FUNDA

Summary

The Danube Region faces notable discrepancies in regional development policies, characterized by a deficiency in implementing integrated urban and regional development strategies due to inadequate local and civil participation. This gap is particularly pronounced in the development of functional urban areas (FUAs) based on genuine linkages and interdependencies among urban centers and smaller settlements.

Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) are territories located around a city or urban centre and linked to this central area through economic, social and cultural links. These areas form a functional unit, as people living there share infrastructure, services and economic activities, while commuting to the city centre and sharing labour markets. Key documents defining the concept of functional urban areas include ESPON research reports and studies, such as the ESPON Database and the ESPON Territorial Reference Handbook, and the OECD report Functional Urban Areas (FUAs) - A New Approach to Metropolitan Areas, which details the OECD methodology for defining functional urban areas.

FUAs, as networks of cities or towns with functional relationships extending beyond individual cities, present significant management opportunities in urban planning and development. Effective management strategies for FUAs entail networked cooperation, joint strategic planning, collaborative projects, utilization of funding opportunities, and communication and partnership building among participating cities and regions.

The absence of a common governance methodology for FUAs in the Danube Region underscores the importance of exchanging best practices and experiences among countries to foster joint thinking and knowledge sharing. Although cross-border links within FUAs are prevalent, they rarely culminate in a unified administrative unit.

To address these challenges, the FUNDA project aims to consolidate FUA delimitation methodologies, integrate good practices, and establish a monitoring system/data platform for successful FUA delineation and management in the Danube Region as well as to establish a governance methodology, which will be elaborated in the transnational strategy as joint solution for policy makers and local and regional actors for FUA management. With the establishment of the FUA-NET network, the results of the project are expected to have a long-term impact, by joining committed cities, FUAs and stakeholders.

9 out of 14 countries in the Danube Region are participating in the FUNDA project, with 11 financing partners and 10 ASPs, allowing for knowledge sharing between partner countries with different experiences in the field of functional urban area management.

Transnational cooperation is pivotal in addressing common challenges transcending national borders. In preparing the project, the partners identified three such key challenges and three pilot activities to address these.

Pilot activities within the project explore themes such as integrating human public services, green infrastructure, and business infrastructure into FUA management, culminating in an unprecedented, complex, multi-perspective management model applicable to the Danube Region.

Participatory planning -which will also play an important role in the pilot activities of the project- plays a crucial role in promoting social cohesion, conflict resolution, and democratic decision-making in FUAs by considering multiple perspectives and engaging various stakeholders.

Stakeholders at local, regional, national, and transnational levels stand to benefit from the project, with local authorities gaining insights into local challenges and opportunities, regional authorities broadening their understanding of FUA management, and national authorities enhancing their governance models. Sectoral agencies, infrastructure providers, and service providers can leverage project outcomes to improve their efficiency and collaboration. Furthermore, the involvement of interest groups, enterprises, business support organizations, and European Groupings of Territorial Cooperation (EGTCs) in participatory planning ensures diverse perspectives are considered, promoting sustainable and inclusive urban development in the Danube Region.

In conclusion, collaborative efforts and knowledge sharing are essential for effectively managing FUAs in the Danube Region, with transnational cooperation and participatory planning serving as vital tools in addressing complex urban challenges and fostering inclusive development. Through initiatives like the FUNDA project, stakeholders can work together to build resilient and prosperous urban-rural communities across borders.

Website: https://interreg-danube.eu/projects/funda

Partnership

Lead partner:

Lechner Non-profit Ltd (HU)

Project partners:

Facts and information

Programme: Interreg Danube Region Programme (DRP)
Project duration: 01/04/2025 – 30/09/2027 (30 months)
Total budget: €2.540.082,00
Total budget of the partner: €240.082,00

Project FUNDA is implemented within the frame of Interreg Danube Region Programme, co-funded by the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Hungarian State.

area development interreg danube network- pilot Projects running project Village-town-region

Projects

FUNDA

Responsible

Polgár Tibor

Aradszki Zsombor