Tensions in a Multi-Level Setting : Cities and Regions in the EU New Regionalism

HAVLÍK, Vratislav. Tensions in a Multi-Level Setting : Cities and Regions in the EU New Regionalism. In Midwest Political Science Association Conference : 76th Annual conference, April 5–8, 2018, Chicago. 2018.

Basic information

• Original name: Tensions in a Multi-Level Setting : Cities and Regions in the EU New Regionalism
• Authors: HAVLÍK, Vratislav (203 Czech Republic, guarantor, belonging to the institution).
• Edition: Midwest Political Science Association Conference : 76th Annual conference, April 5–8, 2018, Chicago, 2018.

Other information

• Original language: English
• Type of outcome: Presentations at conferences
• Field of Study: 50601 Political science
• Country of publisher: United States of America
• Confidentiality degree: is not subject to a state or trade secret
• RIV identification code: RIV/00216224:14230/18:00103835
• Organization unit: Faculty of Social Studies
• Keywords in English: Czechia; new regionalism; Slovakia; substate actors; 2014-2020
• Tags: rivok

Abstract

Competition between metropolitan areas and old regions is one of the most visible results of the ‘New Regionalism’ policy in the EU. The aim of this paper is to explain the newly emerged tension between the region and the cities within the EU in the context of the "New Regionalism". The newly introduced ‘Integrated Territorial Investments’ (ITI), a potentially powerful instrument of the cohesion policy of the EU was presented as ‘a flexible mechanism for formulating integrated responses to diverse t! erritoria l needs’. However , this flexibility produced disputes between cities and regions in their chase for money. Based on interviews with substate officials, the study focuses on two countries: the Czech Republic and Slovakia. They are both major recipients of EU structural funds and the ITI tool is being implemented in both of them, however with different outcomes. Three variable have been identified as major factors causing the tension: administrative capacity, political challenges and different understanding of priorities of regional development among substate actors.