Geography Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 1.8
Schéma de développement de l'espace régional
: position of Wallonia in the context of urban
networks and Euro-corridors in north-west Europe
Source: Gouvernement Wallon (1999: 131)
Antwerp and Leuven, to position Flanders in north-west Europe opposite other
international networks such as the Randstad or the Rhine-Ruhr area.
CONCLUDING REMARKS AND STRUCTURE OF THE TOPIC
Spatial images and cartographic representations can play an important role in trans-
national planning processes. However, recent European spatial planning experi-
ences have also shown that map-making is very difficult in an international setting,
and often reason for passionate controversies between officials from different Euro-
pean member states. In a transnational context, there are not only individual differ-
ences of the map user's capacities but also societal and cultural factors which
influence the communication through cartographic representations in a planning
process. Spatial planning at the European level is faced with a difficult institutional
structure and various uncertainties (Faludi, 2000; Zonneveld, 2000). However, one
of the main reasons for the problems with 'mapping' at European level might be the
different planning cultures and traditions, and the way in which different countries
use spatial images in their plan- and decision-making processes (Faludi, 2000).
These differences in visualising spatial policy within European member
states, and the communication problems that 'maps' can cause at transnational
