The spatially integrated vision of functional urban areas (see Espon definition) should be shared by integrated spatial planning and policy, in order to improve resource efficiency and contribute to sustainable spatial development.

Numerous examples of such urban region planning approaches already exist in the Alpine Space (e.g. Grand Geneva, Grenoble urban region, Milan metropolitan region, Planning region Innsbruck, Ljulbjana urban region), with various levels of institutionalization and different forms of regional governance (see also the Rurbance project). At this time, they often concern sectoral issues and lack influence with regard to spatial planning (which remains generally a municipal competence).

With that being said, the aim here should not be to standardize approaches across the Alps and institutionalize spatial planning at urban region scale by all means. The aim should rather be to start softening administrative and rural-urban borders through the development of a common dialogue and a joint vision of a functional territory, based on equal contributions and agreements of all territories in the area. The approach should be used that is most appropriate for the local context, considering local stakeholders’ ambitions, planning and decision-making cultures. In addition, such governance approaches should not be reserved to large urban areas (as the cited ones), but should become common practice for urban centres, smaller towns and their hinterlands of all sizes in the alpine settlement system.