“The European project ‘METRO CASE: Collaboration Strategies and Comparative METROpolitan Improvements’ aims to transform the way metropolises plan, collaborate, and invest in urban development, from infrastructure to public services (education, health, utilities, transportation, etc.). Bringing together nine European partners, the project develops innovative models of metropolitan governance to address the complexity of decision-making and current challenges. In an increasingly interconnected European context, it contributes to creating governance solutions tailored to present and future needs, aiming to improve public policies through efficient, participatory, and data-driven coordination.
Activities include interregional exchanges among partners, study visits, local communities of practice, the development of a best practices handbook and common governance tools, as well as the improvement of metropolitan policy frameworks. The project also addresses the need to optimize EU investments in metropolitan areas by developing a shared vision of governance, identifying forms of cooperation, and improving strategic planning tools to support integrated territorial development.
In Romania, the development of metropolitan areas highlights the need for functional governance that ensures the coordination of strategies and policies regarding transportation, infrastructure, the environment, housing, and the economy. The lack thereof leads to urban development that is out of step with residents’ needs, fragmented public transportation, delayed or lost investments, and disparities in quality of life between the core city and peri-urban areas.
As part of the project, ADIZMB is developing Governance state of the art, an analysis sheet to inform metropolitan policies and projects:
- General Information: identifies the metropolitan area, the institutions involved, and the person in charge.
- Territorial Framework: presents data on area, population, density, number of localities, administrative structure, land use, and transportation networks.
- Socio-economic framework: includes indicators on demographics, education, employment, the economy, tourism, protected areas, and social infrastructure.
- Governance: describes the institutional structure, funding, responsibilities, decision-making process, and partnerships, as well as the level of cooperation.
- Public policies: identifies the relevant instruments, objectives, issues, expected changes, and the related context.”
Activities 2025
June 2025 – Project launch, Genoa, Italy
The ADIZMB delegation participated in project presentation sessions, thematic workshops, and study visits, focusing on examples of best practices in metropolitan planning and the coordination of public services. The meeting consolidated the project methodology and prepared for the implementation of activities at the local level.
October 2025 – First stakeholder meeting in Bucharest
ADIZMB organized a meeting dedicated to collaboration and identifying comparative solutions for improving public policies in the metropolitan area, bringing together authorities, experts, and local stakeholders.
November 2025 – Study visit, Gothenburg, Sweden
Participants analyzed European best practices in metropolitan governance, took part in workshops and study visits to deepen their understanding of multisectoral and multilevel models, and strengthened international partnerships and institutional capacity through networking and the exchange of experiences.
Impact for the Bucharest Metropolitan Area
Through METRO CASE, ADIZMB contributes to creating a coherent metropolitan governance framework that delivers tangible benefits for communities and administrations: integrated public transportation, reducing service fragmentation; efficient, strategically coordinated investments across the entire metropolitan area; urban development aligned with citizens’ needs; and a reduction in disparities in quality of life. The project also enables the identification of optimal forms of cooperation, the development of policies and strategic planning tools, and the promotion of a shared vision for metropolitan development. Interregional exchanges and study visits facilitate the transfer of best practices, adapted to the local context, contributing to the development of a replicable European model.
Duration: May 2025–July 2029;
Total budget: 1,939,616 euros;
ADIZMB budget: 198,200 euros;
Funding: project co-financed by the European Union through the Interreg Europe Program 2021–2027;
Partners: Municipality of Genoa (lead partner), Polytechnic University of Turin, City of Warsaw, Bucharest Metropolitan Area Inter-Municipal Development Association, Barcelona Metropolitan Area, Municipality of Skopje, Association of Local Authorities in the Gothenburg Region, Municipality of Tirana, METREX – Network of European Regions and Metropolitan Areas (advisory partner);
Associated policy authority: Ministry of Development, Public Works, and Administration.