The notion as recognised in the case law of the Court of Justice covers at least the following grounds: public policy, public security and public health, within the meaning of Articles 46 and 55 of the Treaty; the maintenance of order in society; social policy objectives; the protection of the recipients of services; consumer protection; the protection of workers, including the social protection of workers; animal welfare; the preservation of the financial balance of the social security system; the prevention of fraud; the prevention of unfair competition; the protection of the environment and the urban environment, including town and country planning; the protection of creditors; safeguarding the sound administration of justice ...[+++]; road safety; the protection of intellectual property; cultural policy objectives, including safeguarding the freedom of expression of various elements, in particular social, cultural, religious and philosophical values of society; the need to ensure a high level of education, the maintenance of press diversity and the promotion of the national language; the preservation of national historical and artistic heritage; and veterinary policy.

In the development of sectoral policies likely to exacerbate or reduce soil degradation processes, Member States shall identify, describe and assess the impacts of such policies on these processes, in particular in the areas of regional and urban spatial planning, transport, energy, agriculture, rural development, forestry, raw material extraction, trade and industry, product policy, tourism, climate change, environment, nature and landscape.

However, a limited number of differences will remain, as Phare and the Structural Funds are still quite different in their objectives and procedures.The participation of candidate countries in INTERREG III B will strengthen co-operation between them and Member States, and of their regions - including border regions - on regional development and land-use planning; co-operation may cover the provision of information for national, regional or local authorities on regional and land-use planning policy, and, where appropriate, the provision of assistance for the formulation of such policy.

However, a limited number of differences will remain, as Phare and the Structural Funds are still quite different in their objectives and procedures.The participation of candidate countries in INTERREG III B will strengthen co-operation between them and Member States, and of their regions - including border regions - on regional development and land-use planning; co-operation may cover the provision of information for national, regional or local authorities on regional and land-use planning policy, and, where appropriate, the provision of assistance for the formulation of such policy.

* an integrated transport sector policy and planning that covers all modes and all means of transportation and their interaction, and which involves coordinating with other fields of sectoral policies, such as economic, fiscal, social and environmental policy as well as urban development, land use planning etc.,

They shall encourage exchange of information by national, regional and local authorities on regional and land-use planning policy and on methods of formulation of regional policies with special emphasis on the development of disadvantaged areas.