Contenu

The EU’s next budget – a territorial perspective on the MMF 2028–2034…

The EU budget proposal promises reform, flexibility and performance, but raises critical questions about cohesion, territorial governance, and the EU's future vision. The EU budget proposal promises reform, flexibility and performance, but raises critical questions about cohesion, territorial governance, and the EU's future vision.

18/07/2025 18/07/2025

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?

14/07/2025 14/07/2025

Towards a cohesion dimension of EU policies post 2027

Future EU funds need clarity, vision, and smart territorial strategies to ensure competitiveness, cohesion, and prosperity for all places and people post-2027. Future EU funds need clarity, vision, and smart territorial strategies to ensure competitiveness, cohesion, and prosperity for all places and people post-2027.

04/07/2025 04/07/2025

Four provocative ideas for a radical rethink of cohesion policy

Let's take a step back from political feasibility & institutional constraints to explore what a radically different cohesion policy might look like: 4 provocative ideas. Let's take a step back from political feasibility & institutional constraints to explore what a radically different cohesion policy might look like: 4 provocative ideas.

24/06/2025 24/06/2025

Schengen at 40: Celebrating freedoms, confronting fractures

The 40th anniversary provides an opportunity for celebration. It is also a call to action to defend the vision of a Europe without borders. The 40th anniversary provides an opportunity for celebration. It is also a call to action to defend the vision of a Europe without borders.

15/06/2025 15/06/2025

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.

05/06/2025 05/06/2025

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

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.

14/05/2025 14/05/2025

Forks in the road to cohesion policy post-2027

Cohesion policy faces a pivotal moment as discussions on the next EU budget unfold. Several bifurcation points could shape its evolution or transformation beyond 2027. Cohesion policy faces a pivotal moment as discussions on the next EU budget unfold. Several bifurcation points could shape its evolution or transformation beyond 2027.

06/05/2025 06/05/2025 1 réaction

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 réactions

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.

14/04/2025 14/04/2025

Criteria for a future-wise Cohesion Policy

To make an effective contribution to Europe's future, cohesion policy must clearly demonstrate how it delivers benefits for all. It must meet 5 criteria or objectives. To make an effective contribution to Europe's future, cohesion policy must clearly demonstrate how it delivers benefits for all. It must meet 5 criteria or objectives.

07/04/2025 07/04/2025

Should the European Semester include territorial cohesion?

Integrating territorial cohesion into the European Semester could improve policy coordination & address regional disparities more effectively. This idea is controversial. Integrating territorial cohesion into the European Semester could improve policy coordination & address regional disparities more effectively. This idea is controversial.

21/03/2025 21/03/2025

Cohesion and territory in Europe’s present crisis

The Territorial Thinkers argue for the need to redefine and re-establish cohesion as a central concept in addressing the major challenges facing Europe today. The Territorial Thinkers argue for the need to redefine and re-establish cohesion as a central concept in addressing the major challenges facing Europe today.

12/03/2025 12/03/2025

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?

06/03/2025 06/03/2025 2 réactions

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.

21/02/2025 21/02/2025 3 réactions

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

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.

06/02/2025 06/02/2025

Reimagining cohesion and EU policies: A sectoral approach

The sectoral approach scenario offers a glimpse of a future where EU policies prioritise efficiency & performance, but struggle to address regional & social disparities. The sectoral approach scenario offers a glimpse of a future where EU policies prioritise efficiency & performance, but struggle to address regional & social disparities.

27/01/2025 27/01/2025

Reimagining cohesion and EU policy: An integrated approach

Imagine an integrated approach. How could different EU and national policies be coordinated to achieve common goals, in particular to reduce regional disparities? Imagine an integrated approach. How could different EU and national policies be coordinated to achieve common goals, in particular to reduce regional disparities?

17/01/2025 17/01/2025

27 national plans: include the territorial reality!

The proposal for 27 national plans offers opportunities to streamline EU policies and improve their coherence across sectors, but it needs a strong territorial dimension. The proposal for 27 national plans offers opportunities to streamline EU policies and improve their coherence across sectors, but it needs a strong territorial dimension.

08/01/2025 08/01/2025

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.

16/12/2024 16/12/2024

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.

10/12/2024 10/12/2024

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.

02/12/2024 02/12/2024

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.

25/11/2024 25/11/2024

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

It takes two to tango: Competitiveness and Cohesion

As the EU stands at a crossroads, facing new global challenges and opportunities, the relationship between these competitiveness and cohesion is more important than ever. As the EU stands at a crossroads, facing new global challenges and opportunities, the relationship between these competitiveness and cohesion is more important than ever.

24/10/2024 24/10/2024 1 réaction

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.

17/10/2024 17/10/2024

The role of local tax revenues for growth and cohesion

Local taxes can help economic growth and competitiveness. This should maybe be considered for the ‘cash for reform’ debate, as the future of Cohesion Policy is discussed. Local taxes can help economic growth and competitiveness. This should maybe be considered for the ‘cash for reform’ debate, as the future of Cohesion Policy is discussed.

07/10/2024 07/10/2024 1 réaction