Multilevel Spatial Visions and Territorial Cohesion: Italian Regional Planning between the TEN-T corridors, ESDP polycentrism and Governmental ‘Strategic Platforms’

Abstract

Abstract Since early 2000, Italian regions have been taking a ‘multilevel’ approach to territorial planning by seeking a ‘shared vision’ between different strategic planning levels: the regional level with the territorial plans of the regions, the national level with the National Strategic Framework based on the so-called ‘strategic platforms’, and the European level with the Trans-European Network for Transport corridors and European Spatial Development Perspective polycentrism. Territorial cohesion and territorial competitiveness constitute objectives of all these planning levels and related visions to a certain extent. But they are understood in different ways at the different levels. Thus, coordination between these ‘multilevel’ visions—the chief problem of any multilevel governance—often presents radical problems. Structural incoherencies or incompatibilities between the different visions make interaction difficult, and coordination even impossible. Efforts are needed to work towards the goal of better coordination between visions, so that they can at least speak a common language in relation to the existing territorial problems and possible strategies.