Urban Governance Encounters Europeanization: the Case of the Community Initiative URBAN II in Bordeaux and Genoa

Abstract

By comparing the cases of Bordeaux and Genoa, this article shows how and why similar inputs from the European Union (EU) produce different sets of policy transformations within urban systems. Empirically, we focus on the common policy initiative URBAN II—promoted by the EU within its informal urban policy. To separate out similarities and differences we address two research questions: how do EU inputs from URBAN II produce coping and adjusting mechanisms at the level of cities? What is the character of the transformation eventually produced? The former question is about the mechanisms of Europeanization; the latter is about the nature of the process. To frame our analysis we draw on public policy analysis and institutional theory, particularly in terms of logics of action and causal mechanisms for change. Evidence from in-depth interviews and process tracing suggest that differences largely depend on past traditions and arrangements in the policy sector considered and on the strategic role of specific actors at the local level. Similarities reflect instead the common attempt of cities to promote their territory and the role of urban systems in the EU-wide policy making as well as the reaction to the constraints accompanying EU action at the urban level. In the conclusions, we show how our findings contribute to the field of Europeanization and propose avenues for future research.

Keywords:

• Cities
• Europeanization
• logics of action
• mechanisms
• public policy analysis
• urban governance

Acknowledgements

I would like to thank Prof. C. M. Radaelli for his tireless support and insightful comments. I also thank Prof. P. Le Galès at Sciences-Po Paris, for his suggestions on the redrafting of the previous version of this article.

Notes

Interviews were conducted in Brussels and Bordeaux and Genoa at different times after 2006, the year of the end of the EU programming period 2000–06.

Interview with Mr Enrico Da Molo, Director of ‘Società per Cornigliano’, formerly responsible for the programme URBAN II Genoa and Managing Director of ‘Genoa 2004’ s.r.l., May 2007, Genoa.

A unique ‘evaluation steering group’ was constituted at the central level for the evaluation of the URBAN II programmes in all the Italian cities taking part in this second edition.

URBACT: Programme supporting a European Network for the Exchange of Experience.

Interview carried out in the City Hall of Bordeaux, April 2007.

Interview with Mrs Paola Sciutto, technical assistant for the programme URBAN II, at the City Hall of Genoa (Sector urban planning and historical centre), May 2007.

Interview with Mr Serge Rodriguez, responsible for the Programme URBAN II at SGAR, April 2007.

Union for Popular Movement in Bordeaux and Socialist Party in Cenon and Floirac.

Interview with Mr Cristophe Rochard, Chief of the Project URBAN II-Unicités Bordeaux/Cenon/Floirac, April 2007.