Facing ESPON

Is Europe a train on track, moving from past to future, pulled by an engine called development, or rather, sustainable development (to be politically correct)? Are there no sidings or optional routes? Is the speed of this train accelerating? Is the engine driver however facing squarely ahead, concentrating solely on the future within the narrow scope of his floodlights, and thus ignoring the passing present vanishing into an obscure past? When reviewing public discussion on European integration and spatial development one may be inclined to answer these questions with a nod approval. Even academic reviews tend to build up a picture of European spatial planning as one of unequivocal progress. Actually this very report probably adds some credibility to this picture. Being a passenger on the train together with my fellow colleagues, one of course shares the responsibility for the safety and success of this (never-ending) journey. It may, however, be a good idea to keep in mind alternative options and to try to steal a glimpse of landscapes passing by despite the accelerating speed and the chance that this brings of being thrown out into orbit. To be actively involved in spatial development should not be an obstacle to critical reflection on the business in hand. Perhaps this is the self-evident kernel of reflective policy discussion: easy to name but hard to realise as it requires one to be both inside and outside at the same time – without being stuck in the doorway.