The Territorial Agenda 2030 promotes the reduction of regional disparities and works sustainably to strengthen social cohesion between people, communities and places in Europe. To this end, it defines two overarching objectives for future development: a "just Europe" and a "green Europe". At their informal meeting, the representatives of the EU, Norway and Switzerland responsible for spatial planning and territorial Cohesion adopt the agenda for a sustainable future for all places.

Volkmar Vogel, Parliamentary State Secretary of the federal Ministry of the Interior, Building and Community: "The Territorial Agenda 2030 is intended to promote economic, social and environmental progress in Europe. It will help create stable and predictable conditions for investment, strengthen social cohesion within Europe and promote the sustainable and efficient use of natural resources. However, to achieve the Agenda’s ambitious goals, all stakeholders and all levels of government administration must work together across sectoral boundaries and on the basis of shared data to discuss and implement the measures relevant for spatial development."

Portugal’s Minister for Environment and climate action, João Pedro Matos Fernande, and Slovenia’s Minister for Environment and spatial planning, Andrej Vizjak, provided information on further steps towards implementing the territorial Agenda 2030. Portugal and Slovenia hold the EU Council Presidency in 2021. Thus they play a central role in the further implementation and communication of the territorial Agenda 2030.

Especially in times of the coronavirus pandemic, the goals of the Territorial Agenda 2030 are particularly important and topical than ever before. The pandemic threatens to further intensify spatial and social inequalities in Europe and to neglect important measures for sustainable spatial development. The Territorial Agenda 2030 can provide important impulse for a fresh start for the future.

Together with other participating EU member states and institutions, the Ministers of Germany, Luxembourg, Poland, Portugal, Norway and Switzerland are launching six concrete pilot measures to implement the Territorial Agenda 2030: For Germany, the Federal Ministry of the Interior has announced that it will carry out a pilot action on structurally weak regions until 2023. In addition to German regions, at least three other regions from three different EU Member States will to be involved. As part of the pilot measures, the involved stakeholders develop and test innovative approaches and exchange ideas on this across Europe.

Measures to implement the Territorial Agenda 2030 can be taken at any administrative level. All key actors are therefore called upon to implement the Territorial Agenda 2030 within the framework of their regular mandates and to contribute to achieving the goals.

The 2030 territorial Agenda, a summary, the Atlas for the Territorial Agenda 2030 and further information are available on www.territorialagenda.eu and under www.bmi.bund.de.