As part of preparations for the 2026-2030 Development Plan, the Committee on Development Plans and Major Projects at the National Council of Regions and Districts held a hearing session on Wednesday, 25 February 2026, devoted to the “developmental role of territorial and urban planning”. The meeting was chaired by Mohamed El Kou and attended by a high-level delegation from the Ministry of Equipment and Housing, led by Basma El Ksontini, Director-General for Territorial Planning, and Abdelrazak Chihah, Director of Urban Planning.
Territorial planning, a “sovereign” tool at the heart of spatial justice
At the opening of the session, the Committee stressed that territorial planning should not be reduced to a technical procedure. It was presented as a key sovereign instrument to achieve balanced development, ensure the sound use of national space, and serve national and economic security priorities.
Committee members also called for a shift in the philosophy of planning, making the territorial dimension a core pillar of the upcoming development plan. The stated objective: align projects with regional specificities and embed spatial justice as a practical choice rather than a political slogan.
Planning tools hierarchy and a focus on economic zones
Representatives of the Ministry of Equipment delivered a detailed presentation on the hierarchical scale of planning instruments, ranging from the national spatial planning framework down to urban development master plans.
Particular emphasis was placed on the “master plans for economic zones”, described as diagnostic tools capable of enhancing each region’s competitive advantages and strengthening the investment viability of major projects.
Sensitive areas and climate risks: toward more anticipatory planning
The presentation also addressed master plans for sensitive areas, against a backdrop of increasing climate-related challenges and risks. Speakers underlined the importance of anticipatory planning designed to protect people and territories, and to strengthen the country’s resilience to climate change impacts.
MPs call for legally binding land-use and urban plans
Elected members raised several strategic issues, notably criticizing the historically weak organic link between land-use plans and actual development planning. Several Committee members therefore urged that these plans become legally binding on all state structures, to ensure policy coherence and prevent fragmented efforts.
They also stressed the need to enforce these planning tools in relation to citizens and investors, with the aim of curbing urban disorder and protecting agricultural land reserves, seen as a cornerstone of national food security.
Digital shift: mainstream GIS and shorten approval timelines
The session produced a shared vision calling for the comprehensive adoption of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) to digitize administrative procedures and speed up project processing. The stated goal is to reduce approval times “from years to months”, while strengthening territorial sovereignty and supporting the national digital transformation agenda.
Participants also emphasized drafting director/master plans through a participatory, region-wide approach that reflects each region’s creative specificity in line with the new territorial division, in order to secure greater equity among districts.
Toward a new generation of flexible plans fit for major transitions
Discussions highlighted the need to move toward a new generation of “flexible master plans” capable of absorbing major economic shifts—especially renewable energy projects—without being bogged down by bureaucratic complexity. This direction aligns with a principle of “flexibility and urban intelligence”.
A broad consensus emerged on the urgency of reviewing the legislative framework and pushing for an update of the Spatial Planning and Urban Development Code to better match the reality of a region-based Tunisia. In this context, speakers referred to the need for a binding timeline to close the file of pending studies before the end of 2026.
A 2026-2030 plan focused on delivery and local reorganization
In conclusion, members of the Committee on Development Plans and Major Projects reaffirmed their commitment to ensuring that the upcoming 2026-2030 Development Plan is a plan of real implementation. In their view, its benefits should begin with reorganizing territorial space at the level of every municipality and imada, ultimately leading to a more integrated and prosperous national economy built on genuine spatial justice and rigorous strategic planning.
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