Kamila Borsekova

Based on a historical overview of spatial networks and mobility, and the development of spatial theory, this review discusses current rural problems in Europe and the need for a new rural policy. The development toward a post‐urban world, that is, a world where the traditional urban–rural dichotomy is dissolving and is replaced by city‐regions and vast, declining peripheries, means a division of rural areas into two types: those becoming integrated into the growing city‐regions and the peripheries, where exploitation of natural resources is a main activity. We claim that a policy that only focuses on rural areas would fail. The reason is that endogenous rural development is simply not possible in current Europe. What is required is better urban–rural development policies oriented towards maximizing the development potential of each region, combining people‐based with place‐based approaches, and empowering local stakeholders to take greater control of their future. Regional science has an important role to play in providing decision‐makers with evidence‐based research that meets the challenges of the post‐urban world.

Aspects of regional and local sustainable development are turning into key elements of strategic planning documents in EU countries. The topic of sustainable development includes issues of both urban and peripheral areas. It encompasses the classic fields of environmental protection and green energy, as well as the parameters of social inclusion, creative capital development, community and neighbourhood building, etc. The paper reviews the implementation of sustainable development goals in Slovakia with a focus on the programme promoting green infrastructure and the practice of mixed-use urban spaces. The principles of green infrastructure are introduced in Slovakia in line with the concepts of NECONET ecological networks and ÚSES systems of territorial environmental sustainability. The 2030 Environmental Strategy of Slovakia covers three areas, namely water protection and biodiversity, climate change and air protection, and green economy. Prominence is given to the development of renewable energy in the country. The paper determines the main obstacles to the development of Slovakian green infrastructure compared to that of the EU. These include a lack of financing, slow adoption of legislation, and lack of regulation in the land ownership rights.