Scenarios & visions

Summer greetings from a possible future

Perhaps this postcard from 2045 tells us less about the future than about what we miss or fear losing, today: time, attention, belonging, surprise and confidence. Perhaps this postcard from 2045 tells us less about the future than about what we miss or fear losing, today: time, attention, belonging, surprise and confidence.

July 24, 2026 July 24, 2026

A territorial optimist’s guide to 2040

Resignation treats 2040 as something to endure. A territorial optimist’s guide reclaims Europe’s future as a mandate for its places to imagine and shape together. Resignation treats 2040 as something to endure. A territorial optimist’s guide reclaims Europe’s future as a mandate for its places to imagine and shape together.

July 17, 2026 July 17, 2026 1 Reaction

Foresight as a space of possibilities: why Europe needs territorial…

Foresight is not about predicting the future, but expanding possibilities. Why Europe must embrace territorial futures to navigate uncertainty & shape meaningful change. Foresight is not about predicting the future, but expanding possibilities. Why Europe must embrace territorial futures to navigate uncertainty & shape meaningful change.

May 21, 2026 May 21, 2026

Uneven territorial pathways of democratic erosion

Democratic resilience is place-based, and it varies unevenly across different areas of a country. This is a spatial reading of a new scenario study for Germany. Democratic resilience is place-based, and it varies unevenly across different areas of a country. This is a spatial reading of a new scenario study for Germany.

May 5, 2026 May 5, 2026

Europe's demographic shift is reshaping the geography of its…

Demographic decline is doing more than just shrinking Europe. It is also restructuring the territorial foundations of research and innovation. R&I policy must adapt. Demographic decline is doing more than just shrinking Europe. It is also restructuring the territorial foundations of research and innovation. R&I policy must adapt.

March 16, 2026 March 16, 2026

Imagining the 15 minutes city through role play: Duffereschbourg 2045

How to imagine the future and think out of the box? A real-life role play in the fictional city Duffereschbourg explores how the 15-minute city feels, conflicts and all. How to imagine the future and think out of the box? A real-life role play in the fictional city Duffereschbourg explores how the 15-minute city feels, conflicts and all.

February 4, 2026 February 4, 2026

EU’s role in an uncertain world: In search for a new narrative

Amid polarisation, exclusion and value-eroding competition, the EU’s strength is that it cares for citizens and can unite them through trust and shared responsibility. Amid polarisation, exclusion and value-eroding competition, the EU’s strength is that it cares for citizens and can unite them through trust and shared responsibility.

January 20, 2026 January 20, 2026 1 Reaction

What 2025 revealed about Europe’s future

Our 2025 blogs show that Europe's ability to navigate the polycrisis era hinges less on new policies and more on a fresh take on managing time, territory and uncertainty. Our 2025 blogs show that Europe's ability to navigate the polycrisis era hinges less on new policies and more on a fresh take on managing time, territory and uncertainty.

December 19, 2025 December 19, 2025

Territorial foresight: escaping the tyranny of the short term

In a changing world, territorial foresight can help us navigate transitions, overcome the 'tragedy of time horizons', and engage with uncertainty in a place-based manner. In a changing world, territorial foresight can help us navigate transitions, overcome the 'tragedy of time horizons', and engage with uncertainty in a place-based manner.

December 17, 2025 December 17, 2025

Energy scenarios in the age of AI

AI, geopolitics and net zero: Shell’s latest energy scenarios reveal how Europe’s grids, ports and landscapes could decide the balance between cohesion and division. AI, geopolitics and net zero: Shell’s latest energy scenarios reveal how Europe’s grids, ports and landscapes could decide the balance between cohesion and division.

November 24, 2025 November 24, 2025

Scenarios for Europe’s Eastern Border: Navigating uncertainty in a…

The EU's north-eastern border is facing insecurity and transformation. Three scenarios explore how resilience, cooperation and a shared vision could influence its future. The EU's north-eastern border is facing insecurity and transformation. Three scenarios explore how resilience, cooperation and a shared vision could influence its future.

October 27, 2025 October 27, 2025

Anticiaptory governance – navigating uncertain futures

How can Europe govern emerging tech and transformative disruptions before it’s too late? Anticipatory governance offers tools for bold, ethical & place-sensitive action. How can Europe govern emerging tech and transformative disruptions before it’s too late? Anticipatory governance offers tools for bold, ethical & place-sensitive action.

September 5, 2025 September 5, 2025

Quo vadis, EU?

The EU is at a crossroads. Is it just a market, or is it a community that works together to share values? It needs a shared vision about what it should do and why. The EU is at a crossroads. Is it just a market, or is it a community that works together to share values? It needs a shared vision about what it should do and why.

June 5, 2025 June 5, 2025

Future proof? Not without territory!

Territorial scenarios can help us move from being informed to being able to change the future through our actions. They link possible futures and territorial realities. Territorial scenarios can help us move from being informed to being able to change the future through our actions. They link possible futures and territorial realities.

April 14, 2025 April 14, 2025

European factfulness AI

Post-truth narratives seem to increasingly dominate social and political debates. Could an AI-powered equivalent of the national encyclopaedias of the past help? Post-truth narratives seem to increasingly dominate social and political debates. Could an AI-powered equivalent of the national encyclopaedias of the past help?

March 6, 2025 March 6, 2025 2 Reactions

We imagine desirable futures (4): From rhetoric to results

The fourth post in the series on possible positive future narratives focuses on rediscovering the importance of sound evidence to escape populist Pied Pipers. The fourth post in the series on possible positive future narratives focuses on rediscovering the importance of sound evidence to escape populist Pied Pipers.

February 21, 2025 February 21, 2025 3 Reactions

We imagine desirable futures (3): Rediscovery of details and personal…

The third post on possibilities for positive future narratives focuses on the rediscovery of details, local action and personal responsibility in a complex world. The third post on possibilities for positive future narratives focuses on the rediscovery of details, local action and personal responsibility in a complex world.

February 6, 2025 February 6, 2025

We imagine desirable futures (2): Democratic spring in Europe

In the second issue of our series exploring different possibilities for positive future narratives, we focus on the idea of a democratic spring in Europe. In the second issue of our series exploring different possibilities for positive future narratives, we focus on the idea of a democratic spring in Europe.

December 16, 2024 December 16, 2024

We imagine desirable futures (1): European island of happiness

Over the coming months, we explore different possible avenues for positive future narratives. First comes the European island of happiness, with a focus on well-being. Over the coming months, we explore different possible avenues for positive future narratives. First comes the European island of happiness, with a focus on well-being.

December 2, 2024 December 2, 2024

New Horizons for Germany 2045: Navigating the Future

New scenarios for Germany point at transformation needs & challenges and goal conflicts. Navigating the future these and the territorial dimension need to be addressed. New scenarios for Germany point at transformation needs & challenges and goal conflicts. Navigating the future these and the territorial dimension need to be addressed.

October 17, 2024 October 17, 2024

Imagine there's no countries

It might be worth while imagining a world without countries as a positive vision that offers an alternative to the reorientation towards nationalism and tribalism. It might be worth while imagining a world without countries as a positive vision that offers an alternative to the reorientation towards nationalism and tribalism.

August 20, 2024 August 20, 2024

Luxembourg's vision for a resilient, inclusive and competitive…

The vision ECO2050 sets out to make Luxembourg’s economic less carbon-intensive, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. What are the spatial implications? The vision ECO2050 sets out to make Luxembourg’s economic less carbon-intensive, energy-efficient and environmentally friendly. What are the spatial implications?

October 17, 2023 October 17, 2023

Future literacy

Future literacy can help to understand and navigate complex futures. It is a journey that requires open-mindedness, curiosity and willingness to embrace uncertainty. Future literacy can help to understand and navigate complex futures. It is a journey that requires open-mindedness, curiosity and willingness to embrace uncertainty.

August 6, 2023 August 6, 2023

The tragedy of the time horizon

The ‘tragedy of the time horizon’ refers to a situation where entrenched short-termism undermines our ability to make decisions with long-term benefits. What can we do? The ‘tragedy of the time horizon’ refers to a situation where entrenched short-termism undermines our ability to make decisions with long-term benefits. What can we do?

June 22, 2023 June 22, 2023

How to consider future generations?

What we do today affects future generations, i.e. all people who will come after us. We have a moral responsibility to hand over a world full of opportunities to them. What we do today affects future generations, i.e. all people who will come after us. We have a moral responsibility to hand over a world full of opportunities to them.

June 14, 2023 June 14, 2023

A vision for the development of the Baltic Sea Region in 2040

What can be a desirable future for the Baltic Sea Region? VASAB has developed new and ambitious vision for a sustainable, digital and just transition of the region. What can be a desirable future for the Baltic Sea Region? VASAB has developed new and ambitious vision for a sustainable, digital and just transition of the region.

June 2, 2023 June 2, 2023

Impacts of the energy crisis - scenario thoughts

What happens if the EU becomes more closed in the light of growing de-globalisation, or if pragmatic decision making or the idea of accelerating green transition prevail? What happens if the EU becomes more closed in the light of growing de-globalisation, or if pragmatic decision making or the idea of accelerating green transition prevail?

September 14, 2022 September 14, 2022

A scenario to just transition

Flourishing in green & social wellbeing: Just transition aims at a fair path towards a climate neutral economy that leaved no one behind. Insights from spatial scenarios. Flourishing in green & social wellbeing: Just transition aims at a fair path towards a climate neutral economy that leaved no one behind. Insights from spatial scenarios.

August 4, 2022 August 4, 2022

Restoring nature in the Adriatic Ionian region

By 2050, the Adriatic Ionian region will take big leaps towards reviving its eco-systems to mitigate climate change effects & revive biodiversity. A territorial scenario By 2050, the Adriatic Ionian region will take big leaps towards reviving its eco-systems to mitigate climate change effects & revive biodiversity. A territorial scenario

July 25, 2022 July 25, 2022

A hyper-digital Danube region

By 2050, the Danube macro-region might leap to a new global digital era. What could the region look like in case of a full digital transition? A territorial scenario ... By 2050, the Danube macro-region might leap to a new global digital era. What could the region look like in case of a full digital transition? A territorial scenario ...

July 8, 2022 July 8, 2022