Genesis of a Western European Spatial Policy?

Abstract

Economic and social cohesion, sustainable development, and balanced competitiveness of the European territory are the arguments traditionally used in favor of a European spatial policy. This article focuses on documents and projects designed to lead toward an overall European Union spatial policy. It provides an overview of the content and the leading principles and indicates strengths and weaknesses of the emerging spatial policy as reflected in the documents Europe 2000, Europe 2000+, and the European Spatial Development Perspective. A European planning activity is considered to be acceptable to the extent that it is complementary, empowers the local level, and coordinates the EU spatial activities.