This report documents the cooperation of seven European regions within the EU PACTE programme to explore sustainable development at the regional level. The participating administrations—from Baden-Württemberg to Midi-Pyrénées and Vorarlberg—shared experiences, assessed 15 best-practice projects, and developed a framework of ten sustainability principles spanning environmental, economic, socio-cultural, equity, and systemic dimensions. The study shows that successful strategies rely on local involvement, partnership, and participatory governance rather than top-down approaches. While interpretations of sustainability varied across cultures, the joint process created a common language and practical recommendations: promote win-win solutions, strengthen governance styles, learn across regions, define action plans, and act without delay. The report stresses that sustainability is both necessary and profitable, requiring adaptive, context-sensitive policies.

ARPE – Agence Régionale pour l’environnement de Midi Pyrénées/ Schleicher-Tappeser, R./ Faerber, J. (1997). Towards Sustainable Development (English ed.). Toulouse: ARPE.

Report