I. WHY REVISE VASAB2010 ?

 

The VASAB Vision 1994

I. Pearls - an urban network of international importance

1. A competitive system of cities gains added value by co-operation across the Baltic Sea and with Europe

2. A system of cities ensures spatial cohesion

3. Links between urban areas and rural hinterland support regional economic and environmental balance

4. Cities offer an attractive urban environment for inhabitants and investment

II. Strings: Effective and sustainable links between cities

5. The BSR mobility network facilitates environment friendly transport

6. The mobility network provides conditions for effective integration within the BSR and with the world

7. Energy production relies increasingly on renewable and environment friendly sources of energy

III. Patches: Areas supporting dynamism and quality of life

8. Cross-border co-operation contributes significantly to spatial economic and social cohesion

9. Islands function as a tourism core in the BSR

10. The coastal zone is planned with careful balance between development and protection

11. A Baltic Network of nature areas is designated and protected

IV. System - comprehensive spatial planning in function

12. Spatial planning contributes to harmonisation and spatial cohesion across borders

13. Spatial planning is based on the principles of subsidiarity, participation and transparency

14. Spatial planning contributes to the co-ordination of sector and regional planning

The VASAB vision and strategy laid down in its report of 1994 are based on observed deficits in the urban system and enormous regional disparities. They stress the need to upgrade transport links and to make use of the region’s rich natural and cultural heritage, high level of education and qualified labour force.

The Vision addresses four main elements of the spatial system:

an urban network of international importance (“pearls”);
effective and sustainable links between cities (“strings”);
other areas supporting dynamism and quality of life (“patches”);
comprehensive spatial planning in function (“system”).

It is broken down into 14 different goals (see box).

The Strategy is based on a facilitator’s role:

wide-spread promotion of the vision and strategies;
generation of project ideas to be followed up by other actors.
initiation and execution of projects, some of which led and co-financed by VASAB members (VASAB projects),
mobilisation of and co-operation with other actors, including other transnational organisations;

Rationale of a revision

The vision set out in the VASAB2010 report (1994) is still valid. It is in line with spatial development principles laid down later in ESDP and in CEMAT’s ‘Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent’ (2000).

But after five years (since the Tallinn conference) with considerable structural change and with a wide range of actions taken, a review is useful to reflect priorities and ways of action. This includes the following:

A review of priorities to respond to future challenges, based on

An assessment of recent spatial development trends in the light of development principles (VASAB, ESDP, CEMAT), using improved knowledge gained since 1994.

An identification of future challenges for spatial policies, considering, among other aspects, potential impacts of EU enlargement, and the growing importance of knowledge as a driving force for regional development.

Streamline priorities according to the concept of sustainable development. In this context, new national spatial development concepts prepared during recent years are considered, as well as goals and actions of other pan-Baltic co-operation networks like HELCOM and Agenda Baltic21.

An assessment of the effectiveness of past action based on:

A review of the implementation of previous action plans.

Experience made with VASAB's actions and with those of other actors (particularly in the framework of InterregIIC and related Phare and Tacis programs).

Re-design the VASAB2010 implementation concept, including an identification of

key themes for joint action,

possible kinds of action.