ABSTRACT
In the European Union, such strategic analysis is an important step in the process of strategic planning. Here there has been an increasing interest in the use of scenarios as a way of dealing with the inherent complexity of sustainable development at the European level, and for pinpointing gaps, inconsistencies and dilemmas in existing policy-making. Box 5.21 describes two examples of such scenario-based planning: one undertaken by European Partners for the Environment (EPE), a grouping of representatives of business, trade unions, public authorities, research organizations and environmental groups; the other by Consultative Forum, established by the European Commission to bring together ‘wise people’ from similar groups to provide advice on how to progress towards sustainable development.
