourism regions from pandemic shock to a new normal

The tourism sector is severely hit by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. For many tourist areas it will take years before they are back to pre-pandemic level. The tourism sector is severely hit by the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. For many tourist areas it will take years before they are back to pre-pandemic level.

November 8, 2021 November 8, 2021

Tourism trends post COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic leaves its marks on tourism trends. Tourism destinations must deal with behavioural changes and prepare for digital and sustainable tourism. The COVID-19 pandemic leaves its marks on tourism trends. Tourism destinations must deal with behavioural changes and prepare for digital and sustainable tourism.

August 2, 2021 August 2, 2021 1 reaction