The Europeanization of regional policies: patterns of multi-level governance

The rise and integration of the regional level in the European Union (EU) m ulti-level system threatens to overload policy-making owing to a rising num ber of actors, levels and different institutional settings. Based on compar ative empirical research on different types of region (less developed regio ns vs. city-regions) in both France and Germany, it is argued that adjustme nts of both intergovernmental and regional structures lead to the developme nt of a multi-level framework in which dangers of overload and malfunctions can be successfully circumvented. Concerning the intergovernmental dimensi on of regional development policies, it is shown that the dynamic different iation of decision-making structures as well as a balanced mixture of diffe rent modes of governance (co-operative networks, hierarchy and competition) can provide viable escape routes from potential deadlock. However, process es of structuring multi-level governance depend to a considerable degree on the national institutional setting which may provide favourable conditions for processes of adaptation, but may also impede them.