From conformance to performance? A comparative analysis of the European Union territorial policy trends in Serbia and Bosnia and Herzegovina

As several Western Balkans countries aspire to become members of the European Union (EU) in (near) future, it is interesting explore what extent EU territorial trends are adopted both official national regulations and spatial planning practice. To do so, we: 1) screen policies elucidate principles development, 2) analyse contents plans Serbia Bosnia Herzegovina, 3) compare practical application such as decentralisation, diffusion power, subsidiarity, multi-actorship, synergy, transparency, citizen participation, coordinated action (among various disciplinary bodies), holistic strategies. The findings show ineffectiveness declaratively against place-based policy approaches.