Beate Caesar

Fast Track Networks in the European Union: a Comparison Between Concept and Practice Beate Caesar

This thesis sets out to analyze ?Fast Track Networks?, a special kind of city and regional networks and instrument of the European Commission. As there has been no scientific research about the current instrument of Fast Track Networks so far, this thesis fills this research gap. The aim is to find out the special features of Fast Track Networks in comparing them with the concept of city networks. As a basis for this comparison first a literature review of the two different concepts was conducted after which the concepts were compared. To find out if the special features of Fast Track Networks do not only exist in the concept but also in practice Fast Track Network members were polled with the help of a questionnaire. Additionally the European Commission was interviewed. The result of the comparison between the concept and practice of Fast Track Networks was that the special features of the concept can also be found in practice. However, not all Fast Track Networks fulfil all characteristics of the concept. To improve the concept of Fast Track Networks recommendations were given at the end.