Paper Titles & Abstracts

Local authorities across Europe have long been engaged in transnational networking activity, co-operating with their counterparts across national borders. This brings several benefits, including sharing knowledge and best practice, access to EU-funding, raised profile and lobbying opportunities. Yet in an age of austerity and with pressures on local government to divert all resources into essential services, questions are being raised about the value of this activity and its effectiveness in realizing benefits, especially as transnational networking is a 'non-statutory' function. This paper assesses the effectiveness of local government networking in Europe. Using case studies of 14 local authorities in south-east England and northern France and based on interviews with 70 local officials and politicians, it highlights some of the difficulties local authorities face when engaging in transnational networking. Building on this, the paper makes a number suggestions aimed at local government for improving their engagement with transnational networking and thus the value and benefits gained from it. In focusing on the effectiveness of this networking activity this paper provides a deeper understanding into the workings and dynamics of networks that have come to characterize EU governance, while also highlighting the role of local actors who are often overlooked in wider European studies. By highlighting opportunities for improvement this paper has the potential to have an impact with practitioners themselves.