Preface–Introduction 1 Dietmar Scholich The various regions within the European Union are marked by a high degree of disparity with regard to economic performance and productivity, and with respect to their labour markets. The intention underlying the EU’s concept of ‘territorial cohesion’ is to reduce these differences and imbalances and, at the same time, to ensure more balanced spatial development throughout the EU. Territorial cohesion – for which the German language uses two slightly different terms, “territoriale Kohäsion” and “territorialer Zusammenhalt” – has to be seen as a general term encompassing a number of different components. In addition to redressing disparities and spatial imbalances, this concept aims to improve territorial integration and to promote co-operation among EU regions. In striving to bring about territorial cohesion, due account must be taken of the diversity of the European continent, and consideration should be given to the advantages and disadvantages each area exhibits. Among the special challenges to be faced are the concentration of population and economic activity in what has come to be known as the Pentagon, the process of EU enlargement, and the severe imbalances which exist between the major centres of population and other parts of the EU territory. Against this background, it was only right and proper that territorial cohesion should be included in the draft of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe (Article I-3), which lists economic, social, and territorial cohesion as being among the Union’s objectives.
The various regions within the EU are marked by a high degree of disparity with regard to their economic performance and productivity, and as regards their labour markets. Facing these regional differences, the task of regional and spatial sciences is to develop concepts and strategies to reduce and prevent territorial imbalances. Thus "territorial cohesion" stands for a more balanced spatial development, and aims to improve integration throughout the EU. Although the term is used in many EU documents and strategies, its meaning remains vague and unclear. The scientific articles in this annual deal with the interpretations of this term, the challenges of European spatial development policy, and the problems and concepts involved in achieving territorial cohesion. Furthermore two short reports illustrate the implementation of territorial cohesion on the basis of two research projects.
