The long arm of the EU? Evidence of Europeanization of Spatial Planning in Albania and Switzerland

The Europeanization of the spatial planning systems of the EU Member States has been extensively investigated in the literature since 2000 with numerous studies focusing on understanding how, where and when the EU may have an impact on domestic spatial planning systems (Cotella & Janin Rivolin 2010; Giannakourou 2012, etc.). Whilst the previous studies explore the Europeanization of spatial planning system in Member States, this contribution investigates the impact of the Europeanization on non-EU countries, analysing the cases of Switzerland and Albania. Despite their different relations with the EU – while Switzerland is not interested in joining the EU, Albania is currently facing the process of integration, – in both cases their spatial planning systems are indirectly influenced by Europeanization. Adopting a comparative approach, the authors aim to highlight how Europeanization mechanisms may affect spatial planning systems in a non-UE countries and how each domestic context adapts its spatial planning system as a response to direct or indirect EU influences. Theoretically and methodologically speaking, the study assumes that (i) Europeanization is an iterative cycle of uploading and downloading influences that links the EU-level territorial governance with domestic territorial governance and spatial planning system and (ii) as suggested by the institutional technology concept (Janin Rivolin 2012), a spatial planning system should be investigated through a multiply dimension (i.e. structure, tools, practice and discourse) and a dynamic perspective. In order to appreciate the complex interplay among spatial planning system dimensions and EU influences, the proposed conceptual framework identifies different types of influences (i.e. structural, instrumental, dialogic, practical and horizontal) that depend on the influence’s direction (top-down, bottom-up, horizontal). Moreover, the proposal will focus on scrutinizing potential drivers of change (such as rules, resources, and expert knowledge) and mechanisms of change (legal, economic and cognitive) that may guide Europeanization. The contribution is therefore structured in three sections. Section one focuses on theoretical and methodological conceptualization – highlighting the concept of the Europeanization of spatial planning systems and potential misunderstandings present in the literature. Section two illustrates this with evidence from analysing the contexts of Albania and Switzerland. While section three discusses comparative findings of the Europeanization of the spatial planning system in both countries.