İş Birliğinin ve Koordinasyonun Geliştirilmesi Yoluyla Yeni Bir Teritoryal Ölçek? Avrupa Birliği’nin Makro Bölgesel Stratejisi

Abstract

The macro-regional strategy (MRS) of the European Union (EU) is widely acknowledged as a soft form of governance. To this view, the identified macro-regions (MRs) are loosely demarcated regions, the governance of which hinges on the informal coordination and flexible involvement of actors. However, it is also stated that MRs have the potential to solidify. Nevertheless, how this solidification may be handled in integrity has not been addressed in studies on MRS. This study proposes an integrated framework for this matter. Considering that the scale is configured and reconfigured, MRS offers a new governance level that has territorial dimensions in certain respects. It delineates a macro-regional scale with the aim of promoting the autonomy and ability of the identified MRs to produce policies. In this regard, the results of the study suggest that MRS may introduce a new territorial scale on the basis of three variables that are delimitation, place-based governance, and territorialisation of policymaking.