The role of cross-border territories in Switzerland’s new spatial planning strategy
The new strategy is accompanied by a detailed action plan and focuses on five main objectives for the next eight years:
- Guarantee a high quality of life for the population
- Enhance economic attractiveness and competitiveness;
- Preserve, protect and enhance the landscape and natural resources within and outside the built-up area
- Advancing climate protection and adaptation to climate change
- Strengthening the diversity of society and the cohesion of regions.
Three sectoral policies have been identified as having an impact on the spatial development of the regions and will be used to achieve these objectives: agriculture, transport, and tourism.
Responding to the need for mobility (including cross-border mobility), ensuring the transfer of successful experiences to other regions and identifying the potential of rural areas will all be measures aimed at achieving more harmonious and sustainable development.
The areas bordering Switzerland are included in this strategy, and are regarded as functional and closely interwoven areas requiring special attention. Regional policy encourages ‘structural change in mountain regions, rural areas and border regions by strengthening their competitiveness, particularly that of their centres’. In particular, it affirms the role of European territorial cooperation programmes and networks (Interreg, ESPON, Alpine Convention, etc.) in supporting cross-border and international projects.
