The open method of co‐ordination and ‘post‐regulatory’ territorial cohesion policy

Abstract

The Open Method of Co‐ordination (OMC) is being promoted as an alternative in policy areas where the Community method does not apply, such as in employment, social security and pensions. The paper discusses the origins of OMC and the thinking behind it. Then it explores OMC features of the process of making the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP). The work of the European Spatial Planning Observation Network (ESPON) on indicators facilitates OMC being invoked. Indicators need to be supplemented with mutual exchanges about national and European planning and also by joint work on transnational and European spatial visions. Assuming that, as proposed in Art. 3 of the European Constitution, territorial cohesion will become an accepted goal of the Union, on a par with economic and social cohesion, the paper ends with a scenario of the application of OMC in formulating European Union Territorial Cohesion Strategy.

Notes

Andreas Faludi, Nijmegen School of Management, University of Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9108, 6500 HK Nijmegen, The Netherlands, E‐mail: [email protected]

See http://www.knoweurope.net/html/ticker/speech_2703.htm, accessed on 27 August, 2003.

“Il ne s'agit pas pour l'Union d'imposer je ne sais quelle planification autoritaire, réglementant jusqu'aux plans d'occupation des sols, comme certain voudrait le faire croire. Au contraire, la cohésion territoriale est un domaine privilégié pour tester de nouvelles formes de gouvernance et exercise conret de la subsidiarité.”

In this context, it should be noted, the White Papers quotes the ESDP approvingly. (See CEC, 2001a, 13.)

See http://www.cor.eu.int/en/acti/acti_eve.html, accessed on 27 August, 2003.

See their website http://eucenter.wisc.edu/OMC/ accessed on 30 March 2004.

No. 5 of the Conclusions of the Lisbon European Council; http://www.europarl.eu.int/summits/lis1_en.htm, accessed on 1 September 2003.

Usually, meetings of the various formations of the Council of Ministers held in the country holding the EU Presidency are described as Informal Councils, the reason being that unless they meet at Brussels or Luxembourg, the Council of Ministers cannot take formal decisions.

See the The ESPON Programme 2006: Programme on the spatial development of an enlarging European Union, as approved by the European Commission on 7 February 2003; http://www.espon.lu/online/documentation/programme/programme_complement/316/espon_pc_final.pdf; accessed 1 September 2003.

Euroabstracts 41/4 – 2003, 11.

See http://www.irishspatialstrategy.ie/; accessed on 1 September, 2003.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Andreas Faludi

Andreas Faludi, Nijmegen School of Management, University of Nijmegen, P.O. Box 9108, 6500 HK Nijmegen, The Netherlands, E‐mail: [email protected]