Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
levels of geographic generalisation of the territorial outline. However, the maps pre-
pared under the Italian and Dutch presidencies on the whole are presented in more
detail than the French trend scenarios and are of higher complexity. This, together
with the member states' push for spatial analysis and more 'scientific' mapping,
demonstrates the continuing belief by some that this level of detail can be achieved
and would be appropriate at transnational level. Yet earlier chapters have shown that
the uncertainty related to the actual content of the illustrations together with the inter-
pretation and subjective assessment of much of what is represented, and the scale of
representation, would require a much more abstract and generalised representation
in order to communicate this tentative status to the reader.
Table 5.1 gives an overview of the policy issues discussed in the 'maps' pre-
pared under the French, Italian and Dutch presidencies under the three policy
themes. There was a certain amount of interpretation involved in order to combine
the policies and make them comparable across the three 'map groups'. What was
noticeable during this process, however, was that clearly the largest variation in the
content of the cartographic representations under different presidencies can be
found under the theme 'polycentric and balanced urban system'. In comparison,
the themes covered under 'natural and cultural heritage', and even under 'infra-
structure and knowledge', remained similar during the process. The 'urban bias' of
the ESDP has been mentioned before in this topic, and the evolution of policy
responses in the 'urban' theme maps might be a reflection that much of the debate
in the CSD was focused on the appropriate responses for polycentric development
and urban-rural relationships. The evolution also most clearly shows the develop-
ment from trend scenarios to what were drafts of 'policy maps'. Thus, while the
French trend scenarios covered the size and level of agglomerations, concentration
of urban functions, and territorial dynamics (i.e. growth or decline of urban func-
tions), the Italian presidency maps interpreted these trends for a somewhat lower
level of scale, and talk much about urban sprawl and internal problems of cities. In
contrast, the maps of 'Diversity, complementarity and co-operation' and
'Rural-urban relationships' prepared under the Dutch presidency have started to
define gateway cities, potential for cross-border co-operation and functional
specialisation of cities, as well as land use pressures and types of rural areas.
There has generally been less evolution towards a representation of 'policy options'
for the other two themes, and part of the reason for this - besides the clearly
dominant interest in urban issues - might be lack of comparable data to appropri-
ately represent natural and cultural heritage, as well as lack of agreement on the
spatial impacts of less 'tangible' sector policies, such as the knowledge industry.
Generally, what becomes apparent when comparing the three 'policy maps
groups' is the different emphasis given to certain issues between the French and
Dutch presidency maps on the one hand and the maps prepared under the Italian
