Culture, Heritage and Diversity
13th European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT) (Ljubljana, Slovenia: 16-17 September 2003) on “Implementation of strategies and visions for sustainable spatial development of the European continent”
Ljubljana, Slovenia
The 13th European Conference of Ministers responsible for Regional Planning (CEMAT), organised by the Council of Europe and held in Ljubljana, Slovenia, on 16 and 17 September 2003, was one of the main political events in the context of sustainable spatial development and implementation of the Guiding Principles for Sustainable Spatial Development of the European Continent (Recommendation Rec(2002)1 adopted on 30 January 2002 by the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe).
The aim of the ministerial conference was to review the measures taken to implement the Guiding Principles and to promote transnational and inter-regional co-operation through development projects. Delegates also considered means of promoting and implementing the Guiding Principles by establishing legal provisions and effective policies as well as innovative strategies with regard to territorial planning and management.
The general theme and sub-themes of the conference were as follows:
General theme: Implementation of strategies and visions for sustainable spatial development of the European continent
Sub-theme 1: Europe in the world and the integration of the continent
Sub-theme 2: Implementation of the principles for sustainable territorial development
Sub-theme 3: Trans-European co-operation
The ministers:
– adopted Resolution No. 1 on public–private partnerships in spatial development policy;
– adopted Resolution No. 2 on the training of authorities responsible for sustainable development;
– adopted Resolution No. 3 on prevention of floods and better co-ordination of all activities designed to minimise the risks and consequences of disastrous floods;
– approved Resolution No. 4 on the terms of reference of the Committee of Senior Officials of CEMAT and its bureau, deciding to transmit it to the Committee of Ministers for adoption;
– took note of the work carried out in connection with the sustainable spatial development of the River Tisza/Tisa, resulting in:
– the adoption of the Declaration on co-operation on the Tisza/Tisa River Basin, by these same states, on 16 September 2003;
– the signing of the Initiative on the Sustainable Spatial Development of the Tisza/Tisa River Basin by the ministers responsible for regional/spatial planning of Hungary, Romania, Serbia and Montenegro, Slovak Republic and Ukraine, at the 13th session of CEMAT on 16 September 2003;
– adopted the Ljubljana Declaration on the territorial dimension of sustainable development;
– adopted Resolution No. 5 on the organisation of the 14th session of the European Conference of Ministers responsible for Spatial Planning;
– took note of the European Rural Heritage Observation Guide adopted by the CEMAT Committee of Senior Officials in Budapest on 28 March 2003.