Welcome to our guests from Slovakia!

Martin W. Kulild, senior advisor at The County Governor, og Fjordane Norwegian Constitution

– Established in 1814 – Separation of powers between the executive, legislative and judiciary – Constitutional monarchy, but since 1884 the King has had no personal powers in state matters – Prime Minister Erna Solberg (Conservative)

Norwegian Governance – The County Governor is the chief repre- sentative of the King and Government in the county – County

The County Governor of Sogn og Fjordane, Anne Karin – The county governor is the chief representative of the king and government in each county

Norway has a total area of 385,252 square kilometres and a population of 5,109,059 people (2014) Large couty, few people…

108 000 inhabitants 26 municipalities 800 → Førde 12 800 Long distances: • 3 Hrs •Solund 3,5 Hrs

Norwegian Governance – municipalities – Elected local government – 428 municipalities – Municipal responsibilities: . Primary education (ten years) . Kindergarten . Basic health and care services . Unemployment and social services . Zoning . Economic development . Municipal roads

Norwegian Governance – counties – Elected regional government – 19 counties – 269 000 citizens in average – County responsibilities: . Public transport . County roads . Secondary education (three years) . Regional culture . Regional economic development . Dental services

Norwegian Governance – county governors – Appointed by government – 17 county governors – County governor responsibilities: – Ensure that central government decisions and guidelines are implemented in the municipalities, through . Encouragement . Education . Supervision . Overturning decisions according to law

The office of the County Governor – A guardian of civil rights. – Review municipal decisions on behalf of citizens in matters regarding 1.Environmental protection, 2.Agriculture, 3.Health and social care services, 4.Family affairs, 5.Education and kindergarten, 6.Building and planning, 7.Emergency planning 8.Municipal law and finance.

Municipal administration

– Responsibility to supervise and advise municipalities on the law as it applies to municipal bodies. 1. General matters 2. Particular legal issues 3. Budgetary matters – The County Governor is also responsible for communicating the views of central government to the municipalities. Municipal finances

– Responsibility for 1.providing advice 2.guidance – On: • regulatory matters • municipal income • central government budgetary policy. How is municipals finansed ?

- Central government grants and - Income-tax is the major source of revenue

- Property tax

KOSTRA – (Municipality-State- Reporting) www.ssb.no/kostra The key figures provide information on: • economy, • schools, • health, • culture, • the environment, • social services, • public housing, • technical services and • transport and communication. Control and supervision by the County Gouvenor: • a responsibility under the law to supervise the overall economic and administrative management of the municipalities • to contribute to the general reporting from the municipalities to the central government authorities.

Register for Governmental Approval of Financial Obligations (ROBEK) – the Credibility of the Register • Information available at http://robek.dep.no is considered to be known by any co-contractor. • A co-contractor cannot plead ignorance based on being in good faith • Approval by the County Governor is needed for long-term renting and loans