The report is based on eight case studies3 that were selected in an attempt to cover, as extensively as possible, a wide range of features that would suitably characterise the local and regional authorities in Europe. The eight case studies are: the Walloon Region (Belgium), the City of Achim (Germany), Central Region Denmark (Denmark), the Government of Catalonia (Spain), Greater Dunkirk Council (France), the Marshall's Office of the Wielkopolskie Region (Poland), Porto Municipality (Portugal), Harghita County Council (Romania). Each case study consists of interviews with three representatives of the local or regional authority and provides a presentation of different positions and viewpoints on the implementation of Europe 2020 and its impact on the local or regional levels. These viewpoints include a general policy-making perspective (higher level of governance/administration, e.g. policy officers, mayors, etc.), an initiative implementation perspective (lower level of governance/administration, e.g. project manager), and a stakeholder perspective (e.g. stakeholders, partners of the initiative). However, despite the attempt to select a good sample of the various features that are representative for the European Union's Member States (i.e. a balanced selection of small and large countries, countries with a "stable" and "unstable" budget situation, EU-15 and EU-12 countries, etc.), the report does not aspire to be all-inclusive or to encompass the whole range of situations in Europe. The two main goals of this study were (i) to provide an insight into the implementation of Europe 2020 answering a broad range of questions (e.g. presence of multi-level governance approach, impact of Europe 2020 on local and regional policies, funding, etc.), and (ii) to provide a draft questionnaire for the general overview survey to be carried out in early summer 2012 and whose outcome will feed into the 3rd CoR Monitoring Report on Europe 2020.
