Integrated Territorial Investments Research Articles

Cohesion policy and metropolitan governance: innovation in stakeholders collaboration practices in Lisbon

This study examines the impact of Cohesion Policy on metropolitan governance and stakeholders’ collaboration practices in the Lisbon region. The financial crisis and subsequent austerity policies have underscored the importance of institutional arrangements and governance processes, particularly at the local and regional levels. Focusing on the Lisbon metropolitan area, which faces fragmented institutional structures and governance challenges, this research highlights the role of Cohesion Policy through Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) in fostering innovation and collaboration among stakeholders. The EVA (Green and Blue Corridor) project in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area exemplifies the role of EU funding in promoting cooperation and governance innovation. The introduction of ITI under the Cohesion Policy has facilitated the establishment of collaborative networks and innovative practices in the metropolitan area. These initiatives have broken down planning silos, promoting "soft spaces of governance" that encouraged knowledge exchange and institutional learning among territorial stakeholders. However, challenges persist in the absence of a coherent regional strategy and the prioritization of broad EU objectives over tailored regional needs. This hampers the potential for integrated and proactive territorial management. Nevertheless, Cohesion Policy has stimulated stakeholder collaboration and innovation in metropolitan governance, paving the way for sustainable and inclusive development in the Lisbon region.

Europeanization mechanisms in context: metropolitan development through integrated territorial investments in Central and Eastern Europe

ABSTRACT Europeanization affects policies in much of Europe, but has uneven impacts in different regions. The aim of this paper is to causally explain how and why actors reacted to the European Union (EU) policy. We tested the presence of social learning and coercion mechanisms and how their operation was conditioned by policy capacities (contextual factors). Europeanization is traced through integrated territorial investment (ITI) implementation, a new EU Cohesion Policy tool. The Ostrava Metropolitan Region case study in Czechia revealed that national-level actors had responded dominantly to ITI by social learning and local actors with coercion.

Integrated territorial investments as an example of measures for sustainable territorial development

Purpose: The aim of the study is to present the principles of Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) functioning on the example of the Bydgoszcz and Toruń Functional Area (BTFA). An attempt has also been as made to identify the barriers and limitations, including the areas requiring additional support, in the implementation of projects. The study shows that the ITI instrument is effectively implemented under the current financial perspective 2014-2020 and should be maintained in the financial perspective 2021-2027. Design/methodology/approach: The survey was conducted among employees of the Integrated Territorial Investments Office, with a specific purpose of an attempted assessment of whether the ITI instrument has been programmed well at the national level, including evaluation of the ways in which it has been managed and implemented by the Integrated Territorial Investments for the Bydgoszcz and Toruń Functional Area (ITI BTFA) partnership. The subject of the study entailed the Integrated Territorial Investments instrument, as a tool for territorial development in Poland. The object of the study was the ITI BTFA partnership, comprising two core cities: the City of Bydgoszcz and the City of Toruń, as well as 23 municipalities in the functional area. Findings: Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) is an important instrument of territorial development, constituting a well-utilized tool of local government cooperation, co-financed by the European Union. The instrument strengthens the impact of jointly implemented projects, through an approach extending beyond the administrative boundaries of a given local government. Integrated Territorial Investments are an important tool allowing implementation of the territorial strategies of the 2014-2020 programming period, primarily in the area of integrated actions for sustainable urban development. Originality/value: The article presents the research results arising from the survey conducted at the organization analyzed. The study indicated that the ITI partnership management system is effective, as it has allowed improvement in the efficiency of the activities undertaken as well as increased trust among the partners involved. The main factors which affected the effectiveness of the projects implemented by the ITI BTFA included: good rapport with the beneficiary, cooperation of the ITI Intermediate Body with the Managing Authority of the Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship Regional Operational Program, and ongoing monitoring.

Dlaczego jest tak dobrze, skoro jest tak źle – aglomeracyjna aktywność integracyjna samorządów w Czechach i Polsce

When pursuing the aim of the paper – to determine the sustainability of cooperation between local governments in agglomerations – an attempt was made to establish: What is the future of cooperation between agglomerations in the Czech Republic and Poland? Do partnerships under Integrated Territorial Investments foster a culture of cooperation? What kind of barriers must be overcome by local governments in connection with integration activities in agglomerations? The paper uses the comparative and diagnostic survey methods (an online survey in the Czech Republic and a postal survey in Poland). The empirical research was conducted among the members of the structures of Integrated Territorial Investments. It was found that integration problems in agglomerations include: financial difficulties of smaller municipalities, dominant position of the main city/cities, leadership style, trust, authorities’ fears about limiting their independence in the field of cooperation, influence of political views on relationships.

Exploring Key Aspects of an Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Strategy in Greece: The Case of Thessaloniki City

Even though efforts have been made in recent decades to revive urban areas in the European Union (EU), the contemporary challenges that mostly large cities face require continuous support and adjustments in urban policies. Under the EU Cohesion Policy for the 2014–2020 programming period, the integrated territorial development of various specific areas is pursued by the Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI). In Greece, many of these programs concern Integrated Sustainable Urban Development Strategies (ISUDSs). One of these is the ISUDS of Thessaloniki, which is perhaps the most complex in terms of management and implementation in Greece, mainly due to the chosen managerial approach and the size of Thessaloniki, the second largest city in the country. Thessaloniki’s ISUDS is managed by the Urban Authority (UA), which has already evolved into a separate model of metropolitan governance administration. The aim of this paper is to identify the determinants in its design and implementation, as well as the effects of the strategy on urban development through the assessment of its strengths and weaknesses, as well as the opportunities and prospects of strategy through the Delphi approach.

Zróżnicowanie rozwoju miejskich obszarów funkcjonalnych ośrodków wojewódzkich w Polsce

More than half of the world’s population lives in cities. Also, in Poland, urbanisation processes are still progressing. Moreover, the impact of an urban zone itself does not end with administrative boundaries. There are a number of functional connections between a given urban centre and its surroundings. Thus, functional urban areas begin to play a more important role in development policy. In particular, this aspect has gained importance in the face of the introduction, in 2014, of new territorial instruments of the EU cohesion policy, such as Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI). The introduction of ITI was associated with formalising the operation of functional urban areas in Poland (FUA), mainly in the area of voivodeship centres. After a few years of their functioning, it is worth taking a closer look at their diversity. The aim of the study is, therefore, to determine the differentiation in the level of development of functional areas of voivodeship capital cities in Poland and their classification. The research was carried out with the use of the TOPSIS method on the basis of available, selected data from the Central Statistical Office. As a result of the research, FUAs were assigned to various classes of the level of socio-economic development and ranked in terms of the value of the synthetic indicator of socio-economic development that was constructed under the TOPSIS method. As a result of the study, it was found that, in general, studied units are characterised by rather small differentiation in the level of development; however, there are quite large discrepancies in the level of the synthetic indicator of socio-economic development between FUAs with the highest and the lowest value of this indicator.

The opportunity to develop strategic spatial planning with the impulse of integrated territorial investments in Croatia

Regional development and spatial planning in Croatia are organised as parallel planning systems regulated by different legislations and coordinated by two ministries, the development of which has been strongly influenced by the European Union (EU). In the last two decades, the intensive development of strategic documentation on a local, regional, and national level regarding diverse territorial governance aspects has had extensive analytical scope but little potential for implementation due to the overlapping of responsibilities and disconnected budget and implementation instruments. The Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) mechanism of implementation contributed to the understanding of multifaceted territorial governance beyond strategic document drafting. This paper analyses the first phase of ITI implementation in Croatia, i.e. the processes which unified functional urban areas, creating the possibility to develop joint management structures and strategies, integrated projects, and common participative planning models.

Perceptions on the Implementation of the Integrated Territorial Investment Mechanism (ITI) and Its Impact on Sustainable Development and Resilience of Danube Delta

The Integrated Territorial Investment mechanism (ITI) was implemented in Romania to the territory of ITI Danube Delta in the 2014-2020 programming period. In this respect, the present article aims to analyze the process of implementation of the ITI mechanism on the Danube Delta territory in order to find out the impact of its implementation on the so­cio-economic development of the area and on its re­silience, as well as the main problems encountered by the responsible authorities for managing this pro­gramme and the beneficiaries of these funds. The research methodology consists of a survey conduct­ed by using two questionnaires designed by the au­thors. The study had 42 participants from the fund managers’ category and 71 participants from the beneficiaries’ group. The study revealed a positive perception among all the participants which consid­ered that ITI impacts the resilience of the Danube Delta territory to a medium extent. The most import­ant problems encountered in the implementation process were the pre-financing process, the guides’ conditions that are not adapted to the beneficiaries’ needs and the public procurement process. The re­search revealed a high degree of satisfaction from both types of respondents regarding the ITI mech­anism and a good relation between the managing institutions and beneficiaries.

A Tailor-Made Metropolitan Union. Is This a Good Solution of the Metropolitan Governance Problem in Poland?

The scale and dynamics of socio-economic and spatial processes in Poland in the last three decades, including territorial diversification of the pace of economic development and demographic and social changes, as well as processes such as metropolisation and suburbanization, determine new challenges in the management and programming of the development of large cities and their areas functional. The new processes require state and local authorities to take actions in the strictly political, legal and organizational and planning dimensions. In Poland, for almost 20 years, there has been a discussion on the introduction of specific forms of management of metropolitan areas. Failure to adopt systemic solutions at the level of the entire country (lack of political will for metropolitan reform and the creation of metropolitan self-government county) leads to the emergence of numerous grassroots integration initiatives of local governments (metropolitan associations of cities and municipalities). Since 2015, the EU cohesion policy instrument Integrated Territorial Investments has been implemented in functional urban areas. Since 2017, the first multi-task metropolitan union (Metropolitan Union of Upper Silesia—Górnoślasko-Zagłebiowska Metropolis) established by the parliament (special act) and the government (executive regulation) has been operating in Poland. The first—sui generis—statutory metropolis encourages local authorities of other metropolitan areas to adopt their own legislative initiatives (Kraków, Łódz, Tricity: Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot). Is the choice of the path for creating individual statutory solutions for each of the Polish metropolises in the form of a metropolitan union appropriate? Does diferrentia specifica for various metropolitan areas seem to be the most justified at the moment, taking into account the political conditions and the bottom-up and top-down approach to metropolitan governance in Poland? The article presents the complex path to solving the issue of management in Polish metropolitan areas and assesses the legitimacy of a solution based on a model tailored to each metropolis, introduced by a separate metropolitan act.

The making of the Bydgoszcz-Toruń partnership area as an example of a bipolar conflict

ABSTRACT The aim of the paper is to identify features and regularities pertaining to the process of cooperation between two cities under the conditions of a pre-existing socio-political conflict. The study covers the Bydgoszcz and Toruń Integrated Territorial Investments’ support area, the only example of a bilateral arrangement in Poland which includes two voivodship capitals. Due to the specificity of the region and the Toruń-Bydgoszcz rancor, the negotiations preceding the formation of the ITI were turbulent. The research was based on a discursive analysis of newspaper reports published by the regional issue of the country-wide daily Gazeta Wyborcza in the period of 2012–2020 and directly related to the making of the Bydgoszcz-Toruń Functional Area. The purpose of the conducted press search was to reconstruct how the bipolar functional area that had enabled the applying for EU funding was formed, and to identify the socio-political conflicts that had lain behind the creation of the support area. It has been evidenced that disputes rooted in the examined cities significantly hinder the creation of a spatially coherent and functionally complementary bipolar system. The functional area is divided due to the core cities' past and the history of mutual animosities deriving from the local ambitions.

Tourism as an Aspect of City Branding in Functional Urban Areas

Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) are among the main actors of local development planning in the current perspective of the European Union. One of significant challenges in the management of such areas is the creation of an image or building of a city brand covering several neighboring municipalities. Among other things, tourist attractions can be used as important factors in defining metropolitan identity. The aim of the paper is to identify categories of tourist attractions that are used in the process of communicating FUAs’ brands. The paper is focused on branding activities related to the tourism of selected FUAs in Poland. The research method involved a content analysis of documents entitled Strategies of Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) developed for Polish FUAs. Research results show that branding activities of FUAs aimed at developing their tourism function are more material- than immaterial-oriented and concern only those issues that are dependent on local government authorities and not tourism companies. The paper contributes to the development of the city branding theory focusing on the issue of developing a tourist brand for FUAs. The key limitations of the paper are as follows: it is based on the analysis just one type of documents – ITI Strategies of Polish FUAs – and the specificity of content analysis as a research method.

THE GROUNDS FOR METROPOLITAN COOPERATION. A CASE STUDY OF THE GDAŃSK-GDYNIA-SOPOT METROPOLITAN AREA

The process of institutionalization of metropolitan cooperation within the metropolitan area around Gdańsk has been the subject of a debate with the participation of local representatives of various sectors. Currently, the main entity carrying out activities on a metropolitan scale is the Gdańsk-Gdynia-Sopot Metropolitan Area Association. It has been responsible for a series of bottom-up projects, implementation of the Integrated Territorial Investments mechanism, as well as lobbying towards establishing a metropolitan union in Pomeranian Voivodship. The article describes the current conditionings that seem to be the most important for the spatial extent and objects of the cooperation in the context of the foregoing metropolitan discourse.

The political dimension to the cohesion policy of the European Union 2014-2020, between injunctions, reshaped definitions and territorialisation: the example of Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) in the Ile-de –France region

Jadis aménagement du territoire ‘‘à la française’’, la politique de cohésion s’est fortement tournée vers le soutien à la compétitivité économique, sous couvert, notamment, d’injonctions environnementales telles que l’adaptation au changement climatique. Des priorités sectorielles, incarnées par onze ‘‘objectifs thématiques’’ générateurs de croissance servent au pilotage de cette politique dans la période de programmation actuelle (2014-2020). Reste-t-il encore une place pour des projets de territoire ? C’est dans le concret des choix menés localement que se dessine l’équilibre entre injonction sectorielle et territorialisation. Les résultats varient, comme le montre l’exemple des investissements territoriaux intégrés (ITI) franciliens.

Marketing and branding-oriented goals for the development of Functional Urban Areas: evidence from Poland

Abstract The European Union currently uses Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) as basic units for planning local development activities under its financial support. An important issue in terms of managing such areas is branding. FUAs are made of at least several territorial units (covering a dense urban area and a functionally related urbanised zone). Such composition poses a particular challenge in terms of developing a brand that covers all of the units. Therefore, it is essential to select the core around which the target image will be created. This publication aims to identify marketing and branding goals for the development of FUAs and determine activities facilitating the achievement of these goals by entities that manage the functional areas. The research method used in the article was a content analysis of documents outlined as Strategies for Integrated Territorial Investments developed for FUAs in Poland. The authors of the article undertook preliminary exploratory research. The obtained results show that most of the marketing and branding goals for the development of FUAs correspond with the objectives specific to city marketing and branding. Moreover, “integration” and “strengthening the metropolitan area function” were recognised as goals specific to FUAs.

Integrated Territorial Investments - Current and Future Solutions for Sustainable Development

The aim of the article is the analysis of one of the newest instruments of the Cohesion Policy for the 2014-2020 period, namely the integrated territorial investments (ITI). The advantages offered by ITI to stimulate the integrated approach of the different spheres: the functional territorial one, the implementation of a “bottom-up” strategy with the delegation of tasks at local level and, last but not least, the combination of European and investment funds from several priority axes of operational programmes, converge towards a further use of this instrument in the future programming period 2021-2027. The research was based on different models of ITI in the European Union, an analysis of the operation and results being made for ITI Danube Delta.

Integrated Territorial Investments as an Instrument of Urban Policy: The Case of the Bialystok Functional Area

Purpose: The aim of the article was to examine the impact of Integrated Territorial Investments on the development of cooperation between municipalities belonging to the Bialystok Functional Area. Design/Approach: The study was conducted by quantitative methods. As part of the research procedure, documentation of the Bialystok Functional Area was included. The process of creating the area and allocating European funds was presented. The impact of funds on the functioning of the area was examined. Analytical data are presented using tables and maps by the local government units. Findings: The results of the study confirmed that changes in the policy and tools for financing functional areas in the form of integrated territorial investments have enabled the development of cooperation between neighboring territorial units. The level of integration of municipalities and residents has increased. Further cooperation is needed. Practical Implications: The analysis and its results confirm the need to finance the cooperation of neighbouring local government units. The results can be used to improve financial tools. Continued research, including extension to other functional areas, may allow to see the correctness and improvement of urban policy. Originality/Value: Due to the importance of these issues for the effective functioning of functional areas, including the Bialystok functional area, it is necessary to promote this approach. The article presents funding for integrated projects in both scientific and practical terms.

Financing of Integrated Territorial Investments on the example of Kielce Functional Area

The level of spending of funds under KIT's ITI is varied depending on the fund. The level of contracting of funds is higher under the ERDF, while in the case of their certification there is an advantage of the ESF. The difference between the value of contracted and certified funds is evident. Financing projects from structural funds on average exceeds 80% of the project value. The implementation of the instrument proceeds correctly from the point of view of spending the funds. Analysis of the contracting of funds in individual years indicates a delay in the implementation of programs, which is not an exception in the entire ROP of the SV 2014-2020. The author deals with the issue of financing ITI in the EU perspective 2014-2020.

Integrated territorial investments and the improvement of transport mobility and accessibility of urban functional areas – the example of the Białystok Functional Area

Purpose – The aim of the paper is to identify the activities implemented as part of the Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) in order to improve transport accessibility and mobility using the example of the investments undertaken in the Bialystok Functional Area (BFA). The formulated hypothesis implies that in the Bialystok Functional Area support is available for various projects financed from ITI in order to improve transport mobility and accessibility. Research method – The analysis was based both on a literature review of the subject and using the Author’s own research conducted in October 2019 on the Bialystok Functional Area Association (BFAA), including the data from the IT system – SL 2014. The analysis was based on the case studies of the projects implemented within ITI funds within the frame of improving the mobility and transport accessibility in the BFA. The analysis was supplemented with statistical research and a survey which was conducted among the employees of ten BFA municipalities responsible for the implementation of transport investments. Results – The analysis demonstrated that the projects aimed at improving the mobility and transport accessibility are undertaken by the majority of BFA municipalities. These activities are varied and adjusted to the needs of specific local government units, with a high share of funding for this type of undertakings. The undertaken investments focus, specifically on the development of the bicycle paths network and the road infrastructure. The implemented projects will not solve all the transport problems of the BFA, however they constitute an important element that ensures mainly the increase of the availability of Park & Ride and Bike & Ride infrastructure and municipal public transport services. Originality / value – The integrated territorial investment is a new instrument of the European Union cohesion policy. It is specifically dedicated for the functional urban areas. Hence it is a new research topic, the study of which will be important to determine the pros and cons of the new ITI instrument and its assessment in the development of cities and their functional areas.

Community-Led Local Development (CLLD)- A Tool for Implementing Regional Development Policies

In the current programming period of the EU Cohesion Policy, 2014-2020, two instruments have been introduced to implement territorial strategies based on economic and social cohesion: Community-led Local Development (CLLD) and Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI). These refer to all the funds covered by the Common Strategic Framework (European Regional Development Fund, European Social Fund, European Agricultural Fund for Regional Development, European Fisheries Fund and Cohesion Fund).

Management of the Kraków Functional Urban Area, in Poland, using a European Union Instrument: Integrated Territorial Investments

The objective of this paper is to analyse the ways in which one of the European Union’s Cohesion Policy instrument, i.e. the Integrated Territorial Investment (the ITI), can be used, with specific reference to the example of the Krakow Functional Urban Area (the KFUA). ITI is an instrument of EU policy and was introduced during the 2014–2020 program period. It was designed to promote the development of functional areas, especially on a metropolitan scale, and to strengthen the co-operation ability of local entities. Research design: The reasoning utilised in this article uses participant observation as the primary research method. The complimentary analytical methods are desk research of documents, written questionnaires and individual direct interviews. It is important to underline the direct involvement of the author in the preparation of the ITI Strategy for the KFUA, participative workshops concerning the introduction of ITIs, and expert reports commissioned by the Krakow Metropolis Association (the KMA). The findings enable one to clarify mechanisms disclosed in the national scale with specific features also present in the KFUA. The first part of this paper includes a brief review of the literature concerning the nature of the metropolitan scale, management of the development of functional urban areas, and deliberation procedures. In the second part, the author presents the results of his qualitative research revealing the way an instrument of ITI is implemented by the KMA. Tools used by the KMA, taking into consideration juridical and cultural conditioning, demonstrate how the ITI instrument can become, beyond financial support for communities, a real creator of a co-operative ecosystem of entities. The added value is to show that the ITI instrument, despite some bureaucratic sluggishness, can be, thanks to understanding the essence of “metropolitan governance”, an approach which builds real territorial co-operation.