Towards a metropolitan agenda in the new programming

In early 2006, the national programming document for 2007-13 (the National Strategic Reference Framework: NSRF) established a national priority for Competitiveness and attractiveness of the cities and the urban systems that identified metropolitan areas as the main unit for urban development programs financed with EU and national grants within regional policies. This strategic shift is relevant, because it provides with a real window of opportunity for policy innovation.