“It’s a Journey” - A Qualitative Case Study of How Local Municipalities in Skåne Mobilise towards EU Opportunities

Abstract: This thesis aims to explore and provide answer to how local municipalities in Skåne mobilise towards EU opportunities following a reorganisation of the state which has shifted responsibilities closer to an empowered subnational level, honouring the EU principles of subsidiarity and partnership. Using a case study design and a method of semi-structured interviews the thesis identifies that internal municipal factors as well as regional factors must not impede mobilisation but rather shape differentiated strategies. The main findings include that local mobilisation is highly dependent on driven individuals and an ability to identify opportunities and match them with the own needs, further many of the strategies are found directly resource-based as the municipalities use strategic measures to answer to limited administrative capacities. The thesis concludes by answering to the theoretical ambition of building theory, constructing a typology of mobilisation types distinguishing six interconnected though specific strategies; ‘the coordinator’, the ‘expert help’, the ‘network approach’, the ‘strength in numbers’, the ‘sector specific and individualistic’, and finally, ‘proactive and integrated’ mobilisation.