Shaping European spatial planning: how Italy's experience can contribute

Despite increasing debate in recent years, it must be admitted that a shared definition of European spatial planning still remains uncertain. As a concept that emerged following the acknowledgement of the progressive and concrete involvement of the European Union in territorial and urban matters, European spatial planning established itself in the making of the European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP), undoubtedly the most significant evidence of a new deal for planning throughout Europe. Italy did not play a primary role in the ESDP drafting process. Nor has ESDP seen exemplary ‘application’ in this country so far. Nevertheless, the important changes that have occurred in Italian planning practices in the past decade seem to owe much to the innovations introduced by EU intervention. These experiences would seem to lead to the sharing of a wider framework for European spatial planning, perhaps necessary also to achieve a brighter future for the ESDP