New spatial patterns and territorial-administrative reforms in the European Union: Reflections on Eastern Europe
: Jussi Sakari Jauhiainen
Publisher: ROUTLEDGE JOURNALS, TAYLOR & FRANCIS LTD
: ABINGDON; 4 PARK SQUARE, MILTON PARK, ABINGDON OX14 4RN, OXFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND
: 2014
: European Planning Studies
: European Planning Studies
: Eur.Plan.Stud.
: 22
: 4
: 694
: 711
: 18
: 0965-4313
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2013.772732
Spatial patterns and territorial-administrative structures in Eastern Europe are a mix of historical-territorial path-dependencies influenced by the current path-creating policies. Since the early 2000s, the European Union (EU) policies, practices and challenges have concerned also Eastern Europe. This article discusses spatial patterns and territorial-administrative structures in theory, illustrates their practices and presents scenarios for their future in the EU contexts. The Europeanization of spatial policy and planning and the territorial-administrative structure harmonization are the key current trends. The transposition and implementation of the EU spatial policy mechanisms and practices in Eastern Europe are influenced by contextual path-dependent legacies and the uncertain long-term future of the EU. Conditionality as governmentality and relational regions open new perspectives to territorial dynamics in the EU and Eastern Europe.