New Year

The expression “new year” seems to carry more meaning than ever. Everything is new: a new world (dis)order, new risks, new democratic (im)balances, new European priorities, a new (dis)organisation of international, European, national institutions…

This makes forecasting and planning still necessary, but also more difficult—and in some cases, impossible. It also makes new narratives and new imaginaries essential for visualising possible futures, for making them tangible and desirable.

It is in times like these, when we no longer know how to describe or analyse the present, that foresight takes on its full meaning. 
Starting from a challenge and a medium-term horizon allows the practical resolution of potential conflicts of use and interest, and lets us discuss concretely what matters for a territory. Yet too few foresight exercises are carried out at the local level, and it is precisely this scale that should be prioritised, because it makes solutions tangible.

The European Commission will work on two proposals that could help municipalities plan for the future, in addition to other legislative texts expected this year: a revision of the governance of energy and climate policies, and a new framework for European resilience. In both cases, it is crucial to strengthen the local dimension and provide these texts with the tools to enable local authorities to prepare for and fulfil their role in shaping the future of Europe. May these new laws empower local authorities to shape their own future.