The "Territorial Observatory": a tool for territorial development

Abstract

The Territorial Observatory was created in 2004. It reinforces the management of territorial development policies, in conjunction with other tools such as foresight and evaluation. In the context of European construction and decentralisation, it acts as a shared common reference; its analysis scales take this into account. A special website was opened in March 2005. A report on territorial dynamics and diversity is issued every three years and the first one was published at the end of 2005. It analyses rural areas in relation to urban ones, as well as in their diversity at the local level.