Towards a European model of spatial planning : an attempt to grasp the intellectual content of Europeanisation as reflected in European spatial planning documents

Abstract

The study contributes to the debate on the Europeanisation of spatial planning by attempting to identify the intellectual content of the EU-level orientation towards the transformation of spatial planning systems and practices of Member States. The paper analyses relevant European-level spatial-planning-related policy documents to reveal the directions of the Europeanisation of domestic planning systems. This paper argues that the EU-driven spatial planning changes can be captured in a limited number of dimensions. Based on content analysis of European-level documents on urban policy, territorial cohesion and spatial development, the author proposes the EUropean Model of Spatial Planning (EMP) as a theoretical framework for EU-motivated changes. EMP includes the five dimensions in which the EU motivates (directly or indirectly) changes in national spatial planning systems: 1. Influence on the content of plans (European objectives and topics); 2. Influence on the geography of planning (new spaces); 3. Influence on policy logic (comprehensive planning); 4. Influence on process and roles (territorial/urban governance); and 5. Influence on planning instruments (soft and integrating forms). The case of the changes in Hungarian spatial planning practice is briefly overviewed to illustrate the potential use of EMP.