The idea of the project is to provide a specific, effective answer to the Scheme for Developing the Community Area, and especially to the three Political Options that refer directly to metropolitan areas. • To strengthen several large, global, economic integration areas in the EU. • To develop a more balanced, multi-central system for metropolitan regions and town networks. • Complementarity: to help strengthen and restore balance to urban structure throughout the territory by new methods, enabling towns and regions to complement each other and cooperate. Overall objective / Objectif général General objective: to provide effective, multi-central links between metropolitan areas, based on complementarity and cooperation, for balanced, sustainable development of European territory. Topic for cooperation: development of the territory on a metropolitan scale, based on an appropriate strategy, makes urban development more efficient. Moreover, in an interdependent European area, towns can add value to their policies while considering their position within an enlarged Europe. Expected results / Résultats attendus The expected results are: • A common understanding among regions and metropolitan areas of the potential of developing multi-central relations with each other, and identification of the main problems to be resolved and opportunities to be taken up. • Launch of a Framework for a multi-central metropolitan Europe and an associated Plan of Action. • Drafting of a Programme of representative, interregional networking activities among inter-regional partners to prove the feasibility and efficiency of a multi-central approach. In the longer term, PolyMETREXplus should contribute to more balanced and sustainable development of the EU territory— the objective of the Scheme for Developing the EU Area. Through the networking programme, the project should provide a context for efficient use of Structural Funds.