Strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in central Europe

Programme 2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe

Date of latest update: 2025-10-08

Description

Description (EN):

The era of planning only within municipality walls is gone, the focus shifted to metropolitan areas (MAs), where development poles of regions lie. The metropolitan cooperation is addressing the need of diminishing barriers between urban and rural territories and tackles the challenge of cooperation of the city and its natural hinterland as one joint metropolitan area. In some parts of CE, the metropolitan cooperation and governance structure have a fragile position and there is a demand to strengthen it, set up clear procedures in decision making, reduce administrative and legal barriers to cooperate beyond administrative borders within the metropolitan area. The issues can be faced effectively only through the cooperation of municipalities. For this, systematic governance and cooperation in MAs need to be developed, but this situation is rare in CE. Yet there exist tools for strengthening MAs cooperation, applied individually by a few MAs. So, it is an opportunity for CE to share and innovate tools for integrated territorial development and turn this into systematic MAs´ cooperation. Thus, the goal of the project is to strengthen cooperation and governance in CE MAs through jointly enhancing specific met. tools. The project connects 8 MAs in CE, each using different tools: Integrated Territorial Investments, metropolitan institution, integrated territorial strategy, Metropolitan Master Plan, metropolitan indicator system etc. A deep analysis will enable efficient metropolitan tools to be identified, shared and tested. This is only possible through transnational learning, personal cooperation via study clusters. Final outputs – strategy and action plans will be developed to implement tools and enable transmitting knowledge across CE. The innovation lies in compiling all metropolitan tools, where the dimension of CE is new. For the authorities, the enhanced cooperation will help their needs within MAs to be better addressed, for citizens opportunity to engage.

Actual Achievements (EN):

The project successfully achieved some of its objectives resulting in the advancement of metropolitan cooperation and governance in Central Europe. Initially, the challenges specific to Central European metropolitan areas (MAs) were mapped, leading to the formulation of the Common Metropolitan Vision which outlines strengths and needs of MAs. Furthermore, partners identified and analysed 76 best tools and practices for strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance. In overall, the Common Metropolitan Vision and reports on best practices, have established a strategic framework for enhancing metropolitan cooperation and governance in the project partners metropolitan areas. Communication of project activities and outcomes have been robust, involving dissemination through social media, project website, newsletters and via Eurocities and METREX networks (e.g. seminars and conferences). This dissemination is crucial for spreading awareness and ensuring that all target groups know about the project's high-added value. Project activities fostered strong project partnership, with all partners contributing to it and providing feedback. It demonstrates the effectiveness of cooperation. The first phase of the project laid a solid foundation for the current one which focuses on capacity building via establishment of five study clusters. These clusters are based on above-mentioned best practices. This will ensure continued progress, mutual exchange of knowledge and engagement of all project stakeholders in the next phases of the project such as executing pilot actions, creating new solutions, strategy and action plans. The added value of cooperation is also evident through the dissemination efforts that go beyond project set-up (such as seminar with World bank etc.). In conclusion, the cooperation within the project consortium is on a high level thanks to all partners as they share their thorough knowledge within several project activities, contribute to all outcomes of the project by their inputs or feedback and they spread awareness about these outcomes. Therefore, together they are achieving the overall objective of the project. The mutual cooperation is beneficial for them, their stakeholders and Central European MAs. The MECOG-CE project successfully fulfils its specific objective of strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in Central Europe. Initially, partners identified and analysed 76 best tools and practices for strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance and the Common Metropolitan Vision (policy document) which outlines strengths and needs of metropolitan areas was formulated and broadly shared to policymakers to boost the role of metropolitan areas at the EU level. In the second phase of project, each project partner identified up to five tools or practices to study and implement, leading to the creation of five thematic study clusters. These clusters marked a strategic milestone in the project. Within these clusters, partners conducted in-depth learning, prepared work plans, and undertook study visits. This phase culminated in the joint development and implementation of five pilot actions, testing selected best practices across partner metropolitan areas. The pilot actions formed a crucial project phase, enabling partners to apply and evaluate new approaches. Based on the results, five tailored solutions were created by project consortium. The Metropolitan Research Institute developed a first version of Strategy for strengthening metropolitan cooperation and template for Action plans, integrating outputs from earlier phases of project and reflecting recommendations of all project partners. These strategic documents aim to further strengthen metropolitan governance. Communication efforts, including social media, newsletters, and engagement through Eurocities, METREX, and events like a World Bank seminar, have ensured broad dissemination of project outcomes. The high level of partner cooperation and mutual learning underpins the project’s success, delivering tangible benefits to all involved metropolitan areas and their stakeholders.

Project outputs: Common Vision for enhancing cooperation in Central European MAs (EN)
Project partners cooperation(EN)
Pilot actions based on the cooperation within study clusters(EN)
MECOG-CE Solutions (EN)
Strategy for strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in CE(EN)
Action plans for strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance (EN)
Website: https://www.interreg-central.eu/projects/mecog-ce/

Thematic information

Governance, partnership Regional planning and development

Priority: (VI-B_CE_4) Improving governance for cooperation in central Europe

Priority specific objective: ISO6.6. Other actions to support better cooperation governance (all strands)

Priority policy objective (Interreg specific objective): PO6 (ISO1) A better cooperation governance

Type of intervention: 171 Enhancing cooperation with partners both within and outside the Member State

Partners (9)

Lead Partner: Statutární město Brno

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 992293996

Partner’s ID if not PIC: CZ44992785

Address: Dominikánské náměstí, 60200 Brno, Czech Republic

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: https://www.brno.cz/uvodni-strana/

Total budget: EUR 339 500.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 271 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 67 900.00

Statutární město Ostrava

Name: Statutární město Ostrava

Department: Strategic development department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 997802626

Partner’s ID if not PIC: CZ00845451

Address: Prokešovo náměstí , 72930 Ostrava, Czech Republic

Department address: Prokešovo náměstí , 72930 Ostrava, Czech Republic

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.ostrava.cz

Total budget: EUR 182 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 145 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 36 400.00

Gemeinsame Landesplanung Berlin-Brandenburg

Name: Gemeinsame Landesplanung Berlin-Brandenburg

Partner’s ID if not PIC: DE273213130

Address: Henning-von-Tresckow-Str. , D-14467 Potsdam, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: http://www.gl.berlin-brandenburg.de

Total budget: EUR 259 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 207 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 51 800.00

Contractors:

Name: Thiemer&Ralf Steuerberater
VAT registration or tax identification number: 49/622/01334

Uniwersytet Śląski

Name: Uniwersytet Śląski

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999917614

Partner’s ID if not PIC: PL6340197134

Address: Bankowa, 40-007 Katowice, Poland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.us.edu.pl

Total budget: EUR 98 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 78 400.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 19 600.00

Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa

Name: Miasto Stołeczne Warszawa

Department: European Funds and Policy Development Department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 994575630

Partner’s ID if not PIC: PL5252248481

Address: Plac Bankowy , 00-950 Warsaw, Poland

Department address: Plac Defilad , 00-901 Warsaw, Poland

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.um.warszawa.pl

Total budget: EUR 154 000.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 123 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 30 800.00

Univerzita Karlova

Name: Univerzita Karlova

Department: Faculty of Science

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 999923434

Partner’s ID if not PIC: CZ00216208

Address: Ovocný trh , 116 36 Praha, Czech Republic

Department address: Albertov , 128 00 Praha, Czech Republic

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: https://cuni.cz/UKEN-1.html

Total budget: EUR 96 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 77 280.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 19 320.00

Verband Region Stuttgart

Name: Verband Region Stuttgart

Department: Planning Department

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 996747169

Partner’s ID if not PIC: 99002/05561 | Tax number of VRS (EN)

Address: Kronenstraße , 70174 Stuttgart, Germany

Department address: Kronenstraße , 70174 Stuttgart, Germany

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Regional public authority

Website: https://www.region-stuttgart.org/

Total budget: EUR 242 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 193 760.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 48 440.00

Városkutatás Kft.

Name: Városkutatás Kft.

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 997940851

Partner’s ID if not PIC: HU10303744

Address: Lónyay, 1093 Budapest, Hungary

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Higher education and research organisations

Website: http://www.mri.hu

Total budget: EUR 116 200.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 92 960.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 23 240.00

Città Metropolitana di Torino

Name: Città Metropolitana di Torino

PIC (Participant Identification Code): 984058308

Partner’s ID if not PIC: IT01907990012

Address: C.so Inghilterra , 10138 Turin, Italy

Legal status: public

Organisation type: Local public authority

Website: http://www.cittametropolitana.torino.it/

Total budget: EUR 159 600.00

Partner’s programme co-financing: EUR 127 680.00

Partner’s programme co-financing rate: 80.00%

Partner contribution: EUR 31 920.00

Contractors:

Name: Poliedra Srl
VAT registration or tax identification number: 12787540017

Partners map

Partners and Projects info

City of Ostrava

Strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in central Europe

Partners and Projects info

Joint Spatial Planning Department Berlin Brandenburg

Strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in central Europe

Partners and Projects info

University of Silesia in Katowice

Strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in central Europe

Partners and Projects info

Warsaw Municipality

Strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in central Europe

Partners and Projects info

Charles University

Strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in central Europe

Partners and Projects info

Stuttgart Region Association

Strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in central Europe

Partners and Projects info

Metropolitan Research Institute

Strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in central Europe

Partners and Projects info

Turin Metropolitan City

Strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in central Europe

Partners and Projects info

City of Brno

Strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in central Europe

Lead partner

Project partner

Summary

Project name (EN): Strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in central Europe

Project acronym: MECOG-CE

Project ID: CE0100032

Project start date: 2023-04-01

Project end date: 2026-03-31

Project status: ongoing

Relevant linked projects:

URBACT II Joining forces (EN) | The project focuses on improving strategic and territorial planning within agglomerations and metropolitan areas. The project focal point wat to find the best tools to ensure effective administration within MAs. This information will be used in the analysis in Working package 1 - analysis of best tools/practices to strengthen metropolitan cooperation and governance. (EN), ESPON SPIMA (EN) | This project under the title Spatial Dynamics and Strategic Planning in Metropolitan Areas (known under the acronym SPIMA) deals with the delimitation of FUAs with the aim of finding the best solution for metropolitan planning (mainly strategic planning within MA). Ten different European metropolitan areas were included in the project (Oslo, Brno, Brussels, Lille, Lyon, Zurich, Prague, Vienna, Terrassa and Turin). The output from these analyses will be evaluated in the project - WP1. (EN), ESPON METRO (EN) | The aim of the project was to follow the relations between cohesion policy and metropolitan development. The project focused specifically on EU funded tools that could help to enhance the cooperation within MA (Integrated territorial investments (ITI), and metropolitan OPs and thematic OPs). The outcomes from the project will be delivered in WP1 - these EU funded tools shall be also analysed as tools for strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance. (EN), ROBUST HORIZON 2020 (EN) | The project focused on formal and Informal Governance Arrangements to Boost Sustainable and Inclusive Rural-Urban Synergies: An Analysis of the Metropolitan Area of Styria. The project presents best practice examples in promoting inter-communal cooperation by implementing the specific budget. This presents one of the tools to be shared within the WP1 analysis. (EN), ESPON TANGO (EN) | The ESPON TANGO (Territorial Approaches for New Governance) focused on multi-level governance within sectoral policies between different levels of public government (including metropolitan areas). They were searching for instruments in spatial planning systems for better territorial (even metropolitan) governance. These outcomes will be analysed in WP1 as examples of good governance. (EN)

Total budget/expenditure: EUR 1 647 100.00

Total EU funding (amount): EUR 1 317 680.00

Total EU funding (co-financing rate): 80.00%

Co-financing sources:

ERDF: Amount, EUR 1 317 680.00. Co-financing rate, 80.00%.

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

(bullets are inserted automatically and may be incorrectly placed)

Deliverables:

Identification of challenges specific for central European MAs.
Common metropolitan vision
Summary of existing tools/best practices at partners’ MA for enhancing metropolitan cooperation
Analysis of best practice outside partners’ regions
The status quo of metropolitan dimension in CE and its future development
Transfer of knowledge base via existing ICT solutions
Summary of the selected key tools and practices by each partner
Forming the study clusters and their methodology
Initial work set-up and time plan of the study clusters
Reports on study clusters outcomes
Report on pilot actions
Study on feasibility of transferring selected tools and best practices
Catalogue of newly developed solutions
Report on the development of the Strategy
Strategy for strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in CE
Overview of final action plans for MAs
Memorandum on future cooperation

Contribution to wider strategies and policies:

EuropeanGreenDeal MAs play a critical role in green transition as service centres, to their neighbouring municipalities and beyond. Thanks to the enhanced governance and cooperation of key players within MAs they will bring a significant contribution to reducing greenhouse gases; standardization of transport management in the MAs will have a significant impact on reducing CO2 emissions. MAs approach can balance out the fact that some municipalities will face more difficulties in coping with the transition needs.
TerritorialAgenda2030 The TA states that cooperation and networking, within and between cities and their surrounding areas in the same functional area, creates development perspectives that take all places into account, and promotes the need for urban-rural linkages. It highlights also the need for stronger urban-rural cooperation on selected policies. The TA calls for strengthening the territorial dimension – metropolitan cooperation is the key factor focusing on functional regions and integration beyond borders.
EUStrategyDanubeRegion The project contributes to the EUSDR in the 4th pillar Strengthening the region, priority area Institutional Capacity and Cooperation. The main contribution of the project lies in improving institutional capacities for efficient, effective administration. Learning more about ITI instrument on the other hand focus on better coordination of funding. Furthermore, the strengthening of metropolitan cooperation enhances the capacities of cities and surrounding municipalities to facilitate regional development.
EUStrategyAdriaticIonianRegion The project contributes to the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region in pillar 1: Blue Growth. The enhancing of metropolitan cooperation will also lead to the improving and enhancing administrative and institutional capacities in the MA that have maritime surrounding municipalities.
EUStrategyBalticSeaRegion The project contributes to EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region in two pillars – PA Spatial planning and PA Innovation. Metropolitan tools for strengthening metropolitan governance represents challenge-driven innovation that can strengthen and streamline territorial cohesion in the MAs. Thus, contributing to the objectives of the strategy.
EUStrategyAlpineRegion The project contributes to EU Strategy for the Alpine Region in cross-cutting Thematic Policy Area: Governance, Including institutional capacity. The actions plans focusing on strengthening metropolitan cooperation will improve cooperation and the coordination of actions following the EUSALP strategy objective improving cooperation and the coordination of action in the Alpine Region.
Other The project also reflects the New Leipzig Charter and Urban Agenda for the EU, Rural vision 2040 or European Industrial Strategy. These policies are interconnected and call for integrated approaches within functional urban areas. By focusing on tools for strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance we are looking for practical implementation of these documents. The documents emphasize the strengthening of the role of MAs as one of the priorities for achieving a just and green Europe.

Programme Common Output Indicator:

RCO 116 - Jointly developed solutions, Measurement unit:
RCO 084 - Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects, Measurement unit:
RCO 083 - Strategies and action plans jointly developed, Measurement unit:
RCO 087 - Organisations cooperating across borders, Measurement unit:

Delivered output indicator(s):

(RCO83) Strategies and action plans jointly developed: 1.0
(RCO87) Organisations cooperating across borders: 15.0
(RCO84) Pilot actions developed jointly and implemented in projects : 5.0
(RCO116) Jointly developed solutions: 5.0

Programme Common Result Indicator:

RCR 084 - Organisations cooperating across borders after project completion, Measurement unit:
RCR 104 - Solutions taken up or up-scaled by organisations, Measurement unit:
RCR 079 - Joint strategies and action plans taken up by organisations, Measurement unit:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSBSR

EUSBSR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSBSR Degree of compliance:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSALP

EUSALP Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSALP Degree of compliance:

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSDR

Project part of European Union Macro-Regional or Sea Basin Strategy: EUSAIR

EUSAIR Priority (Policy) area / Horizontal action:

EUSAIR Degree of compliance:

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

Financing programme

2021 - 2027 Interreg VI-B Central Europe

Last month that data in keep.eu was retrieved from the Programme's website or received from the Programme

2025-10-08

No. of projects in keep.eu / Total no. of projects (% of projects in keep.eu)

100 / 100 (100%)

No. of project partnerships in keep.eu / Total no. of project partnerships (% of project partnerships in keep.eu)

1 013 / 1 011 (100.2%)

Notes on the data

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Strengthening metropolitan cooperation and governance in central Europe

Description

Thematic information

Partners (9)

Partners map

Summary

Investments, deliverables, policy contributions

Information regarding the data in keep.eu on the programme financing this project

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