// may 31, 2005 // a10’s project: RYANEUROPE (mapping europe), developed in collaboration with Roman Cordero, is exhibited as part of the U.E. ESPON Program ‘Youngstars Seminar’, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
The project seeks to analyze the urban/territorial change of the European map according to the cities that RyanAir flies to, in order to exemplify the urban, social, and economic impact tourism activities can have in small scale cities which sometimes are more attractive to startups and smaller companies due to their lower fees and price.
This creates a window of opportunity for smaller cities to compete in the already tough game of european tourism, focusing on their potentials and maximizing them in benefit of their environment, population and economic development.
The mission of the ESPON Programme is to:
Support policy development in relation to the aim of territorial cohesion and a harmonious development of the European territory by providing comparable information, evidence, analyses and scenarios on territorial dynamics and revealing territorial capital and potentials for development of regions and larger territories contributing to European competitiveness, territorial cooperation and a sustainable and balanced development.
The YoungStars is a seminar open for young professionals and students interested in the field of European spatial planning and territorial development. With this event, a widening of the discussion on ESPON issues reached a broader public, related networks and communities. The general aim of the YoungStars activity was to give young professionals and students in spatial planning and related fields a deeper understanding of ESPON, the challenges of European spatial planning and territorial development today as well as in the near and further future.
As regards lecturers and moderators for the event members of the ESPON family and professionals from outside ESPON – for discussions of the wider scene and European spatial planning in general – were invited. Since the focus is on “youngsters” younger lecturers and moderators were chosen for this event.