Positioning the demonstration sites: macro-dynamics and governance in the Metropolitan areas

This report is part of Task 2.1 of the PROWD Project. The aim of this task is to assess the governance framework of the four metropolitan areas where the demonstration sites are located – Lisbon, Rome, Bucharest and Vilnius – and to develop a brief description of the of the governance structure and related competences in each area, examining their organization, competences and operation at various levels, including the regional, metropolitan, municipal and sub-municipal scales.
First, typical metropolitan governance structures will be synthesized, followed by an assessment of their main characteristics. Secondly, the main components of the metropolitan governance will be introduced, encapsulating elements such as afferent competences, forms of operation, financing schemes, multi-level relationships and democratic participation in decision-making processes.
The second part of the report presents the four metropolitan case studies in succession. For each area, the analysis explores its institutional framework and governance configuration, outlining the distinctive features that shape metropolitan management and planning. The focus is placed on identifying the organizational models, regulatory frameworks, and key instruments through which metropolitan development and spatial planning are implemented.
Beyond providing a descriptive overview, this report also seeks to position each metropolitan area within the broader PROWD framework, serving as a foundation for subsequent analytical tasks in WP2. Understanding governance structures is essential for interpreting how competences, decision-making, and policy instruments influence accessibility, service provision, and ultimately the capacity of each demonstration site to transition towards a localized, proximity-oriented urban model.
This deliverable contributes to the comparative perspective of PROWD by offering a cross-case understanding of how metropolitan governance mediates urban dynamics in diverse European contexts. The insights derived from this task will inform the rationale for demonstration site selection and support the co-design of transition pathways in later project stages (WP4), ensuring that local interventions are grounded in an informed understanding of governance realities.