ESPON Programme

The North Sea–Rhine–Mediterranean (NSRM) Corridor is one of Europe's most strategic transport axes:
🚊 ~12,000 km of railways
🚌 5,000 km of roads
⛴️ 5,000 km of inland waterways
crossing 8 countries from Ireland to Italy.

But since the merger of the former Rhine-Alpine and North Sea–Mediterranean corridors in 2024, governance remains uneven. Decision‑making is steered by Member States and infrastructure managers, and representation gaps have widened for some sections of the corridor.

Our new ESPON policy brief shows that corridor decision-making is dominated by national authorities, with local and regional actors having limited influence. Working groups lack clear mandates. Regional bottlenecks are harder to address. Urban nodes are underrepresented.

📊 What does this cost in practice?
We modelled a 2050 scenario showing that, under the current governance model, modal shift to rail remains limited.
☝️ But with stronger local and regional representation and better cross-border coordination, the modal shift potential to rail doubles, CO₂ emissions drop by -2.2%, and energy consumption falls by -1.6%.

In absolute terms, this means an extra 18 billion passenger-km per year on rail — equivalent to 75,000 passengers travelling monthly from Amsterdam to Berlin.

The message is clear: better governance is not a soft add-on but a prerequisite for infrastructure to deliver.

📥 Read the full policy brief on the ESPON website https://loom.ly/vkrdjnU

How does digital transition reshape territorial cohesion in Europe’s regions?
ESPON has just published the final report of DIGIREG – Territorial perspectives of digital transition in European regions, offering fresh territorial evidence to support smarter, more inclusive digital policies.

🔍 What the study finds
👉Digital divides are no longer only about networks and coverage; skills, capabilities, institutional capacity and everyday digital uses now play a crucial role in turning digital capital into social and economic benefits.
👉Digital transition can foster cohesion, but it can also deepen existing gaps where advanced infrastructures and investments concentrate in already competitive regions.
👉Geography still matters: mountains, borders and some low-density regions face specific barriers, while metropolitan areas act as digital innovation hubs – and territorial patterns often cut across national borders.

🧭 Key messages for policy
☝️Treat digitalisation as a territorial process and move beyond one-size-fits-all approaches, with context-sensitive, multi-level governance.
☝️Strengthen regional and local monitoring systems to uncover intra-regional digital divides otherwise hidden behind national averages.
☝️Combine infrastructure investment with long-term support for skills, institutional capacity and inclusive digital public services to convert connectivity into tangible social and economic benefits.

👉 Read the final report https://loom.ly/FifJOz8

Cohesion Policy's motto is that all places matter and no place should be left behind. However, places can only be part of the progress if citizens are actively involved in planning their future. This engagement requires information and a clear understanding of the context.

ESPON Brand Manager Nikos Lampropoulos argues that communication gaps are a major reason even well-designed territorial policies fail. Communication is not a nice-to-have; it is a non-negotiable governance tool.

His analysis delivers three main conclusions:

👉Strategic communication must be embedded into the policymaking cycle from day one to ensure genuine citizen participation and policy accountability.

📢Communication campaigns must be designed and led by professionals, yet every official involved in a territorial policy process should be trained to effectively communicate their work.

🗞️Including the media is not optional. Journalists do something that institutional communication cannot: they question, contextualise, and hold those in power to account.

Read the full article here:
https://loom.ly/Q0dWwIs

How can European regions successfully navigate the green industrial transition when competing for resources and labour?

Based on the findings of the ESPON RE-Industry project, Øyvind Vennerød, Jonas Erraia and Einar Stoltenberg Wahl from Menon Economics highlight that successful industrial renewal depends on matching specific sectors to a region’s unique structural strengths and objectives, rather than promoting generic strategic industries in the abstract.

Key points of their analysis:

☝️Regional endowments are categorised into five pillars: energy, workforce, market access, ecosystem, and innovation. Data shows no single European region is strong across all five.

👌Different green industries serve different strategic goals. For example, battery cell production generates significant employment, whereas hydrogen production yields fewer jobs but supports long-term cluster development.

👉Regional authorities must carefully assess their risk appetite in relation to technological maturity, market conditions, and regulatory frameworks before committing to large-scale industrial projects.

Read the full analysis 👇:
[https://loom.ly/1A-GKZE)

Do you know how to apply for an ESPON Targeted Analysis and use it to support your territorial policies with evidence and data?

Join our webinar on 11 June 2026 and learn everything you need to know about our calls for Targeted Analyses proposals, our thematic plans, eligibility rules, application process and more.

Register today!

https://loom.ly/8QWLJC8

Remember: There is a call currently open, and the cut-off date is 30 September!
https://loom.ly/XcR5GyM

How can the European Union rebuild public trust through its development policies?

In the latest issue of the TerritoriALL magazine, Florian Marin of the EESC examines the critical relationship between culture and development. The article highlights that Europe’s political project relies on empowering regional specificities and social realities, rather than imposing uniform economic models.

His Key points:

The growing distance between cultural identities and development strategies fuels public mistrust and the perception of overly centralised governance.

True democratic legitimacy requires a shift from simple consultation to a genuine co-creation model, integrating local actors and civil society from the very beginning of the policymaking process.

Reforming the European Code of Conduct on Partnership and introducing a 'civil society check' alongside regional checks would ensure that Cohesion Policy reflects the lived experiences of communities.

Read the full article for his full analysis on the proposed reforms for territorial governance:
https://loom.ly/ZQG5STA

How packed is your event agenda for June?

Consider adding these three ESPON opportunities to your schedule:

03 June | Online event | Transnational Programmes: needs and opportunities. We are unpacking the practical requirements and future directions for transnational cooperation across Europe.

11 June | Online workshop | Webinar for future stakeholders on Targeted Analyses. An online workshop explaining how local authorities can submit proposals and secure tailored research support to address specific territorial challenges.

17 June | ESPON seminar in Larnaca | Organised in cooperation with the Cypriot EU Presidency, bringing together high-level speakers to address the invisible borders hindering regional innovation, with a Mediterranean flavour.

Secure your spot and review the full agendas for all sessions here:
https://loom.ly/Z1zXpC8

What is the territorial challenge your area faces? Use our call for Targeted Analyses and submit a proposal for a study before 30 SEPTEMBER 2026!
If your idea is selected, you can get from ESPON:
✅A high-quality study led by top European experts
✅Around EUR 250,000 budget
✅Networking opportunities
✅Peer learning opportunities
Do you have questions? We are here to help you
https://loom.ly/XcR5GyM

Final call to register for Larnaka!

Is physical remoteness the only barrier holding regions back? Or maybe differences in local frameworks, knowledge sharing, and cultural approaches is an even greater obstacle to progress?

On 17-18 June 2026, policymakers, researchers, and regional leaders will address the "Cognitive distance" that divides competitive regions and regions lagging behind.

Why should you join?

For our high-level keynote speakers:
- Prof. Maria Savona (University of Sussex)
- Prof. Ron Boschma (University of Utrecht)
- Prof. Phoebe Kountouri, Athens University of Economics and Business
- Andreas A. Assiotis, Eurobank General Manager, Retail Banking

For the new empirical evidence we will present from projects like ACCORD and STARTER

For our engaging and action-oriented workshops on
🌊Med economy,
🖥️Digital transformation,
🌴Green transition,
🏘️Housing affordability

🔭For the strategic insights as the Cyprus EU Council Presidency brings a unique perspective on insularity, global networks, and territorial cohesion.

🔗 Secure your spot today: https://loom.ly/d4ohRps

ESPON Targeted Analyses support territorial development processes. They bring together policymakers who share similar challenges and look for new territorial evidence and a European perspective.

Do you know that you can use an ESPON Targeted Analysis to support your territorial policies with evidence and data?

Join our webinar on 11 June 2026 and learn everything you need to know about our calls for expression of interests, our thematic plans, eligibility rules, application process and more
Register today!

https://loom.ly/8QWLJC8