Metropolitan governance in the European Union. A classification of existing institutional models

The proposed contribution draws on the results of the ESPON METRO and COMPASS projects (ESPON 2018, 2021). First, the paper surveys the various institutional models established in the European Union (EU) countries to handle metropolitan governance. Then, it develops a classification pivoted around four variables: (i) the governance model, (ii) the degree of correspondence between the geographical scope of the institutional action and the actual functional phenomena and (iii) the spatial development and planning competences provided to the institution and (iv) the types of instruments they adopt to practice those competences. The results of the analysis constitute a preliminary compass to navigate metropolitan governance in the EU, as well as to reflect on the pros and cons of the institutional models in place in the different contexts.https://proceedings.aesop-planning.eu/index.php/aesopro/article/view/1293