Resilience & transition

Can place-based policies save the European chemical industry?

Europe’s chemical industry faces rising costs, global competition and transition pressures. Can territorially tailored policies strengthen resilience and competitiveness? Europe’s chemical industry faces rising costs, global competition and transition pressures. Can territorially tailored policies strengthen resilience and competitiveness?

08/04/2026 08/04/2026

Why resilience requires functional thinking

Systemic risks ignore borders. Consequently, building resilience requires governance to be aligned with functional geographies. Europe needs to take a functional turn. Systemic risks ignore borders. Consequently, building resilience requires governance to be aligned with functional geographies. Europe needs to take a functional turn.

05/03/2026 05/03/2026

Re‑industrialising for Europe’s green transition: why regions matter…

Europe’s green transition is place-based. Its success depends on local energy potential, where investments are made, who bears the risk and who reaps the benefits. Europe’s green transition is place-based. Its success depends on local energy potential, where investments are made, who bears the risk and who reaps the benefits.

24/02/2026 24/02/2026

European Resilience 2.0

We have entered an age of permanent volatility. Is 'Resilience 2.0' a strategic compass, or just another Brussels buzzword? This is a territorial take on what comes next. We have entered an age of permanent volatility. Is 'Resilience 2.0' a strategic compass, or just another Brussels buzzword? This is a territorial take on what comes next.

13/01/2026 13/01/2026

Why ending poverty goes beyond good intentions

Poverty isn’t personal failure – it’s structural. Europe must rethink systems, from services to taxation, to create real opportunities and dignity for all across regions. Poverty isn’t personal failure – it’s structural. Europe must rethink systems, from services to taxation, to create real opportunities and dignity for all across regions.

11/12/2025 11/12/2025

Wellbeing economy as a platform for impactful societal change

What if Europe's success was measured by people's wellbeing rather than growth? New ideas put well-being at the heart of policy. Could this help build a brighter future? What if Europe's success was measured by people's wellbeing rather than growth? New ideas put well-being at the heart of policy. Could this help build a brighter future?

13/10/2025 13/10/2025

Harnessing Nature: The rise of bio-solutions in Europe

How differ bio-solutions from the bioeconomy, ecosystem services, or nature-based solutions? How can they transform nature into a driving force for sustainable growth? How differ bio-solutions from the bioeconomy, ecosystem services, or nature-based solutions? How can they transform nature into a driving force for sustainable growth?

14/08/2025 14/08/2025 2 reazioni

Connecting the dots for a greener future: Trans-regional circularity…

The concept of trans-regional circularity is emerging. These hubs could facilitate the transition from fragmented efforts to systemic and scalable circular solutions. The concept of trans-regional circularity is emerging. These hubs could facilitate the transition from fragmented efforts to systemic and scalable circular solutions.

22/05/2025 22/05/2025

Mapping justice in the green transition

How fair is the green transition? The European Fair Transition Observatory could be a step towards a more evidence-based and territorially sensitive green transition. How fair is the green transition? The European Fair Transition Observatory could be a step towards a more evidence-based and territorially sensitive green transition.

23/04/2025 23/04/2025 2 reazioni

The potential of cross-border energy communities

Cross-border energy communities are a transformative approach to energy transition in border regions. Find out more about them, their benefits and how to go about. Cross-border energy communities are a transformative approach to energy transition in border regions. Find out more about them, their benefits and how to go about.

13/02/2025 13/02/2025

Proximity economy in Europe: Building local resilience for a…

The proximity economy can help local areas to be more resilient, sustainable and inclusive, with a focus on functional areas. However, approaches vary across Europe. The proximity economy can help local areas to be more resilient, sustainable and inclusive, with a focus on functional areas. However, approaches vary across Europe.

15/11/2024 15/11/2024

Social economy in Europe: New frontiers for a sustainable future

The social economy is an integral part of Europe's socioeconomic fabric, contributing to economic stability and social wellbeing. However, definitions vary across the EU. The social economy is an integral part of Europe's socioeconomic fabric, contributing to economic stability and social wellbeing. However, definitions vary across the EU.

07/11/2024 07/11/2024

Need for transformative change – Part 3

Expected transformations of our governance systems and of the EU27+ underline the importance of cooperation across sectors, administrative levels and national borders. Expected transformations of our governance systems and of the EU27+ underline the importance of cooperation across sectors, administrative levels and national borders.

07/08/2024 07/08/2024

The need for transformative change - Part 2

Balancing experimentation with policy coordinated efforts will be key to navigating the complex landscape of transformative societal and environmental change. Balancing experimentation with policy coordinated efforts will be key to navigating the complex landscape of transformative societal and environmental change.

16/07/2024 16/07/2024

Need for transformative change – Part 1

In a new series of blog posts on transformative change, we highlight - sometimes provocatively - aspects to stimulate debate & thinking beyond the usual lines of thought. In a new series of blog posts on transformative change, we highlight - sometimes provocatively - aspects to stimulate debate & thinking beyond the usual lines of thought.

08/07/2024 08/07/2024

Balanced territorial development and the triple transition

The 9th Cohesion Report provides insights on future strategic orientations. Policy strategies, coordination and cooperation are crucial for effective governance. The 9th Cohesion Report provides insights on future strategic orientations. Policy strategies, coordination and cooperation are crucial for effective governance.

12/06/2024 12/06/2024

A future-wise European Parliament

People across Europe discuss expectations for the European Parliament election from 6 to 9 June. All I want is a strong pro-European and future-wise European Parliament. People across Europe discuss expectations for the European Parliament election from 6 to 9 June. All I want is a strong pro-European and future-wise European Parliament.

01/06/2024 01/06/2024

Single Market going place-based

Enrico Letta’s report ‘Much More Than a Market' emphasises the importance of place-based approaches for the Single Market, e.g. through the idea of a ‘freedom to stay’. Enrico Letta’s report ‘Much More Than a Market' emphasises the importance of place-based approaches for the Single Market, e.g. through the idea of a ‘freedom to stay’.

14/05/2024 14/05/2024

Navigating the Future: The EU's need to reform amidst enlargement

The EU institutions, policies and budget must undergo reforms to mitigate potential risks to the union's functionality in light of geostrategic driven enlargements. The EU institutions, policies and budget must undergo reforms to mitigate potential risks to the union's functionality in light of geostrategic driven enlargements.

25/11/2023 25/11/2023

A spatial dimension of the EU Foresight Report 2023?

The EU Commission has published a new Foresight Report. Although it lacks a spatial dimension, it stimulates thinking about a territorially balanced transition. The EU Commission has published a new Foresight Report. Although it lacks a spatial dimension, it stimulates thinking about a territorially balanced transition.

11/07/2023 11/07/2023

Western Balkan Just Green Transition

Just green transition is an important topic for the Western Balkan, one of the regions in Europe expected to be most heavily affected by the impact of climate change. Just green transition is an important topic for the Western Balkan, one of the regions in Europe expected to be most heavily affected by the impact of climate change.

26/05/2023 26/05/2023

Planning for territorial resilience

Resilience relies heavily on territorial governance capacities. The question is, how to improve governance processes and plan for resilience in different types of places. Resilience relies heavily on territorial governance capacities. The question is, how to improve governance processes and plan for resilience in different types of places.

05/05/2023 05/05/2023

Preparing for unexpected future events

In the current debates, various types of resilience are mixed. To better prepare for unexpected future events, we need to differentiate a few types of resilience. In the current debates, various types of resilience are mixed. To better prepare for unexpected future events, we need to differentiate a few types of resilience.

22/04/2023 22/04/2023

Synergy Potential: Unlocking the power of collaboration

In times of declining financial means, it is important to have a closer look at potential synergies between policies. The question is how to identify synergy potential. In times of declining financial means, it is important to have a closer look at potential synergies between policies. The question is how to identify synergy potential.

04/04/2023 04/04/2023

EU Green Deal going local & regional: Circular economy

Moving towards circularity and sustainable consumption & production is one of the important aspect of the European Green Deal. What can local and regional authorities do? Moving towards circularity and sustainable consumption & production is one of the important aspect of the European Green Deal. What can local and regional authorities do?

16/11/2022 16/11/2022

Regional sensitivities to the energy crisis

The war on Ukraine shows Europe's dependency on energy imports and how vulnerable our economies are to shocks. Which regions in Europe are particularly affected by this? The war on Ukraine shows Europe's dependency on energy imports and how vulnerable our economies are to shocks. Which regions in Europe are particularly affected by this?

04/11/2022 04/11/2022

EU Green Deal going local & regional: Building and Renovation

Local and regional authorities can contribute to the EU Green Deal by developing place-based and participatory solutions to reducing energy consumption of buildings. Local and regional authorities can contribute to the EU Green Deal by developing place-based and participatory solutions to reducing energy consumption of buildings.

24/10/2022 24/10/2022

EU Green Deal going local & regional: Zero Pollution

Local and regional authorities can contribute to the EU Green Deal by developing local or regional actions and action plans to move towards zero pollution. Local and regional authorities can contribute to the EU Green Deal by developing local or regional actions and action plans to move towards zero pollution.

07/10/2022 07/10/2022

Adding a spatial dimension to the EU Strategic Foresight Report

The new EU Foresight report focuses on twinning green and digital transitions. Adding just transition would make a strong case for cohesion and a territorial dimension. The new EU Foresight report focuses on twinning green and digital transitions. Adding just transition would make a strong case for cohesion and a territorial dimension.

15/07/2022 15/07/2022

EU Green Deal going local & regional: Biodiversity

Local and regional authorities can contribute to the EU Green Deal by integrating biodiversity into their decision making and by developing biodiversity action plans. Local and regional authorities can contribute to the EU Green Deal by integrating biodiversity into their decision making and by developing biodiversity action plans.

17/06/2022 17/06/2022