In the following round-table discussion, moderated by Martin Reents (Cotbus-Senftenberg University), the panellists approached a new vision for the Central and South-East European space from different perspectives. Erich Dallhammer, Executive Director of the ÖIR (Austria), found the initiative timely and important. Not only is an orienting vision missing today, but the vision-making process could also develop a valuable network of experts throughout the region. Andrzej Jakubowski, Assistant Professor at Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, Poland, took part in the preparation of the spatial agenda of the Polish Presidency. He is convinced that it is impossible to draft a development strategy without its spatial aspects. The genre of a vision allows for reacting to uncertainties, as it does not predict the future. A new Vision Planet must involve the candidate countries, as it was the case in 1999, when the original one was made. He also pointed out the different roles of state borders in the Central European region compared to the Western European model, which makes a particular approach necessary.

Marek Dinka, project manager of the new spatial concept of Slovakia, from the Authority for Spatial Planning and Construction of the Slovak Republic, assessed a new Central European vision from the point of view of their national planning process as an orienting framework. Romina Kocina, Director of the EGTC GO (Italy-Slovenia), urged the vision to be put into practice. She referred to the numerous studies, concepts and strategies, which landed in the drawer. The vision should facilitate the development of particular tools facilitating the elimination of borders and the development of cross-border integrated conurbations. She also highlighted the citizens’ role in vision making, which, according to Martin Reents, was missing from the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) preceding the big enlargement of the EU in 2004.

Alexandra Pintilie, PhD candidate at the Technical University of Vienna, drew attention to the diversity of the so-called ‘Central European space’: there are big differences in terms of development level within this large area. A new spatial vision should reflect this diversity and the turbulent times we are living in. Nicolas Rossignol connected the process of vision-making with Europe as a never-achieved promise. In his opinion, confronting ideas is always useful, and a vision should not capture everything but the most important aspects.

As the last part of the morning session, Kitti Dubniczki, Director of CESCI, presented the BorderLabs CE online platform developed within the project. The platform aims to facilitate knowledge sharing, exchanges and learning, but it should also be the engine of a human platform for planners, development experts and local/regional stakeholders.