Hubert Heinelt is Professor for Comparative Public Policy, Public Administration and Urban Studies at the Institute of Political Science, Darmstadt University of Technology. Xavier Bertrana is the Head of the Centre for Local Innovation at the Diputació de Barcelona and Researcher at the University of Barcelona.

'A readable and informative book, particularly useful for those interested in decentralisation multi-level governance and local government reform issues. This book's originalities lie in the comparability it allows and in the comprehensive information it provides about one intermediate tier of government that - despite its relevance - has been discussed less. The book is geared both for political actors directly involved in similar debates as well as scholars.' - Filipe Teles, University of Aveiro, 2013

• 1. Introduction Hubert Heinelt and Xavier Bertrana 2. Belgium Tony Valcke, Herwig Reynaert and Kristof Steyvers 3. Denmark Poul Erik Mouritzen 4. France Emmanuel Négrier and Fabien Nicolas 5. The United Kingdom Steve Martin 6. Germany Hubert Heinelt and Björn Egner 7. Greece Nikos Hlepas and Panagoitis Getimis 8. Hungary Gabor Soos 9. Italy Carlo Bachetti 10. Poland Pawel Swianiewicz 11. Romania Cristina Stănuş and Daniel Pop 12. Spain Xavier Bertrana, Marina Espinosa, Jaume Magre 13. Sweden Henry Bäck 14. The Netherlands Ger Arendsen 15. Turkey Korel Göymen 16. Conclusions Xavier Bertrana and Hubert Heinelt

Hubert Heinelt is Professor for Comparative Public Policy, Public Administration and Urban Studies at the Institute of Political Science, Darmstadt University of Technology. Xavier Bertrana is the Head of the Centre for Local Innovation at the Diputació de Barcelona and Researcher at the University of Barcelona.

'A readable and informative book, particularly useful for those interested in decentralisation multi-level governance and local government reform issues. This book's originalities lie in the comparability it allows and in the comprehensive information it provides about one intermediate tier of government that - despite its relevance - has been discussed less. The book is geared both for political actors directly involved in similar debates as well as scholars.' - Filipe Teles, University of Aveiro, 2013

• 1. Introduction Hubert Heinelt and Xavier Bertrana 2. Belgium Tony Valcke, Herwig Reynaert and Kristof Steyvers 3. Denmark Poul Erik Mouritzen 4. France Emmanuel Négrier and Fabien Nicolas 5. The United Kingdom Steve Martin 6. Germany Hubert Heinelt and Björn Egner 7. Greece Nikos Hlepas and Panagoitis Getimis 8. Hungary Gabor Soos 9. Italy Carlo Bachetti 10. Poland Pawel Swianiewicz 11. Romania Cristina Stănuş and Daniel Pop 12. Spain Xavier Bertrana, Marina Espinosa, Jaume Magre 13. Sweden Henry Bäck 14. The Netherlands Ger Arendsen 15. Turkey Korel Göymen 16. Conclusions Xavier Bertrana and Hubert Heinelt

Hubert Heinelt is Professor for Comparative Public Policy, Public Administration and Urban Studies at the Institute of Political Science, Darmstadt University of Technology. Xavier Bertrana is the Head of the Centre for Local Innovation at the Diputació de Barcelona and Researcher at the University of Barcelona.

'A readable and informative book, particularly useful for those interested in decentralisation multi-level governance and local government reform issues. This book's originalities lie in the comparability it allows and in the comprehensive information it provides about one intermediate tier of government that - despite its relevance - has been discussed less. The book is geared both for political actors directly involved in similar debates as well as scholars.' - Filipe Teles, University of Aveiro, 2013

• 1. Introduction Hubert Heinelt and Xavier Bertrana 2. Belgium Tony Valcke, Herwig Reynaert and Kristof Steyvers 3. Denmark Poul Erik Mouritzen 4. France Emmanuel Négrier and Fabien Nicolas 5. The United Kingdom Steve Martin 6. Germany Hubert Heinelt and Björn Egner 7. Greece Nikos Hlepas and Panagoitis Getimis 8. Hungary Gabor Soos 9. Italy Carlo Bachetti 10. Poland Pawel Swianiewicz 11. Romania Cristina Stănuş and Daniel Pop 12. Spain Xavier Bertrana, Marina Espinosa, Jaume Magre 13. Sweden Henry Bäck 14. The Netherlands Ger Arendsen 15. Turkey Korel Göymen 16. Conclusions Xavier Bertrana and Hubert Heinelt