Regional planning and management serving sustainable development

Starting from the fact that Europe today is called the Europe of regions, the author wanted to research a basis of regionalism today, as well as show practical experiences in the implementation of regional policies in the EU. Taking into account the fact that today the scientific approach with questions relating to management of regional systems, the preferred approach is managing regional development of the Croatian national economy and the less preferred approach is management of regional development as a specific and extremely complex socio-economical system, the author wanted to emphasize the need for different scientific and political outlook of the regions. Supporting the strengthening of regional development, the author emphasizes the need for coordination with the overall social and economical development of a broader surrounding especially with the national system.