About foresight
What is strategic foresight?
Strategic foresight is the practice of exploring possible futures to make better decisions today. It brings together insights from management, economics, social sciences and technology, while tapping into collective intelligence in a structured and systematic way.
By looking beyond standard policy cycles, foresight helps leaders spot emerging opportunities and challenges early, and so act with greater confidence in the present.
How foresight works
Strategic foresight can be applied through a range of methods, each serving different purposes and contexts. Core approaches include:
- horizon scanning identifying emerging trends and disruptors
- megatrends analysis understanding broader patterns of change
- scenario planning exploring possible future developments through structured narratives
Other methods, such as polycrisis exploration workshops, support deeper understanding by reframing issues and examining how interconnected risks may unfold.
There is no single model for conducting foresight, and tools continue to evolve to meet regional and local needs. For further guidance, check the JRC – Competence Centre on Foresight.
Multilevel governance approach to long-term thinking
Why cities and regions need foresight
Across Europe, cities and regions are experiencing major transitions first-hand. From climate pressures to rapid digitalisation, local and regional authorities are often closest to the impact and must respond the fastest. Foresight provides them with the tools necessary to transform uncertainty into opportunity, strengthening their ability to plan and shape resilient futures.
The CoR’s commitment to anticipatory governance
To stay ahead of rapid change, the European Committee of the Regions (CoR) has made strategic foresight a core part of its mission. Since 2023, when the CoR adopted its first opinion on strategic foresight, we have strengthened our future-oriented work and promoted a culture of anticipatory thinking across the institution.
This work is guided by the Conference of Presidents and led politically by Foresight Coordinator Jelena Drenjanin (SE/EPP), member of the Better Regulation and Active Subsidiarity Steering Group.
Foresight activities at the CoR
Workshops at EU Regions Week
Each year during #EURegionsWeek, the CoR brings together appx. 60 local and regional representatives for interactive foresight workshops held in Brussels. These sessions create an open space to share ideas, approaches and emerging practices.
Since 2023, a series of workshops has showcased how regions and cities across Europe are putting foresight into practice — from regional policy labs to city‑level examples. You can see this in action by watching videos from the #EURegionsWeek2024 workshop and the #EURegionsWeek 2025 conference.
If you would like to take part in upcoming editions of the EU Regions Week, please keep an eye on the EU Regions webpage for registrations.
Implementing participatory foresight
The CoR conducts dedicated foresight exercises for local and regional politicians, such as:
- Green Deal Going Local Working Group: Barriers to Green Deal implementation
- CIVEX Commission: Future of democracy and multilevel governance
These exercises typically make use of the Scenario Exploration System (SES). Their goal is to help politicians explore how different futures could impact certain key policy areas and to encourage more forward-looking, resilient decision-making.
The CoR also organises training using tools such as the causal layered analysis and polycrisis exploration workshops. These can be delivered in partnership with either the JRC or the European Parliamentary Research Service.
If your city or region is interested in involving decision‑makers in similar activities, the CoR can provide you with advice.
Foresight in analytical work
Most new CoR studies include a foresight component, to ensure that long-term thinking informs policy discussions from the outset. Recent publications have explored topics such as the implementation of the Just Transition Mechanism or the AI and GenAI adoption by local and regional administrations. To support this work, a range of foresight tools is used, alongside dedicated foresight workshops.
Local and regional authorities are encouraged to look at these studies for practical insights when developing forward‑looking policies.
Interinstitutional cooperation on foresight
Interinstitutional cooperation plays a central role in strengthening the CoR foresight capacity. By working closely with other EU institutions and international organisations, the CoR ensures that the local and regional perspective is systematically integrated into long-term strategic thinking at the European level.
A key platform enabling this cooperation is the European Strategy and Policy Analysis System (ESPAS), the EU’s shared framework for strategic foresight. In 2025, the CoR hosted the ESPAS Foresight Practitioners’ Day, bringing together foresight experts, researchers, and policymakers from across the EU. Beyond events, the CoR contributes to flagship reports like the Global Trends Report 2040 and thematic ESPAS papers that explore specific long-term challenges such as digital cohesion and intergenerational fairness.
We stand ready to help you bring your insights on the future of your city or region into these European-wide discussions.
Engaging EU regions and cities in foresight
Examples across Europe
A growing number of cities and regions are applying foresight to strengthen resilience and long-term planning. Examples include:
- Basque Country and Catalonia (ES)
- Breda, Friesland, Rotterdam (NL)
- Central and Southern Estonia (EE)
- Central Macedonia (EL)
- Flanders, German-speaking Community of Belgium (East Belgium) (BE)
- Friuli Venezia Giulia, Sardinia (IT)
- Hauts-de-France (FR)
- Helsinki-Uusimaa (FI)
- Krakow, Podkarpackie, Warsaw (PL)
- Munich (DE)
- South Moravia (CZ)
The CoR promotes good practices through foresight talks, webinars, and other exchanges with local and regional authorities across Europe. Cities and regions that carry out foresight work and would like to share their experience with others, ask questions, or be informed about upcoming initiatives are invited to get in touch.
To accelerate foresight uptake, the CoR also works with partners through the Strategic Foresight Partnership (SFP) — an Interreg Europe project supported by the CoR, OECD and JRC.
