Designing a Comprehensive Indicator System for an Evidence-Based Spatial Planning System Integration in Fringe Regions of the EU: A South Balkan Case Study

Abstract

Integration of spatial planning systems across the EU’s fringe regions is often challenged by institutional asymmetry, fragmented governance, and uneven territorial capacities. These conditions hinder the development of coherent evaluation tools capable of capturing the complexity and evolving nature of integration processes in such contexts. This paper proposes a methodological framework that combines theoretical insights from territorial capital with a time- and process-sensitive evaluation logic. Inspired by the conceptual modelling techniques, the framework aims to assess spatial planning integration by linking contextual conditions, institutional dynamics, and cooperative processes. The South Balkan region is used as a contextual reference to guide framework development, offering illustrative territorial and institutional complexities, without serving as an empirical test site. The approach is intended to support flexible, multiscalar, and temporally aware assessments of integration efforts, especially in regions where formal alignment may not reflect substantive cooperation or institutional readiness. By reframing spatial planning system integration as a dynamic and relational process, the framework offers an adaptable tool for future empirical research and policy evaluation in territorially diverse European regions.