Urban Policies and Planning System Reform

The chapter analyzes the urban policy challenges faced by Mykolaiv during the conflict, focusing on three key areas: metropolitan governance, public participation, and planning innovations in view of European integration. Urban reconstruction is seen as an opportunity to go beyond traditional city boundaries and promote polycentric and regional development. While metropolitan governance in Europe has shown mixed results, decentralization in Ukraine has strengthened local resilience, although strategic planning remains underdeveloped. The importance of civic engagement in the process is emphasized, with flexible and digital approaches fostering co-design and local democracy. Mykolaiv has already experimented with innovative and inclusive planning methods. Lastly, the chapter explores post-war flexible planning tools that combine immediate reconstruction with long-term modernization, guiding the city towards the European Union.