Kommunal och regional lobbying i Bryssel

Mot nya former av governance?

Abstract

This chapter explores how subnational lobbying activities in Brussels places demands on institutional adaptation processes, both vertically and horizontally. In a discourse of increased global competition, regions have become strategically important. To be innovative and ‘smart’ in order to be attractive partners is an expectation. The chapter argues that greater responsibility over regional develop- ment has increased opportunities to maneuver in a multilevel context for subna- tional actors. However, it is how subnational actors chose to exploit this opportunity that determines whether new forms of governance will appear. Empirically, the chapter demonstrates how the City of Gothenburg European Office has adapted its lobbying activities towards more systematic and continuous actions (over time and space) in order to pursue their political priorities. The chapter concludes that we need to adopt a behaviouralist approach to subnational actors activities (horizontally and vertically) if we want to explore whether new forms of subnational governance are developed.