National urban policy responses in the European Union: Towards a European urban policy?

some extent the investigation pays attention to this policy, as far as it is perceived to have
a major impact on cities.

Figure 1.2 A framework for national ’urban’ policy

(1) Pattern of
Economic and
Spatial Development

+

(2) Administrative and
Financial Framework

Urban Development

For an overview of national urban policy, all aspects are important. The national policy
should be examined in its unique context. In the national reports, that form the source of
information for this paper, the context and background for this policy is described. All
aspects together influence the state of the art concerning the challenges and priorities and
the national policy responses. In part 2 we will summarise, compare and and integrate -
as far as possible - the main results of the fifteen national case studies.

PART 2 SYNTHESIS OF NATIONAL URBAN POLICIES

2.1 Introduction

This second part synthesises the main features of the comparative investigation into
national urban policy in the European Union. In the fifteen national reports that contain
the ingredients for this synthesis the national urban policies have been discussed in the
context of the national spatial development pattern, the administrative and financial
framework and the urban issues and challenges perceived at the national level. A high
degree of urbanisation in the national spatial development can be an inducement to city-
or town-related policies from the national government. The administrative and financial
framework explains the ability of the local, regional and national government to respond
to urban problems. Another factor that plays a role is the national government’s
perception of urban issues and challenges. To some degree, these factors influence the
national urban policy as conducted in the member states. Next, this synthesis is concerned
with the national spatial development pattern in the member states, to follow it up by a

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