Table 6 Reviewing the propositions against the results of the multi-case analysis of three Belgian cities

P1

TCN membership positively influences the way(s) municipalities organise citizen participation

Membership to a TCN influences the way citizen participation is organised. The reason is not only to confirm local climate goals against the (inter-)national community but also to put citizen participation actual on the local policy agenda, with variation between cities (i.e., Leuven and Bruges taking a proactive stance)

P2

TCN membership positively influences initiator capacity among cities to enable citizen participation

Membership to a TCN has some indirect influence on improving initiator capacity to enable citizen participation. The three Belgian cities gained access to finance and knowledge by participating in networked arrangements or framework programmes though (i.e., Interreg 2 Seas, Horizon 2020)

P3

TCN membership positively influences goal setting for citizen participation

Membership of a TCN did influence municipalities to setting qualitative goals for citizen participation to a varying degree, with Leuven being the most obvious example, also addressing citizen participation in its local action plan

P4

TCN membership positively influences the involvement of different types of stakeholders in citizen participation

There is evidence that membership to a TCN directly influences the involvement of different types of stakeholders in city participation. However, this varies across cases with Leuven as the most striking example in a positive sense. Collaboration with other stakeholders (e.g., local governments, condominium associations and European partners) is sought to increase governing capacity (funding and knowledge mainly) and is to some varying degree linked to a TCN strategy

P5

TCN membership positively influences (the right) selection of citizen participation methods

TCN membership does not influence selection of participation methods. Following transposition from SECAPs into local action plans citizen participation is addressed by municipalities, but not in terms of method used. Selection of methods more takes place one EU funded projects commence, or when national government regulations dictate use of a certain method

P6

TCN membership positively influences the structure and planning of participation processes in cities

Membership to a TCN to a fairly moderate extent influences the structure and planning of participation processes. The case of Leuven presents an example of how this works out well