ABSTRACT
This chapter delves into the intricate dynamics surrounding the development of public spaces in the Lisbon Metropolitan Area within the context of policy-making. It examines the goals, priorities, and planning tools that shape public interventions aimed at qualifying public spaces, highlighting the intricate interplay between public and private actors. Despite often being a secondary consideration in policy documents, public space emerges as a focal point in project funding and implementation, a phenomenon driven by European funding and soft planning initiatives. The chapter traces the role and evolution of EU-led policy initiatives and funding in enhancing public spaces. In conclusion, the chapter emphasises the transformative impact of metropolitan-scale collaboration facilitated by soft planning. Here, public space takes centre stage as a unifying element in urban policy, showcasing the potential for the development of a comprehensive and integrated vision for the metropolitan space.
