AGRICULTURAL-DEVELOPMENT AND SPATIAL-ORGANIZATION IN EUROPE

The future of rural areas in Europe both in a socio-economic and a spatial-environmental perspective is largely dependent on the future organization and allocation of agricultural production. This paper focuses on the increasing regional differentiation in agricultural development and its consequences for socio-economic development and the quality of physical environment and landscape in the regions of the European Community. It is argued that physical planning on a European scale, yet in its infancy, is a necessary policy instrument in monitoring a more balanced relation between agriculture, regional development and environment. Planning asks for a vision on the future spatial organization of the EC territory. Such a vision as yet is lacking. In our view designing such a vision asks for a fundamental discussion on the choice between segregation and integration. © 1991.