• The European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) is an advisory reference document adopted by the European Ministers of Spatial Planning at Potsdam in 1999. The aim of the document was to define the main priorities for the balanced territorial development of Europe.• The ESDP is the first EU level policy document on spatial planning. The philosophy and the objectives of the ESDP relate to the wider objectives of the European Union such as sustainability and competitiveness.
• The ESDP is a non-binding document, implying that the Members States are not obliged to apply it.
• The ESDP mirrors a number of prevailing aims and principles from both the national and European-level planning discourses of the 1990s. The three main ESDP policy guidelines for the spatial orientation of policies are:
1 Development of a balanced and polycentric urban system and a new urban-rural relationship.
2 Securing parity of access to infrastructure and knowledge.
3 Sustainable development, prudent management, and the protection of our natural and cultural heritage.
• The novel approach fostered by the ESDP is that of cooperation between all levels (vertical integration) and all sectors (horizontal integration) that have spatial impacts.
In practise, the ESDP has largely inspired the research activities undertaken by the European Spatial Planning Observatory Network (ESPON).
This network was set up in 2001 to support policy development and to build a European scientific community in the field. In total, the ESPON community includes over 600 researchers from across Europe.
• The ESDP is not a master plan for Europe. It should rather be understood as the basis for an ongoing policy process and discussion, in which all of the actors associated with European territorial development are invited to participate.
• The upcoming Territorial Agenda for the European Union does not replace the ESDP, but builds on it by drawing on the achievements of ESPON. It also tries to specifically focus on economic growth.
• A core issue concerns the need to find an acceptable vocabulary which enables fruitful trans-national discussion on possible planning solutions to take place. As in all processes, there are conflicting views on which words to use.
• ESPON was allocated a total budget of 17 million euros for this purpose for the period 2001-2006. This budget is foreseen to be increased to between 45 and 50 million euros in the period 2007-2013.
For more on the territorial issues, see the following pages.