Final Report - Additional Volume 5 ESPON COMPASS – Additional Countries Feasibility Report

Abstract

The COMPASS project compares territorial governance and spatial planning in 32 European countries (the 28 EU member states plus four ESPON partner countries). COMPASS differs from previous studies in that the accent is not on a snapshot comparison of national systems, but on identifying trends in reforms from 2000 to 2016. It also seeks to give reasons for these changes with particular reference to EU directives and policies, and to identify good practices for the cross-fertilisation of spatial development policies with EU Cohesion Policy. The objective of the COMPASS project is to provide an authoritative comparative report on changes in territorial governance and spatial planning systems in Europe since 2000. It substantially improves the knowledge base on territorial governance and spatial planning, and in particular, their relationship with EU Cohesion Policy.