ESPON UK Network - Bulletin 5/2009 - Royal Town Planning Institute

ESPON UK Network - Bulletin 5/2009

21-May-09

Network News

ESPON rules change for private companies for third round of projects

The launch of the third round of calls for proposals and expressions of interest awaits final approval of recent adjustments to the management and control system of the ESPON programme. The opening of the calls is expected just after the summer break. The good news is that private bodies and companies will be able to join the project teams as partners in future ESPON research and in projects providing targeted analysis with stakeholders.

ESPON UK Network Migration Forum. The ESPON UK Network and Communities and Local Government hosted a workshop to explore research priorities for migration data to inform planning policy on 13 May. The presentations and related articles are now available to members in the ESPON UK Migration Forum. Find out more…

More inception reports from the first round of calls are available for the following projects: Future Orientation of Cities (FOCI), European Development Opportunities in Rural Areas (EDORA), Demography and Migration Flows Affecting European Regions and Cities (DEMIFER), Regions at Risk of Energy Poverty (ReRISK), Territorial Impact Package for Transport and Agricultural Policies (TIPTAP) and ESPON 2013 Database. A summary of each of them can be downloaded at ESPON 2013 Projects.

TeDi, the ESPON Territorial Diversity Project, has recently produced its first report. Read it…

For more information on European events and reports, sign up to the ESPON EU Newsletter by simply sending a blank message to newsletter@espon.eu.

ESPON Supports Territorial Development and Cohesion Policy. Read more…

Comparative cross-national research methods – ESRC call for applications

The ESRC invites applications under the Initiative on Comparative Cross-National Research Methods. Several recent studies have identified a pressing need for the development of comparative cross-national research methods for the conduct of high quality international and cross-national comparative research. This initiative is aimed at generating methodological advancement as well as advancing understanding of the implementation of best practice. The ESRC is seeking to fund four to six research projects which will address one or more substantive research questions upon which to base the methodological work. Full proposals must be submitted to the ESRC by 4pm on Tuesday 25th August 2009. Read more…

Rural Mainstreaming & Rural Proofing Toolkit: Commission for Rural Communities and Defra have produced a new toolkit that will provide policy makers at all levels with a practical understanding of rural proofing and its importance within mainstream policy making approaches. This coincides with the re-launch of the Government’s commitment to Rural Mainstreaming and Rural Proofing. ‘Rural Mainstreaming’ means that rural needs should be fairly considered within mainstream Government policies and in their delivery. Rural proofing is a formal part of the UK Government’s policy making Impact Assessment guidance. The new resource and guidance are now available on www.ruralcommunities.gov.uk

Report on water resources across Europe: confronting water scarcity and drought.

This report, by the European Environmental Agency, describes the grave impacts of excessive abstraction on Europe’s water resources. It explores the role of water pricing and effective controls in improving water efficiency, along with opportunities for alternative supplies. Read more...