Governing Territorial Development in the Western Balkans: Challenges and Prospects of Regional Cooperation (Advances in Spatial Science)

This book offers a multifaceted overview of the evolution of spatial development, governance and planning in the Western Balkans from an institutionalist perspective. Written by experts in the field, it features various regional and national studies covering topics such as regional and spatial planning, territorial development and governance, and regional and cross-border cooperation in the Western Balkans. Offering a wealth of national, regional and local insights on territorial cooperation, development and planning, this book will appeal to scholars in regional and spatial sciences and related fields alike. Foreword Preface Acknowledgements Contents Editors and Contributors Abbreviations List of Figures List of Tables 1 Introduction: The Western Balkans Between Continuity and Change Abstract 1.1 Introduction 1.2 The Western Balkans: A Region in Transition 1.3 Towards European Integration 1.4 What Role for Territorial Governance? 1.4.1 Persisting Challenges: Decentralisation, Sustainability, Participation 1.4.2 Towards Increasing Territorial Cooperation 1.5 A Roadmap for the Reader References Part I Main Challenges and Patterns of Change 2 Territorial Development and Governance in the Western Balkans Abstract 2.1 Introduction 2.2 Socio-economic and Territorial Development in the Western Balkan Region 2.2.1 From the Beginning of the Century Until 1989 2.2.2 The Transition Period 2.2.3 The Turbulent Path Towards the EU 2.3 Territorial Governance Between Path Dependency and International Influences 2.3.1 The Role of Local Path Dependency 2.3.2 The Influence of the EU Integration Process 2.3.3 The Influence of Other International Actors 2.4 Present and Future Territorial Development Challenges 2.5 Conclusions References 3 New European Regionalism: Regional Planning in the Ex-Yugoslavian Countries Abstract 3.1 Introduction 3.2 New European Regionalism and the Europeanisation of Spatial Planning and Territorial Governance 3.3 Development of Regional Planning in Former Yugoslavia 3.4 Regional Planning and Governance in the Transition Period Under the Umbrella of EU Integration 3.4.1 Regional Governance and Planning in Serbia 3.4.2 Regional Governance and Planning in Croatia 3.4.3 Regional Governance and Planning in Bosnia and Herzegovina 3.5 Between EU Aspirations and Lingering Effects of the Socialist Past 3.6 Conclusive Remarks References 4 The Challenge of Public Participation: Evidences from Albania and Kosovo Abstract 4.1 Introduction 4.2 Spatial Planning and Public Participation 4.3 Spatial Planning and Public Participation in Albania 4.3.1 Public Participation in Practice 4.4 Spatial Planning and Public Participation in Kosovo 4.4.1 Public Participation in Practice 4.5 Comparison Between Albania and Kosovo 4.6 Conclusions References Part II Spatial Planning and Territorial Governance in Motion 5 The Evolution and Consolidation of the Serbian Spatial Planning System Abstract 5.1 Introduction 5.2 Historical Development of Spatial Planning in Serbia 5.3 Main Documents of Spatial and Urban Planning 5.4 Spatial Planning Procedures and Plans Content 5.5 Implementation and Monitoring 5.6 Vertical and Horizontal Coordination and Spatial Planning Challenges 5.7 Main Spatial Planning Challenges in Serbia 5.8 Conclusive Remarks and Future Perspectives References 6 Spatial Planning and Territorial Governance in North Macedonia: From Socialist Yugoslavia to European Integration Abstract 6.1 Introduction 6.2 Spatial Planning and Territorial Governance in the Western Balkans: The Challenges of the Post-Socialist Transition 6.3 The Evolution of the Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning System of North Macedonia 6.3.1 Administrative and Territorial Subdivision 6.3.2 Planning Authorities in the Multi-level Governance System 6.3.3 Legislative Evolution and Instruments Produced at the Different Territorial Levels 6.4 The Evolution of Spatial Planning and Territorial Governance in North Macedonia in the Context of European Integration 6.4.1 The Period of Destabilisation and First European Initiatives 6.4.2 The Service-Driven Period and the Expansion of European Support 6.4.3 The Nominal Impacts and Discontinuous Effects of European Integration 6.5 Conclusive Remarks References 7 The Volatile Policy Framework of Spatial Planning in Montenegro: Will the Centre Hold? Abstract 7.1 Introduction 7.2 The History of Spatial Planning in Montenegro 7.3 Centralizing Tendencies in Spatial and Urban Planning 7.3.1 The 2008 Law on Spatial Planning and Construction 7.3.2 The 2017 Law on Spatial Planning and Construction 7.4 Main Implementation Challenges 7.5 Centralization of Spatial and Urban Planning: A Short-Lived Experiment or a Long-Term Solution? 7.6 Conclusion References 8 The Impact of the European Discourse on National Spatial Planning in Bulgaria and Serbia Abstract 8.1 Introduction 8.2 The Europeanisation of Spatial Planning Through Discursive Integration Dynamics 8.3 The Integration of Bulgaria and Serbia into the European Union 8.4 Understanding Europeanisation Through Discourse Analysis 8.5 Implementing the ESDP Objectives in Bulgaria and Serbia 8.5.1 Results of the Analysis of the National Concept for Spatial Development of the Republic of Bulgaria 8.5.2 Results of the Analysis of the Spatial Plan of the Republic of Serbia 2010–2020 8.6 Concluding Remarks and Future Perspective References 9 The Europeanisation of Spatial Planning in Albania: Opportunity or Threat? Abstract 9.1 Introduction 9.2 Europeanisation of Spatial Planning 9.3 The Albanian Spatial Planning System 9.4 Evidences of Europeanisation: The General National Plan 9.4.1 The Planning Process 9.4.2 The Influence of EU Directives 9.4.3 The Reference to EU Visions and Guidelines 9.5 Europeanisation: Opportunity or Constraint? 9.6 Conclusive Remarks References 10 Untangling Territorial Governance in Albania: Towards a Place-Based Approach? Abstract 10.1 Introduction 10.2 Why Territorial Governance Matters? 10.2.1 Territorial Governance Dimensions 10.3 Territorial Governance in Albania—Five Cases 10.3.1 A Place-Based Approach to Dealing with Informal Territorial Development 10.3.2 Territorial Planning and Development 10.3.3 Regional Development and Governance Processes 10.3.4 Place-Based Local Tourism Development 10.3.5 Ecosystem-Based Governance of Forests as Commons 10.4 Conclusive Remarks and Future Perspectives References 11 Integrating Coastal Zone Management into National Development Policies: The Case of Croatia Abstract 11.1 Introduction 11.2 Integrated Coastal Zone Management—Concepts and Tools 11.3 Coastal Zone Planning in the National Policy Arena 11.3.1 Digression: Management of Protected Areas 11.4 Assessing Progress in Coastal Zone Management—Lessons from the Literature 11.5 Concluding Remarks and Future Perspectives References 12 Urban Agglomeration Zagreb—Scenarios for the Future Abstract 12.1 Introduction 12.2 A Framework for Strategic Development Planning 12.2.1 Strategic Development Planning Theoretical Framework 12.3 Envisioning the Future of Territories and Scenario Planning 12.4 Urban Agglomeration Zagreb—A New Territorial Entity 12.4.1 Urban Development in Croatian Context 12.4.2 Scenario Planning Experiences in the Croatian Urban Planning Context 12.4.3 Urban Agglomeration Zagreb (UAZ) 12.5 Planning Scenarios for the Urban Agglomeration Zagreb Future 12.5.1 UAZ in Figures and Facts 12.5.2 From Statistical Figures and Facts to UAZ Future Scenarios 12.6 Conclusive Remarks and Future Perspectives Acknowledgements References Part III Episodes of Territorial Cooperation 13 Supranational Frameworks for Territorial Governance and Spatial Planning in the Western Balkans Abstract 13.1 Introduction 13.2 Contextual Background 13.3 Spatial Planning and Territorial Governance in the Western Balkans. A Comparative Overview 13.4 Cooperation Activities with Territorial Impact Within the Wester Balkans 13.5 Harmonisation Practices and Policy Transfer via Supranational Guideline Documents 13.6 Towards Coordination and Harmonisation as Basis for the Western Balkans Supranational Framework 13.7 Conclusions References 14 Cross-Border Cooperation and Adaptation to Climate Change in Western Balkans Danube Area 14.1 Introduction 14.2 Adaptation Process and European Strategies 14.3 Cross-Border Cooperation on Spatial Governance and Climate Change 14.4 Territorial, Regional and Intergovernmental Cooperation in the Field of Climate Change 14.5 Materials and Methods 14.6 National Strategies on Adaptation to Climate Change 14.6.1 Croatia 14.6.2 Hungary 14.6.3 Romania 14.6.4 Serbia 14.7 Discussion 14.8 Conclusions and Future Perspectives Acknowledgements References 15 The Role of Cross-Border Territorial Development. Evidences from Albania Abstract 15.1 Introduction 15.2 Border Regions and the Four Dimensions of Cross-Border Cooperation 15.3 European Territorial Cooperation 15.4 Forms and Tools of Cross-Border Cooperation in the Western Balkan Region 15.5 Evidence from Cross-Border Cooperation in Albania 15.6 Conclusive and Recommendations Remarks References 16 Towards the Territorialisation of EU Cohesion Policy? The Case of EUSAIR Abstract 16.1 Introduction 16.2 EU Macro-Regions: Concepts and Strategies 16.2.1 EU Macro-Regions, Regional Cooperation and the (Re)Scaling of Territorial Governance 16.2.2 EU Macro-Regional Strategies 16.3 The EU Strategy for the Adriatic–Ionian Region 16.3.1 Steps Towards Institutionalisation 16.3.2 Governance Structure 16.3.3 Objective and Priorities 16.3.4 The Role of EUSAIR Within EU Transnational Strategies and Programmes 16.4 The Influence of EUSAIR on Spatial Governance Configurations and on the EU Integration Processes 16.4.1 Towards Better Territorial Governance and Spatial Cohesion 16.4.2 Balancing Sectoral and Integrated Policy Approaches 16.4.3 Favouring Transnational and Cross-Border Cooperation 16.4.4 Triggering Europeanisation Episodes 16.5 Conclusive Remarks: What Future for EU Macro-Regional Strategies? References 17 Governing Territorial Development in the Western Balkans: Conclusive Remarks and Future Research Perspectives Abstract 17.1 Introduction 17.2 Socioeconomic Dynamics and Territorial Governance: Mutual Implications 17.2.1 Socioeconomic Dynamics and Trends 17.2.2 Institutional Implications and Influence on Territorial Governance 17.3 The Present and Future of Territorial Governance in the Western Balkans 17.3.1 Between Decentralization and Recentralization 17.3.2 Between Normative and Strategic Spatial Planning 17.3.3 Endo-Exogenesis of the Planning Discourse 17.4 What Challenges Remain to Be Faced 17.4.1 Lack of Inclusive Participatory Procedures 17.4.2 Need for Inclusive and More Transparent Governance Models 17.4.3 The Quest for Integration and Coordination 17.5 The Potential Added Value of Territorial Cooperation 17.6 Towards a Research Agenda References