The Adriatic Ionian Region: challenges and opportunities in the time of geopolitical tensions and the rule of EUSAIR

Due to its geographical features and geopolitical potential, the Adriatic-Ionian region is expected to become crucial for the European Union in reaffirming its role within the region and beyond. However, recent developments such as the Ukrainian War and divergent interests and strategies of international players (including the EU, USA, China, Turkey, and Russia) are changing and challenging territorial development, increasing regional uncertainty in the medium and long term. In 2014, the EU launched the European Union Strategy for the Adriatic Ionian Region (EUSAIR) to support and foster regional territorial cooperation. The EUSAIR is a European Union (EU) macro-region strategy that addresses territorial development from a multi-governance perspective. However, since their conceptualisation, European Union macro-regions have been relegated to the role of a high-level and intergovernmental institutional platform. Unlike the other EU macro-regions, the EUSAIR has also played a central role in harmonising national-based relations among countries participating in the strategy. Indeed, for the current programming period of 2021-2027, the EUSAIR is the only macro-strategy where participants are EU member states (Italy, Greece, Slovenia, and Croatia), candidates (Albania, Serbia, Montenegro, and North Macedonia), potential candidates (Bosnia and Herzegovina), and third-party states (San Marino). This heterogeneity makes the role of EUSAIR even more challenging and strategic for the future development of the entire Adriatic-Ionian region. This paper reflects upon several pressing questions that the Adriatic-Ionian region will face by stressing the role that the EUSAIR should have in addressing them

The importance of cross-border cooperation in the Balkans: Evidence from the bilateral agreement between Albania and Kosovo

This contribution presents the strategy and methodologic approach adopted to develop the territorial project for the transnational area comprised between Kukës and Prizren regions. It analyses the historic relations between the areas involved in this project in the context of the Western Balkan’s up to the recent efforts made by both countries. There are also described the policies of the future cooperation between Albania and Kosovo, in order to provide to ministerial counterparts, a tool for analysis and control of the entire trans-regional area’s development process, in order to transmit them to the future territorial and strategic planning levels

The evolution of spatial planning systems in the Western Balkan Region. Between international influences and domestic actors

In Europe, since the end of the 1980s, a number of comparative planning studies have been conducted exemplifying the diversity of planning approaches that characterise the Continent. Among others, these contributions introduced the concept of legal families as being strictly connected with the features undertaken by spatial planning in a given context. In 1997, a more comprehensive approach was proposed by the EU Compendium of Spatial Planning Systems and Policies, introducing so-called spatial planning traditions or ideal-types. Since then, numerous research initiatives have been concentrating on the evolution spatial planning systems in Europe, on the basis of social, cultural or legislative approaches. The research’s contribution is not only aligned to the previous experiences but has the ambition to shed light on countries like Croatia, Albania and Bosnia & Herzegovina, that have been excluded from any previous study. In doing that, particular attention has been paid to the role played by the international contexts and actors (such as the EU, the World Bank, the United Nations’ Development Programme, the International Monetary Fund, the national development agencies of foreign countries etc.). Indeed, because of the transition period, the international context has been widely active in the region, contributing to address the process of transformation of the considered countries (economical, societal and cultural changes). The idea of the research is to investigate how these processes have affected each spatial planning system, and how each of them has adapted in order to respond, or not, to these stimuli, according to the theory of path-dependency. Adopting a comparative approach, the research aims to shed light on the evolution process of each spatial planning system concentrating on the reasons behind and beyond the transformations. In this respect, methodologically and theoretically speaking, an actor-centred explanatory model has been conceptualised and applied in order to simultaneously mobilise features deriving from historical and actor-centred institutionalisms approaches. In this perspective, the model borrows from historical institutionalism the basic idea that “history matters”, and from actor-centred institutionalism the need to bring the “actor at the centre” of the analysis. According to the model, each country has been investigated in different moments. Firstly, understanding the geographical, social and economic changes since 1990 until now, concentrating on the most significant dimensions of transformation (such as political, economic, institutional, social, behavioural and of power) and their spatial implications. Secondly, describing the evolution of the spatial planning system’s tradition since the beginning of the last century, aiming to better situate the recent transformations within a wide historical context. Thirdly, investigating the recent path of transformation of spatial planning system from the perspective of its different constitutive components, i.e. structural, technical, practice and discursive components. On the basis of this background, the role played by both international and local actors in influencing the described patterns of change in the three countries’ spatial planning system has been explored. In doing so, the research demonstrates how and when the international actors have been influential in shaping the evolution of the spatial planning systems in the Western Balkan Region, and in particular in the analysed countries. Their impacts have been variable in space, time, sectors and levels. As emerged, their influential mechanisms, hence their impacts, have differed from one country to another, and often differences have been emerging even within each country. Even their policy changed over the almost three decades of transition. The same actors, indeed, changed their targets and strategies several times according to contextual needs or their own priorities, which have been fluctuating from a humanitarian approach to the support of the path of EU integration. Different approaches have been followed also concerning the impacted areas. Through time, indeed, some actors focused on very sectoral issues while others adopted a more integrated approach. Finally, the nature of the influence and of the produced impact has varied according to each affected level of the state administration. Some actors focused on producing recommendations targeting the national level while others acted through the direct implementation of local level projects and programs. In this perspective, particular attention has been paid to understanding the role played by the EU as one of the most impactful actors. Overall, the research shows how spatial planning is a complex field composed by a number of interconnected dimensions and scales and proposes an investigation methodology that consider the actors and their role as the main analytical components. The evidence collected through this work contribute to shed some light on the evolutions of spatial planning in the Western Balkan region, that is soon going to be fully integrated into the European Union. In this light, it constitutes a solid foundation upon which to build future, more comprehensive research on the matter

Drivers of internationalization of territorial development. The case of Albania

Mechanisms and trajectories triggered by globalization have largely influenced territorial development across the globe. Countries have tried to address territorial development with alternative fortunes due to the interlinked international and domestic economic, political, and social contingencies. In terms of sustainable land use, there have been enormous differences between the developed and under-developed countries. To overcome these territorial management imbalances, international actors have activated a number of initiatives aiming for a more coherent territorial development across the globe. Relevant actors like the United Nations Agencies, international development agencies, and the European Union EU have launched numerous territorial agendas aiming the assessment of the necessary actions to achieve a major balanced use of the territory. This paper explores the path of the drivers of a progressive internationalization of spatial planning practices. Its focus will be on Albania, which has recently introduced the reform of its national spatial development system, aiming at addressing its territorial challenges

Spatial Planning in the Balkans between Transition, European Integration and Path-dependency

The proposed article aims at inquiring into the evolution of territorial governance and spatial planning systems of the Balkan region, since 1989. The first part sheds some light on the impact of the transition period and, in particular, on the consequences that the shift from a centralized economic and administrative model to a decentralized model based on free market rules had over spatial planning legislation and practice The second part focuses on European integration and on the Europeanization processes triggered by those policies undertaken by the EU during the pre-accession period, in relation to the different integration steps that the aforementioned countries had to go through. Finally, the last part explores more in details the role of the various actors that were/are involved in the process that led to the development of new spatial planning systems in the selected countries, their capability to influence the spatial planning systems’ patterns of change and the channels through which this influence was delivered

Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning in the Western Balkans between Transition, European Integration and Path-Dependency

The article inquiries into the evolution of territorial governance and spatial planning systems of the Western Balkan region, since 1989. More in details, it takes a close look at the cases of Croatia, Albania and Bosnia Herzegovina. The authors shed light on the impact of the transition period and, in particular, on the consequences that the shift from a centralized economic and administrative model to free market rules had over spatial planning legislation and practice. Similarly, they focus their attention on the various modes of Europeanization triggered by the EU pre-accession process and reflect upon the different integration phases that the aforementioned countries are going through. Through these interpretative lenses, the contribution aims at sketching out the specific spatial planning systems’ patterns of change that characterize the selected countries

CHANGING INSTITUTIONAL FRAMEWORK FOR SPATIAL PLANNING IN THE WESTERN BALKAN REGION. EVIDENCES FROM ALBANIA, BOSNIA HERZEGOVINA AND CROATIA

The contribution aims at providing a preliminary insight on the evolution of the institutional framework for spatial planning in the Western Balkan Region since 1989. It does so by proposing a conceptualization of spatial planning domestic contexts as dynamic objects subject to continuous change, and by identifying the main driving forces that contribute to shaping their patterns of change in the geographical area at stake: (i) domestic transition from a centrally planned economic model to a decentralized model based on free market rules, (ii) process of European integration and the Europeanization mechanisms triggered by the latter. On this basis, the authors explore the territorial administration reforms and evolution of spatial planning legislation specific for Albania, Bosnia Herzegovina and Croatia in the last 25 years in more detail manner, highlighting and discussing both similarities and differences

Durazzo nella Transizione

La metamorfosi della città di Durazzo, avvenuta in pochi anni, rappresenta una delle conseguenze della transizione. Il periodo storico che ha coinvolto l’Albania è molto simile ad altri stati dell’ex blocco sovietico come l’Ungheria, la Polonia, la Repubblica Ceca e la Slovacchia. Lo schema che ha accompagnato l’occidentalizzazione di queste nazioni è complesso, ma qui è utile analizzare le conseguenze che hanno portato a nuovi equilibri territoriali. Con l’introduzione del libero mercato, infatti, cambiano le logiche di gestione del territorio, i flussi d’investimenti stranieri definiscono nuovi equilibri economici e individuano priorità di sviluppo spesso discordanti con il passato. Come diretta conseguenza di questi investimenti e della caduta dei precedenti divieti alla circolazione delle persone, si sono generati flussi migratori interni e, in l’Albania, anche un alto tasso di emigrazione. Questo squilibrio demografico porta alla nascita di vaste aree urbane congestionate e, in alcuni casi, alla formazione di aree metropolitane. In questo contesto le capitali delle nazioni dell’Est (ad esempio Praga, Varsavia, Budapest e la stessa Tirana) assumono un ruolo determinante nell’accentramento dei flussi di investimenti che vengono cosi sottratti alle altre città dei rispettivi paesi. In alcuni casi queste aree metropolitane diventano degli snodi di livello internazionale mettendo in secondo piano quei territori che non riescono a ritagliarsi un ruolo nelle politiche nazionali. Secondo il rapporto dell’UE (Albania Report Progres 2012), in Albania risulta particolarmente problematico questo squilibrio regionale che ha portato ad una depressione sia economica che demografica di diverse regioni della nazione a favore delle regioni di Tirana e Durazzo

Durazzo: storia di un quartiere abusivo

Durrёs è da vent’anni un cantiere aperto, un contenitore delle trasformazioni che hanno coinvolto un paese in transizione. La sua storia recente non è dissimile da molte città di medie dimensioni dell’ ex-blocco sovietico, dal quale però l’Albania si distaccò già nel 1978. Prima della caduta del regime, Durazzo aveva un ruolo fondamentale nelle logiche regionali, vista la presenza del porto, di una vasta area industriale e di un’area manifatturiera. Inoltre, nell’immaginario comune rappresenta l’identità della nazione. Attualmente il suo ruolo è funzionale e secondario a Tirana, la capitale. Keneta è un quartiere abusivo, un tempo sterminata scacchiera rurale a ridosso della città. Nei primi anni '90, se ne iniziò l’edificazione con un’efficace patto informale: distanze, dimensioni, altezze, orientamenti erano, e lo sono in parte ancora oggi, stabiliti dagli abitanti. Oggi la città cerca di trovare le misure specifiche per l'integrazione sociale

Towards Sustainable Urbanization. Learning from What’s Out There

The incremental recognition of the importance of land as a finite resource has led to the adop-tion and implementation of an increasing number of sustainable land use practices in European cities and regions. This paper reflects on these experiences, building on the evidence collected in the framework of the ESPON SUPER pan-European research project. In particular, the authors look at the contents of the project’s intervention database, which includes 235 examples of sus-tainable urbanization interventions gathered from all around Europe. In doing so, they reflect on the outcomes of these interventions, focusing on both their scope and objectives and the types of instruments that were adopted in their implementation. On this basis, the contribution sug-gests a number of recommendations and warnings for decision and policy–makers aiming at promoting a more sustainable use of land, bearing in mind that no ‘right instruments’ or ‘right targets’ exist that could prove successful for all European cities and regions