The Role of Micro-Regional Cooperation in Spatial Planning. The Case of France

Annamária KOROM1
1 University of Szeged, Juhász  Gyula Faculty of Education, Department of Geography and Ecotourism, Szeged, HUNGARY
E-mail: korom.annamaria@jgypk.u-szeged.hu
Pages: 99-106

Abstract. Since the 1950s urban and rural areas have significantly changed in France. This trend made it clear that a new planning policy needed to be created, one that would be more flexible, less centralised and would be able to consider local characteristics to a greater extent. In this new policy various forms of cooperation between communes (municipalities) played a key role. The present study aims at analysing the relevant legislation and scientific literature in the field to argue for the integration of the forms, frameworks and role of cooperation in the planning process at the local level. We presented the beginnings of micro-regional cooperation, the reasons that led to starting these cooperation relationships and the three law packages that intended to simplify and standardise the established and rather complicated networks. As part of this process and in accordance with their main objectives we elaborated the competences they specified and highlighted their influence on micro-regional cooperation. Micro-regional cooperation had to cope with many difficulties in France too, but at the same time it also facilitated the establishment of a more coordinated and integrated development policy, decisive elements of which are the legislative background that strengthens the endogenous processes, the solidarity of communes to one another and their willingness to cooperate.

K e y w o r d s:  France, inter-communal cooperation, micro-region, regional development, spatial planning