The paper evaluates the compulsory purchase/expropriation compensation in a converging Europe. The historic legal systems of each country are explained and compared. Current relevant legislation is identified, analysed to substantiate the title, this is done by considering three tiers of legislation. The impact of the legislation and national characteristics of approach to the use of the law is examined.

The paper uses information from disparate legal sources and prime research is from questioning individuals, mostly from the surveying profession, as to the use of the resource within their domain.