Multilevel governance and the role of Regional Development Agencies in territorial and rural development

The present paper highlights the key features of three European experiences regarding the role and institutional establishment of regional agencies for territorial and rural development. All three countries – Italy, England and France – offer different experiences and perspectives. Whereas for the English and French cases the paper focuses on the power of the central government at regional and local levels, in the Italian case the paper offers a detailed analysis of players, entities, tools and instruments related to regional agencies. Clearly, this paper should not be taken as an exhaustive analysis of the European situation, but rather as an attempt to contribute to the discussion over the multifaceted dimensions of multilevel governance