The European Spatial Development Perspective (ESDP) is published in eleven official EU languages and so is the most international planning policy document that exists. This book is the only comprehensive account of the process of preparing, negotiating and adopting this document. It outlines the differing perspectives of the European member states and shows that the last thing its proponents wanted is a masterplan. The Making of the European Spatial Development Perspective is a unique book offering a snapshot of contemporary European spatial planning.

Andreas Faldui has been involved in planning teaching and research over the past thirty years in Austria, Great Britain and The Netherlands. Bas Waterhout completed his master thesis on the ESDP and is in the process of writing his PHD on its making and application.

Foreword by Sir Peter Hall. Preface. Acknowledgements. Chapter 1. Roots and Context. Chapter 2. A European Primer. Chapter 3. Nantes and Turin - The Single Market Casting its Shadow. Chapter 4. The Hague and Lisbon - Tooling up for Intergovernmental Planning. Chapter 5. Liege to Leipzig - David and Goliath Working in Tandem. Chapter 6. Strasbourg, Madrid, Venice - In the Doldrums. Chapter 7. Noordwijk - A Collective Effort. Chapter 8. Glasgow and the Consultations - Two Parallel Post-Noordwijk Processes. Chapter 9. Potsdam - The Crowning Event. Chapter 10. 'The Show Must Go On'. References.