Approaches and Forms of Europeanisation Affecting Domestic Spatial Planning Systems

Abstract

The paper identifies the understanding and the possible ways of Europeanisation of spatial planning. The European integration influences spatial planning of Member States in several ways. Some of its impacts are enforced through the expectations of the regulation of sectoral EU policies, which also determine the framework of territorial and urban planning. Some of them are motivated by the financial sources of the cohesion policy, while horizontal co-influence of planning practices is the result of growing cooperation, that is, a kind of joint learning. The paper uses the results of the evaluation of the Territorial Agenda and the ESDP to understand mechanism of influences. The Europeanisation does not lead to the homogenization of planning systems; the same impulses can trigger different changes in different cases. The professionals acting on international scene are key actors in the Europeanisation processes, as they are enhancing not only cooperation, but also the spread of European ideas.