AESOP is pleased to announce the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the European Council of Spatial Planners – Conseil Européen des Urbanistes (ECTP-CEU) during the World Planning Schools Congress 2026, held in Helsinki.
The agreement was formally signed on 2 July 2026 by Maria Håkansson, President of AESOP, and Catherine Vilquin, President of ECTP-CEU, marking an important milestone in the long-standing relationship between the two organisations.
The Memorandum reflects the shared commitment of AESOP and ECTP-CEU to promoting excellence in planning education, research and professional practice across Europe. It also recognises the importance of strengthening dialogue between academic institutions and the professional planning community in order to foster knowledge exchange, capacity building and the dissemination of planning-related activities.
Through this agreement, AESOP and ECTP-CEU commit to maintaining an open and constructive dialogue, exploring opportunities for joint initiatives, sharing information on relevant activities and events, strengthening communication between their governing bodies, and encouraging reciprocal participation in major events organised by both organisations.
The Memorandum establishes a flexible framework for future collaboration, creating new opportunities to connect planning education with professional practice and to address the evolving challenges facing the planning profession across Europe.
AESOP looks forward to working closely with ECTP-CEU in the coming years, building on the strengths of both organisations to support planning schools, planning professionals and the wider planning community.
