From 8 to 10 April 2026, partners of the Interreg Alpine Space project BrokeringSpaces gathered in Bolzano for a three-day meeting, centred around a two-day Negotiation Workshop dedicated to spatial planning and land-use conflicts.
The workshop brought together project partners, mayors from pilot areas, representatives of spatial planning authorities and experts, creating a diverse environment for exchange and joint learning. The main objective was to explore and test negotiation processes in situations where different sectoral interests compete for the same limited space.
The two-day workshop, led by negotiation expert Monica Margoni (“Negotiating well – achieving sustainable results”), provided participants with both theoretical insights and practical tools. The sessions highlighted that successful negotiation goes beyond technical expertise and requires a combination of structured approaches, communication skills and the ability to understand and integrate different perspectives.
Key principles addressed during the workshop included the importance of separating people from the problem, the influence of framing and first offers in shaping outcomes, and the role of reciprocity and emotions in negotiation processes. These elements were tested through practical exercises and applied to real spatial planning scenarios, reflecting the complexity of decision-making in Alpine regions.
The programme also included a presentation by Ernst Rainer on ISEK and awareness-raising approaches in Mauterndorf (Salzburg), further enriching the exchange with practical insights from local governance and planning processes.
Following the workshop, participants visited the municipalities of Truden and Salorno, where they explored examples of good practice. The visits provided valuable insights into how local communities have addressed land-use challenges by identifying shared values, needs and development pathways.
The final day of the meeting was dedicated to a project meeting, during which partners reviewed progress and aligned on upcoming activities for the following months.
The Negotiation Workshop represents an important step in the BrokeringSpaces project, contributing to the development of practical approaches and tools that support more inclusive, balanced and sustainable spatial governance across the Alpine region.
Photo: Robert Krasser