Services of General Interest and Territorial Cohesion : European Perspectives and National Insights

European societies and economies continue to rely on Services of General Interest (SGI) to produce legitimacy. Fair access to basic services such as transport, energy and communication infrastructures, education and health care is regarded as a cornerstone of the 'European Model of Society', as a way to promote Territorial Cohesion and lastly, as a right held by every EU citizen. These collective, regional and individual perspectives on Services of General Interest are in the focus of this edited volume. In the light of postmodern societies, demographic aging, migratory patterns, globalization and economic crises territorially sensitive challenges arise and targeted solutions are needed accordingly.-- Provided by publisher ; Introduction or preface: Mit einem Vorwort von Peter Mehlbye; Biographical note: Prof. Dr. Heinz Fassmann is vice-president of the University of Vienna. Dr. Alois Humer is a post-doctoral researcher at the Institute for Urban and Regional Research at the Austrian Academy of Sciences. Prof. Dr. Eduarda Marques da Costa is associate professor at the Institute of Geography and Spatial Planning at the University of Lisbon. Prof. Dr. Daniel Rauhut is associate professor at the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR) in Oslo