The European Council of Spatial Planners - Conseil européen des urbanistes (ECTP-CEU), founded in 1985, brings together 24 professional town planning associations and institutes from 22 European countries.

It is an umbrella association providing its members with a common framework for planning practice, planning education, continuing professional development and the definition of professional responsibilities.

ECTP sets standards of education and conduct for the planning profession; identifies, celebrates and rewards examples of good planning all over Europe, and engages in dialogue with local, national and European government.

Planners are enablers and specialists in spatial analysis and interaction, committed to working with other professionals across disciplinary boundaries to advance the sustainable development of the both the natural and the built environment.

The current work of the Council includes:

•    Dissemination of the revised New Charter of Athens on planning European cities in the 21st century;
•    The design of a Vision enhancing the quality and efficiency of cities and urban life in Europe;
•    The production of a guide to spatial planning and territorial cohesion;
•    The publishing of the proceedings of major conferences on European spatial development and the preparation of forthcoming conferences;
•    The preparation of the European Urban and Regional Planning Awards.

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Introduction to ECTP-CEU: aims and objectives, activities, members, officers and contact details

Towards the establishment of common rules for the spatial planning profession

In its founding Charter (the Charter of Amsterdam in 1985), ECTP-CEUmember associations and institutes laid down the basis for establishing common rules for the planning profession by specifying the field andnature of the professional spatial planner's activities; educational andtraining criteria; and professional and conduct requirements.

> The nature and the fields of activity for the spatial planning profession which are common to all member countries of the European Union are defined in Annex A of the Charter.

> A minimum common core for education and training needed for the planning profession is defined in Appendix B of the Charter. This is a preliminary step towards the armonisation of national requirements regarding the education, training and professional conduct of spatial planners with the view to achieve, in due course, mutual recognition of membership requirements and qualifications among EU member states.

> A professional code of ethics establishing criteria of professional competence and conduct which will be observed by all members of national associations and institutes in the European Council of Spatial Planners is defined in Annex C of the Charter.

The complete text of the Founding Charter and a history of ECTP-CEUare available from the Secretariat and on the website.