Practical Aspects of Spatial Planning in Latgale region: Influence of European Union, Future Challenges and Perspective

Using Latgale as a case study, this paper explores the influence of the European Union policy and planning experience of different European Union countries to planning practice in Latvia. The paper analyses three issues: •how planning experience of the other countries influenced planning practice in Latgale region, focusing on the example of elaboration process of panning documents; •how the process of planning system reforms in Latvia could influence Latgale region in the future; •and what actions might be realized to take advantage of future challenges and perspectives. Research object – the spatial planning policy of Latgale region in the context of the European Union policies. Research subject – development planning documents of Latgale Planning Region. Research methods – content analysis, deductive and inductive methods, theoretical analysis of scientific literature, EU and Latvian legislation analysis, comparative analysis, etc. Conclusions and suggestions- Contradiction or deficiencies in regional development planning documents of Latgale Planning Region are mainly related to deficiencies in normative acts as well as the lack of real instruments for implementation of development planning documents. Development planning documents of planning regions shall be considered as basic documents for establishing priorities in allocation of the financing of EU Structural Funds