Four macro-regional strategies have so far been adopted, the EU Strategy for the Baltic Sea Region, the EU Strategy for the Danube Region, the EU Strategy for the Adriatic and Ionian Region, and the EU Strategy for the Alpine Region. Macro-regional strategies can be seen as new international platforms that bring together cooperation and investment. They build upon existing initiatives such as the European Spatial Planning Perspective, Interreg, and numerous regional international platforms.

Cities such as Turku and Hamburg in the Baltic Sea Region, Izola in the Adriatic and Ionian or Vienna in the Danube Region have taken over the lead over policy areas within the respective macro-regional strategies. In addition to this, in order to be even more successful, MRS need to reach out to cities and regions, as well as other local actors. Moreover, the urban agenda has given an additional impetus to the implementation of policies where more than 70% of people in the EU live: in cities and agglomerations. In 2017, the Council of the EU has stressed[1] the paramount importance of the involvement of local authorities in the implementation of macro-regional strategies, highlighting that participating countries are invited to involve “regions, cities, agencies and institutions such as universities, private businesses and civil society, encouraging them to network, cooperate and participate in the implementation and development of macro-regional strategies.” The same applies to the opinion of the Committee of the Regions of December 2017, where the importance of “empowered local stakeholders” was emphasized.[2]