Europeanisation and regionalisation: domestic changes and structural networks in Slovenia

Article abstract:

The paper offers an analytical framework for understanding the outcome of domestic changes in response to the processes of Europeanisation and regionalisation. It examines the impact of these processes on the role of subnational actors in Slovenia as an EU accession state. The analysis reveals the emergence of various types of networks as a result of the Europeanisation and regionalisation processes. First, the process of Europeanisation has led to the establishment of an administrative structural network. Second, both the process of Europeanisation and the process of regionalisation have stimulated co-operation among subnational actors. Third, the implementation of the project has exposed a multi-level policy network with the pivotal role of national actors and the Commission. Finally, this analysis finds that subnational actors are involved in the EU regional policy process in Slovenia, but they are not empowered. The main reason for this is the absence of self-governing, autonomous regions as political-administrative entities with their own budgets. The fragmentation of municipalities during the last decade has also led to a weak financial situation of municipalities, resulting in limited local budgets for public co-financing.