The contribution of cities network to Europeanization process: the case of environmental policies

The paper considers the role of cities and transnational municipal networks (TMNs) in Europeanization process. In particular the Transnational Municipal Networks have been formed to facilitate municipalities in developing local strategy for implementing European policy. Looking the environmental problems/policies and the local capability to reduce the negative effect of climate change and greenhouse gas emission, Feldman says: “Networks performance have three vital functions in regard to environmental problems: (1) generating and diffusing information; (2) undertaking effective policy evaluation strategies; and (3) initiating local response efforts without waiting for national efforts” (both formal and informal)”. Bulkeley e Kern (2009) highlight how in the city and in the TMNs there are three dimensions of the Europeanization: first, top-down (vertical) Europeanization is the most obvious form because cities are increasingly affected by European regulations which they are required to implement; second, bottom-up (vertical) Europeanization has developed as a reaction to the increasing significance of EU initiatives for the local sphere, including the development of TMNs; third, horizontal Europeanization has become a common feature of local authorities’ interaction in the European multi-level system in which cities learn from one another when they jointly develop solutions for shared problems. Looking the EU Urban Agenda, also known as the “Pact of Amsterdam”, cities could be more involved with EU legislation, access to financing and knowledge sharing (air quality, circular economy, climate adaptation. Etc). Exploring territorial cooperation experience (URBACT programme in Italian context, Eurocities network, etc) the paper will analyze how the cooperation between the cities contributes and shapes the Europeanization process