Spatial planning and health systems: enhancing territo-rial governance in Alpine Space

Abstract

Health systems in Europe are currently facing numerous critical challenges; demographic change is only one example. In order to successfully cope with those challenges on a long-term perspective, effective territorial governance can positively address upcoming issues in this context. Accordingly, the purpose of this research is to contribute to the enhancement of territorial governance in the Alpine Space (AS) with regard to spatial planning and health systems. The aim is to identify main achievements of previous AS projects funded by the European Union (EU) as well as lessons learned from their realization in order to derive valuable implications for amended health and spatial planning policy development. This includes issues such as transnational needs, potential synergies as well as institutional responsibilities and competences required. Besides the goals, approaches and outputs, also problems and difficulties experienced during the projects are analysed. The unit of analyses are 10 implemented projects of the current AS programming period which can provide achievements of valuable interest in this thematic field.