International co-operation on spatial planning
The European Union
In 1999 the EU member states approved the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), which aims to promote polycentric regional structures and sustainable development through spatial planning.
The Sub-committee for Spatial and Urban Development, jointly run by the European Commission and EU member states, is currently working on projects including the European Spatial Planning Observation Network, the Interreg Programmes and the Urban Programmes.
The prospects for future co-operation on regional planning have been examined in a special report: Managing the Territorial Dimension of the EU Policies after Enlargement.
For more information
Ms. Ulla Koski, Director of Spatial Planning, Ministry of the Environment Tel. +358 50 300 6358
E-mail: firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi The ESPON 2006 Programme
The European Spatial Planning Observation Network programme has been designed to improve databases on regions within the EU, and to promote related research.
In Finland, the ESPON 2006 Programme is being implemented by the Ministry of the Interior as well as the Ministry of the Environment. The Finnish national contact points for the programme is a consortium set up by the Helsinki University of Technology, the Finnish Environment Institute (SYKE), and the University of Joensuu.
For more information
Mr. Harri Pitkäranta, Counsellor, Spatial Planning, Ministry of the Environment
Tel. +358 40 506 1170
E-mail: firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi The Baltic Sea Region INTERREG IIIB Programme
Co-operation on regional development and planning in the countries around the Baltic Sea – also including Norway, Russia and Belarus – is financed through the EU’s Baltic Sea Region Interreg IIIB Programme. The programme aims to increase the region’s cohesion, and improve competitiveness.
Project funding is granted by the Finnish Ministry of the Interior, the Ministry of the Environment, the Ministry of Education, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry. Members of the Interreg III Secretariat are based in Rostock, Karlskrona and Riga.
For more information
Ms. Tiina Tihlman, Counsellor, Ministry of the Environment
Tel. +358 50 304 1548
E-mail: firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi The Council of Europe
The European Conference of Ministers Responsible for Regional and Spatial Planning (CEMAT) covers virtually the whole continent of Europe. At a meeting in Hannover in 2000, ministers approved a set of guiding principles for sustainable development in regional planning.
The subsequent 2003 Ljubljana Declaration stresses the importance of sustainable development and the need to reduce regional inequalities in levels of development in Europe.
The Committee of Senior Officials (CSO) implements the policies set at ministerial conferences by creating project-based partnerships. Issues of current interest in this context include the risks of major floods, sustainable forms of transportation, and culturally significant regions.
For more information
Mr. Jussi Rautsi, Counsellor, Ministry of the Environment
Tel. +358 50 371 5694
E-mail: firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi Visions and Strategies around the Baltic Sea (VASAB)
In 1994 the VASAB ministerial conference approved the Visions and Strategies around the Baltic Sea document, which includes descriptions of the urban structure of the Baltic Sea region and an assessment of the need for improved networking.
The 2001 Wismar Declaration stressed the need for spatial planning to promote sustainable development in connection with the enlargement of the EU. The Committee on Spatial Development – Baltic Sea Region (CSD-BSR) sets up projects on the basis of policy initiatives defined at ministerial conferences.
VASAB is a particularly important form of co-operation for Finland, because Russia is also a member.
For more information
Mr. Jussi Rautsi, Counsellor, Ministry of the Environment
Tel. +358 50 371 5694
E-mail: firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi Co-operation with the Baltic Countries
The Finnish Ministry of the Environment co-operates with the environment ministries of Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania on the basis of bilateral agreements and the Finnish environment ministry’s own regional strategy.
The Ministry of the Environment also finances transport planning and exchange programmes for planning experts. This funding largely consists of meeting experts’ expenses.
For more information
Ms. Tiina Tihlman, Counsellor, Ministry of the Environment
Tel. +358 50 304 1548
E-mail: firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi Co-operation with the Russian Federation
Cross-border co-operation between Russia and Finland involves exchanging expertise and examples of good practices.
Projects funded by the Finnish Ministry of the Environment are implemented in Finland by the regional councils and regional environment centers; while the corresponding partners in Russia are the regional authorities.
Surveys have been conducted of regional structures and factors with environmental impacts including traffic densities, border crossings and harbours on the Gulf of Finland. Co-operation on the management of inland and costal waters and shore is also on-going.
For more information
Mr. Jussi Rautsi, Counsellor, Ministry of the Environment
Tel. +358 50 371 5694
E-mail: firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi Nordic co-operation
Issues for Nordic co-operation on planning are agreed at ministerial-level meetings. In 2001 a plan of action was approved for the application of jointly agreed sustainable development principles in planning, in connection with the sustainable development programme of the Nordic Council of Ministers.
Annual meetings of leading officials from the planning authorities of the Nordic countries arrange the ministerial meetings and work to implement their decisions.
For more information
Ms. Tiina Tihlman, Counsellor, Ministry of the Environment
Tel. +358 50 304 1548
E-mail: firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi
Mr. Antti Irjala, Senior Technical Adviser, Ministry of the Environment
Tel. +358 400 143 973
E-mail: firstname.surname@ymparisto.fi
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