2.3 Co-ordination for the Purpose of Sustainable Development
Sustainability itself is not a target of only sectoral character. Although its routs lie in forestry
the philosophy of sustainability encloses economical, social and ecological aspects. The goal
of orienting European policies along the principle of sustainable development was endorsed in
the Treaty of Maastricht. Since than it can be seen as the overall guiding principle of all
political activities on European level.
In terms of the development of the European territory, the quest for sustainability entails that
ecological and social aspects are to be harmonised with economic objectives. It follows that
economic and structural policy instruments must adhere to environmental and social goals. In
other words: in order to achieve sustainable and balanced development, sector policies must
be co-ordinated.
Until now it appears as if this had only happened sporadically. The European Spatial
Development Perspective (ESDP) provides a spatial development strategy, thereby supplying
an initial approach towards establishing an appropriate framework for necessary co-
ordination. To date, however, the Commission has taken hardly any steps towards introducing
more co-ordination between EU sector policies in accordance with the guidelines of ESDP. If
any attempts are made, then they are usually the result of activities by individual Directorates-
General (e.g. environmental policy) and are only applied to the their own sectoral - as
opposed to general - goals.
It seems to be obvious that sustainable development is only achievable by developing a long
term perspective for efficient and coherent co-ordination of Community sector policies. The
reasons for that are twofold:
Firstly, the sector policies on European level are interdependent and are therefore influencing
each other. Acting for a long term perspective in a sustainable way - even from a sectoral
point of view - means consequently being aware of the activities in other sectors and
collaborate at least with those sectors that show the largest intersection (see also the following
chapter below).
Secondly, taking a more general standpoint sustainable development as leading principle for
the whole European territory strongly asks for the co-operation of different sectors. The
specialised knowledge can thus be used for drawing one coherent strategy for the spatial
development of the European Union. Particularly the recent enlargement with its
consequences for European integration and its broad challenges for economic, social as well
as territorial cohesion in Europe underlines the need for such a strategy.