Open AccessForms, areas, and spatial characteristics of intermunicipal cooperation in the Ljubljana Urban Region
Author(s) -
Petra Rus,
Janez Nared,
Štefan Bojnec
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
acta geographica slovenica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.473
H-Index - 20
eISSN - 1581-8314
pISSN - 1581-6613
DOI - 10.3986/ags.4830
Subject(s) - joint (building) , tourism , general partnership , incentive , legislation , business , environmental planning , regional science , administration (probate law) , transport engineering , geography , finance , political science , economics , civil engineering , engineering , archaeology , law , microeconomics
This article studies the strength, forms, and areas of intermunicipal cooperation, and their advantages, disadvantages, and spatial characteristics based on the example of the Ljubljana urban region. Surveys, interviews, data analysis of joint administration and joint companies, and analysis of joint development projects show that cooperation in joint municipal administration is limited to parking authorities and the intermunicipal inspectorate, joint companies dealing with communal infrastructure and traffic, and joint projects mainly focusing on economic infrastructure, tourism, mobility, spatial and development planning, and applying for EU projects. The areas of former municipalities, the municipalities in Ljubljana Marsh Nature Park, and the municipalities that are part of the Development Partnership of the Center of Slovenia connect more often than other areas. The advantages of cooperation include better opportunities for EU funding, economizing, and joint representation of municipal interests, whereas disadvantages include problems with coordinating funding and a lengthy coordination period, which is additionally hindered by unsuitable legislation and a lack of financial incentives, human resources, time, and ideas.