ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on the various approaches that each country has adopted to regional development in general and spatial planning in particular and try to assess what lessons can be learnt for the future. It examines the various approaches to regional development, the context will be set by taking a brief look at the countries' location and history, the socio-economic conditions and some of the institutional structures. The importance of joined-up government, a strategic, inclusive and transparent approach and the problems of interpreting concepts that mean different things to different people clearly need to be addressed by policy makers and planners in the Baltic States as they do in other countries throughout the European Union (EU). Each of the Baltic States appears to have embraced EU regional policy principles and themes such as balanced and polycentric development. Despite the similar backgrounds, principles and audiences, the approaches and methodologies adopted in each country are different.
