Abstract
ABSTRACTThis paper debates the evolution and importance of the urban dimension of EU policies and in particular EU Cohesion Policy in the past three decades. It discusses the growing relevance for supporting a Urban Agenda for the EU, and the gradual adoption and implementation of Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Strategies (ISUDS), by pointing out their advantages vis-à-vis mainstream sectoral-focused policy strategies. In this light, the article proposes an evaluation framework to assess and compare ISUDS across Europe. Based on the Portuguese case study this analysis argues that despite their limited impacts, EU financed urban programmes (URBAN, POLIS, ISUDS) contributed positively to promoting a policy integrated approach, and enhanced urban physical and social environment of deprived urban neighbourhoods. More concretely, the initial results from the recent implementation of the 103 ISUDS reveal a gradual adoption by the urban and local authorities of more holistic and integrated urban development policy approaches to increasing policy effectiveness and efficiency.
Highlights
The European Union (EU) has not adopted a formal urban policy
Existing literatures on the main effects of EU policies, and in particular EU Cohesion Policy, demonstrates that EU urban areas have always beneficiated from EU funding which has assisted them with the implementation of their development strategies (Atkinson, 2001; Carpenter, 2006; De Gregorio Hurtado, 2017)
This increased focus on urban areas in EU policymaking is clearly justified by the fact that around 72% of the EU population lives in cities, towns and suburbs (EC, 2014)
Summary
The European Union (EU) has not adopted a formal urban policy. as many of its areas are highly urbanised it is inevitable that many of its policy initiatives have targeted urban areas and impacted their socio-economic development. Under the EU Cohesion Policy 2014-2020 period, the goal of integrated territorial and urban development has gained a new momentum This justifies the need for designing adequate policy evaluation methodologies to assess their main impacts on development in urban areas (ESPON, 2018). Ellin (2006) discusses the concept of ‘Integral Urbanism’ toward a more sustainable human habitat by emphasising connection, communication, and celebration, in stark contrast to a master-planned functionally-zoned city which separates, isolates, alienates, and retreats In this light, conceptually, the paper proposes a novel policy evaluation framework for the assessment of this integrated approach on six vectors (integration of policy areas, impact of operations, planning horizon, territorial targeting, inclusiveness and strength of the monitoring framework). We apply this methodological approach to the Portuguese case-study
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