There are significant differences in regional development policies within the Danube Region. The lack of capacity to apply, adapt, implement and develop integrated urban and regional development policies is well identified, as the level of local and civil participation is significantly below the ideal. It is particularly true for the development of functional urban areas (FUAs) based on real linkages and recognised interdependencies.
Urban centres and the smaller settlements in their catchment area form a functionally cohesive system in which daily and less frequent commuting (for work, services, school, trade), the allocation of functions, overlapping supply systems, relocation and economic links connect the individual components of the system. Both the town and the countryside have their own distinctive characteristics and specificities, which, through their specific functions and mutual cooperation, can contribute to improving the quality of life in the whole functional urban area.
Although policies encouraging mutual cooperation between territories have been developed across Europe (e.g., focusing on urban-rural, centrum – catchment area relations), governance methodologies as well as strong institutional cooperation in many partner countries of the Danube Region are incomplete or characterised by delayed joint development of functionally connected territorial units. Moreover, the links within FUAs typically have cross-border characteristics in border areas, although they rarely form a common administrative unit. There is also a need to improve the level of digitisation that supports the collaborative thinking and decision making required in this area.
The FUNDA project aims to enhance coherent governance in Functional Urban Areas across the Danube macroregion by testing FUA-specific solutions with digital and soft tools in pilot areas — focusing on public services, green infrastructure, and the economic environment — while promoting transnational collaboration of engaged cities and stakeholders through the FUA-NET model network.
