Irish Regions Office Website

December 05, 2008

2020 Regional challenges vulnerability assessment

The findings of the Regions 2020 report, which provides a prospective analysis of the likely medium term regional impact of some of the main challenges facing Europe, have been published. Using a series of indicators, the report maps out a ''vulnerability index''', identifying the degree of exposure faced by regions due to the impact of globalisation, demography, climate change and energy use and supply. This offers a first look at the potential patterns of disparities that these challenges will generate across Europe and will feed into the ongoing reflection process to determine the future shape and investment priorities of Cohesion Policy. Commenting on the analysis, Commissioner Danuta Hubner highlighted that ''it is clearer than ever that we need flexible, forward-looking policies in the EU in order to adapt to changing times and new pressures. The big challenges we are facing will affect Europe’s regions in different ways and to varying degrees.''

By and large the report sets out a stark contrast between the prospects of northern and western Europe as against those of the southern and eastern parts of the continent. This is especially illustrated with the globalisation index - based on factors such as estimated productivity, employment, and education levels - which indicates that regions (particularly those with major urban centres) with the basis for competitive and innovative economies will benefit while those lacking the capacity to develop along these lines are likely to be more exposed.
For Ireland as a whole, the most obvious area of concern among the four themes examined is exposure to the volatility of international energy markets – a weakness that places this country markedly at odds with its most immediate neighbours. The report concludes that all regions will need to find local solutions tailored to meet the combination of challenges which they face and that the European policy framework must be adapted to assist.
Regions 2020 report:
http://ec.europa.eu/regional_policy/sources/docoffic/working/regions2020/index_en.htm

Posted by iroronan at December 5, 2008 02:53 PM