“That’s their problem isn’t it?” : Challenges for local authorities and third-sector organisations in the delivery of European Union funded urban regeneration initiatives

This paper presents the findings from the German part of a cross-national doctoral study on the benefits and challenges encountered by third sector organisations using URBAN II funding to deliver urban regeneration projects. The findings identify challenges around securing funding, managing organisational change, and joint working between third sector and public agencies. These challenges are then discussed with regard to the organisational capacity of third sector organisations, collaboration and the administration of European Union funding. The paper concludes with initial implications arising from the study findings for the implementation of European policy.