ABSTRACT
This chapter examines the increasing interest in regional development and spatial planning which has taken place within the European Union (EU) in years. It also examines the extent of economic and social disparities across the enlarged EU, at both national and regional level. Successful regional development requires tackling these regional disparities. The interest in regional development and spatial planning across the EU has arisen by developing new paradigms of regional development and regional planning which can help improve both national and regional prosperity. The chapter looks at some examples of regional development strategies and spatial plans within the Celtic and Baltic nations. This includes some comments on how far the new concepts and paradigms associated with regional development and spatial planning have informed such strategies and plans. The regional development and spatial planning agenda has been closely linked to regional planning theory which has sought to explain the causes and consequences of regional economic disparities and regional competitiveness.
