The Handbook of Territorial and Local Development Strategies is a tool for designing, implementing and monitoring strategies that build resilience, prosperity and democracy in non-urban areas. The intended audience includes managing authorities, policymakers, local action groups and development agencies, and anyone interested in ensuring that non-urban areas meet the needs of citizens and are part of a green and digital Europe.
The handbook is the result of collaboration between the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Regional and Urban Policy (DG REGIO) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC). Contributors included scholars, independent experts and local government officials.
Two handbooks as policy learning tools
Speaking at the release of the document in November 2022, DG REGIO policy officer for territorial and urban development Laura Hagemann said: ‘The publication of the handbook is the result of a long and fruitful collaboration between DG REGIO and the JRC. We first teamed up to map integrated territorial strategies and territorial tools in the Handbook of Sustainable Urban Development Strategies, released in 2020. Now we have this complementary handbook with the focus on non-urban territories.’
Described as a policy learning tool, instead of a step-by-step guide, it uses examples and case studies to inspire solutions to barriers to the development of non-urban areas. The focus is on a holistic approach that considers the needs and potential of a defined geographic area, draws on a wide range of policies, and emphasises inclusive governance and the participation of communities. It contains practical tips, examples and recommendations, and references to existing literature and tools.
The handbook is divided into six sections: strategic dimension, territorial focus, governance, cross-sectoral integration, funding and finance, and monitoring. Each one forms part of an integrated, sustainable approach to territorial development in the EU. The handbook presents 22 policy challenges, 50 examples, 26 additional resources, and recommendations. The examples showcase strategies and projects relevant to cohesion policy and other EU policy areas.
The sections mirror the structure of the urban development strategies handbook, allowing both documents to be used in parallel, especially in cases where the distinction between urban and non-urban areas is often blurred and depends on how each EU country defines them.
Europe closer to citizens
A new policy objective ‘Europe closer to citizens’ has been included in the cohesion policy framework for 2021-2027 to ensure that territories can better exploit their potential by aligning local development with EU objectives and ensuring that public investment is used to respond to citizens’ needs. The handbook is one of the tools intended to achieve this. The new policy objective has two aims: sustainable, integrated development of all types of territories, and developing the appropriate strategies.
The handbook is part of efforts to achieve the EU goal of territorial cohesion – to reduce economic and social disparities between regions. The Territorial agenda 2030 promotes place-based approaches and integrated territorial development in Europe, and cohesion policy is the EU’s main policy tool to achieve this.
Specific needs of rural areas
The EU’s non-urban landscape includes rural, mountainous, coastal, and mixed urban-rural areas. They have varying development needs and potential, due to their geography and level of socio-economic development.
Alessandro Rainoldi, Head of the JRC’s Territorial Development Unit, said cities were an easier concept to understand than non-urban and rural areas. ‘Outside of the urban comfort zone, it is more difficult to grasp local territorial and rural development. The handbook is a good way to identify a common framework to these local development challenges.’
The development of disadvantaged regions, such as those with declining and ageing populations, a lack of jobs and basic services is one of the focus areas of EU cohesion policy. Integrated territorial development strategies, such as those promoted by the handbook, are intended to help these areas develop their potential in fields including bioeconomy, biodiversity and healthy living, all of which have received renewed interest due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the rise of teleworking.
Future developments
JRC Scientific Officer Martina Pertoldi said at the launch that the handbook is part of an online platform hosted under the strategies portal of the Knowledge Centre for Territorial Policies, and is managed by the JRC. It is connected with the STRAT-Board web tool that maps almost 2 000 territorial and urban development strategies supported through cohesion policy and other EU Funds across the EU.
Ms Pertoldi said that a self-assessment tool for territorial and local development strategies (SAT4TER) would be launched in 2023, to complement the existing tool for sustainable urban development strategies. Also planned for 2023 was a pilot peer-review process for territorial and local development strategies and a project repository.
