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of the national urban system. Their interest springs on the one hand from the desire to
limit regional discrepancies in economic and social development, and on the other from
the growing recognition of urban centres as potential motors of (peripheral) backward
areas. France also looks upon the biased relation between Paris and the other major cities
as an obstacle to the latter’s development and as a threat to the national competitive
position. The Fins regard the balanced spread of urbanisation as a comparative advantage.
Germany, the Netherlands, United Kingdom and since recently also Belgium are all to
some extent striving for a balanced national urban development.
Infrastructure and national housing
In such countries as Spain, Portugal and Greece urbanisation has only in the last few
decades gained momentum. Their governments have had little grip on the urbanisation
process, and there has been no question of coordinated spatial development. Through the
lack of coordination and the speed of the urbanisation process, the pressure on the
existing urban infrastructure (road network, public transport) has risen to unprecedented
heights, despite significant investments in the past ten years. With the access to urban
centres and hence their economic potential in danger, even more because most of the
population moves by motorcar, the national governments in those countries naturally
want very much to raise the level of the infrastructural provisions. In Spain, despite a long
standing planning tradition in f.i. Barcelona, the fast urbanisation has also caused a tight
housing market, the metropolitan areas having a great shortage of adequate and
reasonably priced housing. In Portugal, too, housing is high on the government’s list of
priorities. However, other countries stress the developments on the housing market as
well. For instance, the federal government of Germany also mentions the availability of
affordable housing as a priority.
Urbanisation, accessibility and the environment: attention to sustainable development
The advanced urbanisation in the Union makes sustainable development highly
important, especially in the urban regions. In such regions, accessibility, quality of the
environment and economic development are closely interwoven. In all member states
these aspect are perceived as important urban issues and at the same give direction to
some of the policy responses. In countries like Spain, Portugal and Greece the accent is
mainly on infrastructure and accessibility, which does not detract from the growing
importance of the environment. In the more urbanised countries like Denmark, the
Netherlands and Germany, and also in Luxembourg, Finland and Sweden, the value
attached to the environment rises all the time, which does not make accessibility less
important, however. It does mean that high standards are set for new infrastructure and
that much attention is also due to excellent access by public transport, especially in urban
centres.
Cultural heritage
In many of the member states, towns are increasingly regarded as elements of the national
cultural heritage. Some cities represent a unique and increasingly valued combination of
history, tradition and characteristic buildings. To conserve historical and cultural values is
the first concern. But the conservation and maintenance of such carriers of cultural
heritage can also contribute to the attractiveness of towns and the appeal of the residential