The influence of EU policies and actions on spatial and environmental planning in the EU member states is ever increasing. European regions are more and more interlinked, and cooperation across national borders is now a routine aspect of the work of spatial and environmental planners. There are considerable differences in how planning is conducted across Europe, and planners are increasingly required to communicate across cultural and institutional boundaries. This European dimension of planning brings with it the need to educate a new generation of spatial and environmental planners, who are aware of and can influence the European territorial cohesion agenda, pursue the coordination of the spatial impacts of sector policies, are sensitive to cultural and institutional differences across Europe, and are capable of successful territorial cooperation on spatial development. An integrated joint Masters programme of 2 years (120 ECs) is envisaged as result of this project. The focus of the proposed joint Masters programme is on the international and EU dimension of spatial policy, economic competitiveness and sustainable development. Students will critically discuss the spatial impacts of EU sector policies in a comparative perspective and consider appropriate ways to coordinate them. They will better understand the multi-level system of governance in an integrated Europe, and discuss appropriate ways to engage in territorial cooperation and to achieve territorial cohesion in Europe. The programme is built on an integrated approach to teaching and learning, which will allow students from different nationalities and backgrounds to study together and to pursue their specific interests at the universities in Nijmegen, Cardiff and Blekinge. Thus, they will gain first hand experiences with spatial and environmental planning systems in different EU countries, get a thorough academic education on EU influences on spatial development and comparative research and practical experience of undertaking project work with professional organisations. The programme will be delivered in English, with additional optional language training in Dutch and Swedish. Students will be awarded a joint degree (or double/multiple degree, depending on national legislation) from the participating universities. The launch of an integrated joint MSc programme on EU spatial policy, regional competitiveness and sustainable development will be an important step towards improving the understanding of EU influences on spatial and environmental planning and developing the most effective approaches to territorial cooperation of planning practitioners and academics. The proposed project brings together leading institutions in the field that have complementary national education programmes on spatial and environmental planning, the integration of spatial impacts of sector policies at different scales, sustainable development and regional economic development with their roots in political and social sciences. This is an innovative approach as it helps to overcome persisting institutional differences in higher education across the EU. The project builds on synergy effects between different aspects of and approaches to EU spatial policy, sustainable development, economic competitiveness and territorial cooperation in Europe, and strengthens collaboration on planning education and research. Through its network of professional contacts and associated partners, the project consortium will ensure that the curriculum reflects the concerns of future employers and that information on the project and the Masters programme will be widely disseminated.