Opinion of the Committee of the Regions on 'The Continental Diagonal: a cooperation area for enhancing the spatial cohesion of EU territory` (97/C 379/11)

THE COMMITTEE OF THE REGIONS,

having regard to its decision of 18 September 1996, in accordance with the fourth paragraph of Article 198c of the Treaty establishing the European Community, to issue an opinion on 'The Continental Diagonal: a cooperation area for enhancing the spatial cohesion of EU territory` and to entrust its preparation to Commission 2 for Spatial Planning, Agriculture, Hunting, Fisheries, Forestry, Marine Environment and Upland Areas;

having regard to the draft opinion (CdR 181/97 rev.) adopted by Commission 2 on 25 June 1997 (rapporteur: Mr Censi),

unanimously adopted the following opinion at its 19th plenary session of 17 and 18 September 1997 (meeting of 18 September).

1. A strong interregional and transnational identity within the EU

1.1. From the north of the Massif Central to the south of the Iberian peninsula, a group of French, Spanish and Portuguese inland regions straddling the European Continental Diagonal have similar spatial features and opportunities which may be summarized as follows.

1.2. These regions form a strategic bridge between the Atlantic and Mediterranean coastlines, and are thus pivotal for EU cohesion. Recognition of the special nature of the Continental Diagonal, as a group of regions offering an opportunity for sustainable, balanced development, is necessary in order to narrow the development gap with the Atlantic Arc and the Mediterranean.

1.3. The Diagonal's north-south and east-west communications infrastructure is still far from adequate to enable its regions to:

- fulfil their role of providing a vital communications link between the Atlantic and Mediterranean regions, in a single market which will not operate smoothly until traffic congestion along the coasts and the Rhone corridor is reduced;

- reduce their isolation, so that easier access can remedy what could otherwise become a serious handicap in the single market.

The current position is not such as to guarantee the requisite switch to environmentally friendly transport modes. In this context, priority should be given to solutions which promote combined transport.

1.4. These regions' low population density and sluggish demographic situation lead to:

- a distinctive territorial structure which, although vulnerable (the question of public services is of vital importance to all the regions of the Diagonal), could also offer alternatives to the prevailing pattern of urbanization in Europe. From this viewpoint, improving the balance of the urban fabric of the regions of the Diagonal is important for the EU's spatial cohesion;

- considerable potential for exploiting the Diagonal's historical, cultural and natural assets. The region's relatively well preserved natural heritage provides scope for sustainable development and better use of the countryside, which could thus offer new attractions for visitors.

1.5. On the minus side, it must be remembered that the importance of agriculture makes many activities highly sensitive to the reform of the CAP. Water resources too pose a major challenge for the regions of the Diagonal, while also offering a concrete opportunity for closer cooperation.

1.6. The industrial fabric of these regions tends to lack diversification and is dominated by traditional sectors, with the exception of a few high-tech activities. The regions of the Diagonal thus also need to cooperate more closely in order to boost their innovation capacity and their spirit of enterprise.

1.7. These features, which are considered in the European Commission's Europe 2000+ paper, justify the Diagonal being officially recognized by the national and EU authorities as a coherent EU spatial grouping, on a par with such regions as the Atlantic Arc and the Mediterranean.

2. An established area of interregional and transnational cooperation

2.1. There are many instances of interregional and/or transnational cooperation between the regions of the Diagonal, focusing on such fields as sustainable development, water resources and infrastructure.

2.2. This wealth of cooperation provides a vital asset which should be built on and strengthened by bringing the different cooperation schemes under the one banner of the southwest European Continental Diagonal.

2.3. By strengthening this cooperation within the integrated framework provided by the Diagonal, the partner regions will be able not only to further their mutual interests but also those of other parts of the EU. For instance, it is very likely that other regions outside the Diagonal share certain of its features, such as the problems of low population density or how to exploit the natural heritage.

2.4. The regions of Aragon, Extremadura, Limousin and Midi-Pyrénées recently established a conference of the European regions of the Continental Diagonal. The conference puts cooperation on a concrete footing and epitomizes future objectives and aspirations: to make the Continental Diagonal an area of cooperation that will help to promote the EU's spatial development.

3. Recognition of the Continental Diagonal by the national and Community authorities

3.1. The letters of intent sent to the European Commission by the French, Spanish and Portuguese governments in connection with the Interreg IIC programme confirm the above analysis of the relevance of cooperation in the Continental Diagonal for EU spatial development.

3.2. However, while fully endorsing the opinion adopted on 18 April 1997 by the COR's Commission 1 on the Interreg IIC Community initiative and the potential role for local and regional authorities, the COR deems it vital, in accordance with the Commission communication, that the subnational bodies responsible for spatial planning are given equal responsibility with central government in the administration of the programme ().

3.3. In this context, the COR hopes very much to see a joint COR-Commission initiative leading to the organization of a forum for exchanging experience and best practice among the regions of the Diagonal by the end of 1997.

3.4. The COR therefore endorses the Commission's provision that each region can, according to its characteristics, belong to two programme areas. This means that although the majority of southwest European regions are likely to identify first and foremost with the spatial planning issues of the Continental Diagonal, some of the regions involved in the programme may also feel it useful to participate in those of the Atlantic Arc or the Mediterranean region. The COR does not see this possible involvement with two areas as a contradiction; Interreg IIC is extremely adaptable and flexible, and can thus take proper account of all the spatial planning issues which might face EU regions.

3.5. The coherence and complementary nature of these approaches bear out the need to entrust the technical management of the Interreg IIC programme for southwest Europe/the Continental Diagonal to a single body. The cooperation issues facing the Diagonal are by definition transnational and interregional, and require a transnational and interregional approach. There is thus no question of splitting the implementation of the programme between the three countries.

4. Conclusion

4.1. The present opinion seeks to address the problem of low population areas, taking the Continental Diagonal as an example of regions which have made a determined commitment to closer interregional and transnational cooperation.

It is the role of the COR to support actions which:

- improve regional balance by securing a more even distribution of people and activities;

- provide a counterweight to concentration and over-exploitation, in the interests of greater economic and social cohesion;

- develop interregional and transnational cooperation:

- foster the transfer of good practices and knowhow.

Brussels, 18 September 1997.

The Chairman of the Committee of the Regions

Pasqual MARAGALL i MIRA

() OJ C 244, 11. 8. 1997, p. 19.