One of the most compelling examples presented at the II International Forum of Agglomerations in Lviv was the experience of the Brno Metropolitan Area (BMA)—a model showing how communities can work together without creating a new administrative structure.
The Brno Metropolitan Area unites 184 municipalities with a population of approximately 732,000 people and covers an area of nearly 2,000 km². This is a dynamic functional territory shaped by natural suburbanization and daily commuter flows: over 70% of the economically active population from the surrounding communities travel to Brno for work every day.
Despite the absence of a formal institution, cooperation among the communities is organized through the Integrated Territorial Investments (ITI) instrument, which is coordinated by the Strategic Development Department of the City of Brno. This model enables the attraction of funding from various European funds to implement complex projects spanning transport, environment, education, energy efficiency, and the development of public spaces.
This is “soft governance” in action—a flexible form of management based not on law, but on trust, mutual benefit, and agreed-upon priorities. Decisions are made by the ITI Steering Committee, which includes municipalities, the region, business associations, innovation centers, academia, and non-governmental organizations.
Since 2013, the ITI has been used to implement over 230 integrated projects in Brno, totaling approximately €330 million. These include the modernization of the Zvonařka transport hub, a tram line to the university campus, the revitalization of 23 km of rivers, the expansion of the cycling network, and the transition to modern heating networks.
Today, Brno is not only a participant in EU programs but also a member of international networks like METREX and Eurocities. It actively collaborates with the other 13 metropolitan areas in the Czech Republic and advocates for the creation of a national platform for the coordination of such territories.
Brno demonstrates that even without a formal metropolitan status, sustainable development can be achieved through trust, coordinated strategies, and the effective use of EU instruments. It is a tangible example of how cities and communities can work together—efficiently, practically, and without unnecessary bureaucracy.
