Cities are becoming more prominent as key partners in policy formulation and implementation.
We see this in the EU. The “Technical Support Initiative” financial assistance managed by the EU’s Directorate-General for Reform (DG REFORM) is set to service multi-country projects in which there is a need for city involvement. The European Semester, the EU’s monitor for economic and social policies, has also increased its focus on cities, with its most recent iteration including more data on local government. We find the same emphasis on cities in the EU’s criteria for accession countries in the Balkans, which is requiring reforms of public administration meant to empower the local level.
