ABSTRACT

The environmental policy of CEE countries has largely been impacted by EU antecedents, itself a blend of various policies, practices and philosophies. Transition gave an overdue start for policy formation, institutionalisation and awareness raising for environmental concerns. However, amidst rushed marketisation and privatisation, CEE countries did not build up their own norms of environmental protection and policy integration; the adoption of EU-supported methods often produced incoherent systems with inherent conflicts. This problem is confirmed by a comparative analysis of multiple policy texts. Nevertheless, spatial planning can serve as an integrating platform for many activities with an environmental impact, balancing environmental concerns and sectoral interests.