DeCrises

Translating the multi-level governance (MLG) framework across regions and actors is instrumental for the EU's successful, fair, and inclusive twin climate and digital transitions. The major objective of the DeCrises project is to identify theoretical and implementation gaps in the MLG model and put forward pathways to a just twin transition so as to effectively reduce existing inequalities and prevent the emergence of new ones.

One of the major challenges for the European Green Deal (EGD) is the necessity of a new, more engaging approach towards governing, where all level players, namely state, regional, and local governments, citizens, business companies, NGOs, etc., are involved. In addition, different policy responses that EU Member States demonstrate concerning digitalisation and green transition ask for the formation of an innovative MLG framework, cross-border collaboration, and coordinated strategies that are well-equipped to overcome possible future uncertainties and crises. To this end, the project will offer a renewed conceptualisation of MLG and assess the implementation of the Green Deal at national and local levels and how it is intertwined with the EU’s Digital Strategy. Moreover, it will examine how the EGD promotes citizen participation and deliberation, identify collaboration models between different actors, stakeholders, and regions, and suggest policy recommendations for a just twin transition that fosters democracy, inclusiveness, citizen participation, and responsible decision-making.

The significance of community-led social innovations (SI) as key enablers of national and international policy visions is frequently highlighted within the MLG literature but remains understudied, especially in the context of the twin transition. DeCrises is designed to test how community-led social innovation projects are weaved into the multi-level governance processes and propose a stable space for them in an MLG system by focusing on four cross-regional SI projects from Norway, Finland, Poland and Latvia and their impact and effectiveness on social development, cohesion, and inclusion in the national context. Furthermore, the project seeks to facilitate channels of collaboration and knowledge exchange between a diverse set of actors and explore ways to enhance shared ownership of policy instruments.

Funded by the European Union. Views and opinions expressed are however those of the author(s) only and do not necessarily reflect those of the European Union or the European Research Executive Agency. Neither the European Union nor the granting authority can be held responsible for them