The Europeanisation of local authorities: Challenges for rural areas

Abstract

The completion of the Single European Market, the availability to regions of EC assistance and the growing volume of EC legislation to be implemented at the local level have begun to lead to important changes in the roles and responsibilities of many U.K. local authorities. The power of sub-national government in most EC states is likely to be enhanced by the move towards a ‘Europe of the Regions’. However, there are constraints on British local authorities which may render them less able to respond to the challenges and opportunities presented by closer European integration than their counterparts in other parts of the Community. Authorities in rural areas face particular problems, not shared by metropolitan areas. However, some of the recent approaches which have been taken by rural authorities in the U.K. demonstrate ways of overcoming the difficulties they face in responding to Europeanisation. Similar strategies might usefully be adopted by other authorities which have not as yet been closely involved with EC initiatives and programmes.