The aim of the chapter is to compare approaches to the basic planning concepts and issues across CEE countries that are also member states of the European Union (EU). Based on their previous cooperation, the authors concluded that the following issues are important and worthwhile: (a) Defining spatial planning and its objectives, (b) Understanding spatial plans and their related concepts, (c) Grasping the relationship between spatial planning and development policy, and the barriers that arise between them. Defining spatial planning allows for broader thematic comparisons. Spatial planning objectives, on the other hand, are the key reference point for the individual spatial planning instruments, both in terms of their creation and their evaluation. In addition to reflections resulting from observations of their own systems, the authors present reflections based on preliminary comparisons of solutions provided in nine CEE countries (Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia). Results stem from both ongoing analyses and previous joint research.