Local and Regional Governments in Europe Structures and Competences
State structure Currency Number of Capital city Population Vote Geographical size 1 sub-national governments MAP
Local and Regional Governments in Europe
CEMR
CEMR brings together more than 130,000 cities, towns and regions federated through 60 national associations from 42 European countries. It constitutes the most representative association of local and regional governments in Europe.
CEMR is also the European section of United Cities and Local Governments (UCLG), through which it represents European local and regional governments at international level. Our mission
CEMR promotes the construction of a united, peaceful and democratic Europe founded upon local self-government and respect for the principle of subsidiarity.
www.cemr.eu
@ccrecemr
2 2016 Edition Albania Austria Belgium Bosnia and Bulgaria Croatia Cyprus Czech Denmark Estonia Finland Former France Georgia unitary state federal state federal state Herzegovina unitary state unitary state unitary state Republic unitary state unitary state unitary state Yugoslav unitary state unitary state local: 61 local: 2,100 local: 589 federal state local: 265 local: 555 local: 380 unitary state local: 98 local: 213 local: 313 Republic of local: 36,658 local: 72 regional: 5 regional: 12 regional: 9 intermediate: 10 local: 145 regional: 21 € local: 6,258 € regional: 19 Macedonia intermediate: 99 € regional: 3 regional: 10 regional: 14 € unitary state regional: 16 local: 82 € € Germany federal state local: 11,313 intermediate: 295 regional: 16 € 129,472
towns
L L A H Greece
& cities N W O T unitary state Local local: 325 regional: 13 United & Regional € Acknowledgements Kingdom unitary state 1,401 Europe CEMR would like to thank the member associations who provinces local: 419 Hungary contributed to the finalisation of this publication, as well as regional: 4 & counties unitary state Caroline Cornil for the translation (www.corniltranslations. local: 3,201
com) and Aurore de Boncourt for the graphic design
L intermediate: 19
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S (www.auroredidit.com). Ukraine unitary state local: 10,885 Iceland Our special thanks to Luca Nizzola, Project Manager for intermediate: 488 401 unitary state the City of Geneva, for his input; and to the Secretariat regional: 25 regions local: 74 colleagues Carol, Marlies, Jaimie, and Jeremy, for their support and involvement.
Turkey Ireland unitary state unitary state Disclaimer local: 19,695 local: 126 regional: 3 5 states € While we strive with utmost care and concern to provide federal status accurate and timely information, we cannot exclude Switzerland the possibility of inadvertent factual or contextual federal state Israel inaccuracies, incompleteness or technical errors for which local: 2,324 5 states unitary state we apologise. Similarly, inaccuracies may result from regional: 26 compulsory voting local: 260 developments occurring after the editorial deadline. regional: 6 19 states All rights reserved. This material is copyrighted but may Sweden € Euro as currency be reproduced by any method without fee for educational Italy unitary state purposes, provided that the source is acknowledged. unitary state local: 290 Formal permission is required for all such uses. For copying local: 8,006 regional: 20 intermediate: 110 in other circumstances or for reproduction in other State structure Subdivision of government regional: 20 publications, prior written permission must be granted from the copyright owner. Spain federal state only local € unitary state unitary state local + intermediate or regional local: 8,176 local + intermediate + regional Kosovo* regional: 19 unitary state € local: 1,323 * See p.48 This publication was carried out by Irene Slovenia Slovakia Serbia Romania Portugal Poland Norway Netherlands Montenegro Moldova Malta Luxemburg Lithuania Latvia Martinez Marias, Trainee - Research and Studies unitary state unitary state unitary state unitary state unitary state unitary state unitary state unitary state unitary state unitary state unitary state unitary state unitary state unitary state local: 212 local: 2,930 local: 174 local: 3,181 local: 3,400 local: 2,497 local: 428 local: 390 local: 23 local: 1,679 local: 68 local: 105 local: 60 local: 119 and Statutory Affairs, coordinated by Nathalie € regional: 8 regional: 2 regional: 41 regional: 2 intermediate: 380 regional: 19 regional: 12 regional: 35 € € € regional: 5 Noupadja - Research and Studies Officer, and € € regional: 16 € € Pierre Vander Auwera - Communication Adviser. Foreword
60% of the decisions taken by our towns and regions are influenced by European legislation and almost 70% of public sector investments in Europe come from local and regional governments. These two figures alone show the increasingly important part local and regional governments play in the European economy and in the life of our citizens.
On the global level, the role of towns and regions is recognised as being a vital factor in the trans- formation of society to reach the goals set by the United Nations. Towns and regions come across as key players on topics such as climate change or international cooperation. They are also on the forefront of overcoming challenges Europe has to face: welcoming refugees, social and economic challenges…
Unfortunately, just when the role of towns and regions seems vital, their financial resources are put into question, and we have to constantly fight to defend their capacity to invest and manage local public services in the interests of their population.
“Structures and competences” is a regular publication of CEMR, it gives an up-to-date overview of European towns and regions. Since its last edition in 2012, the number of local entities in Europe has decreased by approximately 15%. Indeed, many reforms have been launched – more than ten – claiming to fight against the fragmentation of local governments and achieve economies of scale, taking the risk to lose proximity with citizens.
On the contrary, the number of regions has increased by approximately 10%. The majority of coun- tries now have a regional level (28, so 4 more than in 2012). This echoes a certain type of modelling of territorial organisation and the debates on regionalisation, inter-municipal cooperation, metro- polisation… as many initiatives more or less formal, more or less bottom-up, which reveal the need to associate public local policies to the right territory level. Finally, the competences dilution and their distribution between sector of governance calls for a stronger coordination according to the principle of governance in partnership advocated by CEMR.
We would like to thank CEMR’s member associations who contributed to this publication, which we are sure will, in turn, contribute to strengthening our understanding of local and regional structures in Europe.
Frédéric Vallier CEMR Secretary General
3 4 Contents
Albania 6 Austria 8 Belgium 10 Bosnia and Herzegovina 13 Bulgaria 15 Croatia 17 Cyprus 19 Czech Republic 21 Denmark 23 Estonia 25 Finland 26 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia 28 France 29 Georgia 31 Germany 33 Greece 35 Hungary 37 Iceland 39 Ireland 40 Israel 42 Italy 44 Kosovo 47 Latvia 49 Lithuania 51 Luxembourg 53 Malta 54 Moldova 55 Montenegro 58 Netherlands 59 Norway 61 Poland 63 Portugal 65 Romania 67 Serbia 69 Slovakia 71 Slovenia 73 Spain 75 Sweden 77 Switzerland 79 Turkey 81 Ukraine 83 United Kingdom 85
Notes 88
5 The Republic of Albania is a unitary state composed of municipalities (bashkia) - the basic level of local self-government, and the regions Albania (Qarku) - the second tier of local self-government.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Tirana Lek (ALL)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 3,185,000 non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 373 61 Geographical size REGIONAL 0 12 28,748 km²
Local level 61 municipalities (bashkia)
The municipal council (Këshilli The mayor has the right to ask the Competences Bashkiak) is the local authority’s municipal council to reconsider deliberative body. Its members are decisions, should he deem them The functions and competences of elected by direct universal suffrage for harmful to the community’s interest. municipalities in Albania are divided in a period of four years. The municipal two: the exclusive functions and the council, among others, is responsible Municipalities can be subdivided functions and powers delegated by for the approval of the local budget, into several administrative units that the central government institutions. the usufruct right of its property, the have traditional, historic, economic organisation and supervision of the and social ties. The territory of the Exclusive functions municipal administration, and local administrative units of a municipality, taxes. their name, and their creation shall be • Budget set forth in a law. The administrative • Public Infrastructure and Services The mayor (Kryetari) is the head of the units are comprised of towns (qytete) • Welfare Service executive body of the municipality and/or villages (fshatra). Towns may • Culture, Sports and Recreational and is elected by direct universal be divided into smaller units called Services suffrage for a four-year mandate. quarters or neighbourhoods (lagje). As • Environmental Protection The mayor of the municipality a rule, a quarter can be established in • Agriculture is entitled to three consecutive territories with over 20,000 residents. • Rural Development mandates and is also a member of A town’s division into quarters and • Public Forests and meadows the regional council. He/she approves its territory shall be approved upon • Nature and Biodiversity and implements municipal council a decision of the municipal council. • Local Economic Development decisions, guarantees that all the • Public defence and security local authority’s obligations are met, • Pre-school education and represents the commune or municipality vis-à-vis third parties.
6 The administrative unit (njësia discharged at the mayor’s discretion Delegated Functions and Powers administrative) is headed by the and reports to him. The structure and administrator (administrator). The the staff of the administrative unit is a • Pre-university education administrator is appointed and part of the municipal administration. • Public health • Social affairs • Protection of the environment
Regional level 12 regions (Qarku)
The regions have their own Each region may perform any functions which are developing and functions that are assigned to it by implementing regional policies and one or more municipalities within ensuring their harmonisation with the the region, according to an agreement national policies, as well as any other reached between the parties. Each exclusive function granted by law. region shall perform those functions delegated to it by the central government.
CEMR in Albania – Albanian Association of Municipalities (www.aam.org.al)
7 Austria is a federal state composed of municipalities (Gemeinden) Austria and regions (Länder).
State structure Capital city Currency federal Vienna Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 8,507,786 (1.7% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 2,357 2,100 Geographical size REGIONAL 9 9 83,879 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1995 18 12 of the Regions
Local level 2,100 municipalities (Gemeinden)
The municipal council (Gemeinderat) The mayor (Bürgermeister) is elected Competences is the deliberative body of the either by the municipal council or by municipality. Its members are elected direct universal suffrage, depending • Social services by direct universal suffrage based on the region, although the latter • Public order on the proportional representation method is the most common. The • Urban planning and land system for a five or six-year term mayor chairs the local administrative development depending on the region. The board and the municipal council. • Water municipal council appoints the • Sewage members of the local administrative • Roads and household refuse board. • Urban transport • Safety The local administrative board • Culture (Gemeindevorstand) is the municipality’s • Health executive body. It is composed of the mayor, his deputies and members from the different political parties, proportionally to the electoral results of each party.
8 Regional level 9 regions (Länder)
In Austria, regions have their own systems for the election of the Competences constitution as well as genuine regional government, depending on legislative power in certain areas of the region: the proportional system • Energy distribution relevance. (almost each party is represented • Law and order within the regional government) and • Health The regional parliament (Landtag) the majority system (not all parties • Sports and leisure is composed of members elected are represented within the regional • Environment by direct universal suffrage for a five government). • Transport or six-year term, depending on the region. It appoints the provincial The regional governor governor and government. Some of (Landeshauptmann) is elected by the region’s legislative competencies the regional parliament. He/she is in are exclusive to the regional level charge of the external representation while others are shared with the of the region and chairs regional national parliament. government sessions.
The regional government (Landesregierung) is the executive board of the region and is headed by the governor. There are two
CEMR in Austria - Austrian Association of Municipalities (www.gemeindebund.at) and Austrian Association of Cities and Towns (www.staedtebund.gv.at)
9 Belgium is a federal state composed of municipalities (gemeenten in Dutch and communes in French), provinces (provincies/provinces), regions (gewesten/regions) and communities Belgium (gemeenschappen/communautés).
State structure Capital city Currency federal Brussels Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 11,203,992 (2.2% EU) compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 589 589 Geographical size INTERMEDIATE 10 10 30,528 km² REGIONAL 3 3
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1958 21 12 of the Regions
Local level 589 municipalities
The municipal council (conseil of the day-to-day management of the Competences communal in French and gemeenteraad municipality. in Dutch) is elected by direct universal • Public order suffrage for a six-year term (next The mayor (bourgmestre/ • Registry office local elections in 2018). It is the burgemeester) chairs the college • Spatial and urban planning municipality’s legislative body and it of mayor and aldermen. He or she • Housing decides on local policy. can be nominated by the municipal • Water and sanitation council to chair it. In Flanders and • Environment The college of mayor and alderman in Brussels, he/she is appointed by • Waste management (collège des bourgmestre et échevins/ the regional government after a • Road management and mobility college van burgemeester en schepenen) nomination by the municipal council • Culture, sports and youth is composed of the mayor, his/her for a six-year mandate. In Wallonia, • Social policy aldermen and the president of the the mayor is directly elected by the • Local economy public centre for social welfare* . The population (by «earmarking»: the • Employment mayor and aldermen are elected by best score on the list with the largest • Education and from within the municipal council municipal majority), after which he/ • Local finance and taxation and also sit in the council. The college she is also appointed by the regional is the municipality’s executive body. government. The mayor is in charge It implements the decisions taken by of the municipal administration and the municipal council and is in charge heads the municipal police.
* See p.88
10 Intermediate level 10 provinces*
The provincial council (conseil for managing the province’s daily Competences provincial/ provincieraad) is the administration. deliberative body of the province. It • Cultural infrastructures is composed of councillors elected The governor of the province • Social infrastructures and policies by direct universal suffrage for a (gouverneur de la province/ • Environment six-year term, via the proportional provinciegouverneur) is the federal • Economy representation system (next provincial government’s commissioner (public • Transport elections in 2018). order, civil security, emergency • Housing planning) as well as the regional and The provincial authority (députation community commissioner. He/she provinciale in French, except in is a civil servant nominated by the Wallonia where it is called collège regional government. The governor provincial, and deputatie in Dutch) is participates in provincial authority the province’s governmental body and council sessions during which and holds legislative, executive and he/she has the right to speak. judicial powers. It is also responsible
Regional level 3 regions (Brussels-Capital, Flanders and Wallonia)
There is no hierarchy between the The regional government Competences federal, regional and community (Gouvernement régional or governments: they each have their Gouvernement wallon / bruxellois / • Spatial and urban planning own specific competences allocated Vlaamse regering) is the executive • Housing to them by the Belgian Constitution. body and is composed of regional • Agriculture The regions’ competences are ministers elected by the regional • Employment linked to the land (housing, parliament for a five-year mandate. • Environment agriculture, spatial planning, etc.), It is in charge of the implementation • International relations the communities’ competencies and sanctioning of orders or laws • External trade are more linked to the individual voted by the regional parliament. • Scientific research (education, health, culture, etc.), The regional government also has • Energy and the competences of the federal legislative power (right of initiative). • Transport government are those not explicitly • Local authorities attributed to regions or communities The minister-president (Ministre- by the Constitution. Président du Gouvernement régional or Ministre-Président du Gouvernement The regional parliament (Parlement wallon/bruxellois/Minister-president régional or Parlement wallon van de Vlaamse regering) is appointed et Parlement bruxellois/Vlaams among members of the regional Parlement) is the region’s legislative government for a period of five body. Its members are elected by years. He/she is responsible for the direct universal suffrage for five years coordination of policies led by the (next regional elections in 2019). The regional government, over which he/ parliament holds legislative powers, she presides. votes on the regional budget and monitors the regional government’s actions.
* See p.88
11 Community level 3 communities (Flemish-, French- and German-speaking)
The community parliament The Flemish community and the Competences (Parlement de la Communauté française Flanders region have merged. Flanders • Education and Parlament der Deutschsprachigen has thus one parliament (Vlaams • Culture Gemeinschaft/Vlaams Parlement) is the parlement) and one government • Social affairs legislative body of the community. It (Vlaamse regering), presided over by • Tourism is composed of members elected by the minister-president, all of which are • Sports universal suffrage for five years (next competent for both community and • International relations elections in 2019). The community regional matters. • Health parliament has legislative powers, • Assistance to citizens monitors the government of the For Brussels Region, the community community and votes the budget. competences are exercised by, on the one hand, the French and Flemish The government of the communities and, on the other hand, community (Gouvernement de la by the three community commissions Communauté française/Regierung (GGC/COCOM, COCOF and VGC). The der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaft common community commission /Vlaamse regering) is the executive (GCC/COCOM) regulates and body composed of ministers manages matters common to the two appointed by the parliament for five communities in the Brussels-Capital years. It also has legislative powers region and has recently been assigned (right of initiative). a large number of competences for matters such as health and assistance The minister-president (Ministre- to citizens, following the sixth State Président de la Communauté française/ reform. Ministerpräsident der Regierung der Deutschsprachigen Gemeinschaf/ Depending on the community, it’s the Minister-president van de Vlaamse COCOF (Commission communautaire regering) is appointed for a five- francophone for the French speaking year term among members of the community) and the VGC (Vlaamse government of the community over gemeenschapscommissie for the which he/she presides. He/she is Dutch speaking community) which responsible for the coordination are competent for the community of community policies led by the level. COCOF and VGC can form and government of the community. fund institutions or take initiatives within the scope of community responsibilities.
CEMR in Belgium – Union of Belgian Cities and Municipalities (www.uvcb-vbsg.be), Association of the City and the Municipalities of the Brussels-Capital Region (www.avcb-vsgb.be), Association of Flemish Cities and Municipalities (www.vvsg.be), Union of cities and municipalities of Wallonia (www.uvcw.be)
12 Bosnia and Herzegovina Bosnia and Herzegovina is a federal state divided into two entities the Republic of Srpska (RS) and the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (FBiH) and Brcko District, which has a special district status that falls outside the jurisdiction of the Republic of Srpska. The Republic of Srpska is composed of municipalities (opština) and the Federation BiH is composed of municipalities (općina) and cantons (kantoni).
State structure Capital city Currency federal Sarajevo Convertible Mark (BAM)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 3,825,000 non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 137 145 Geographical size REGIONAL 10 10 51,209 km²
Local level 57 municipalities and 7 cities in the Republic of Srpska, 74 municipalities and 6 cities in the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and Brcko District
Municipalities and cities (gradovi) are and temporary working bodies. Competences also called local self-government units City and municipalities are the key and are both executive and legislative The mayor (načelnik opština or općina providers of essential public and social authorities. in municipalities and gradonačelnik services. in cities) is the executive body of the The municipal assembly (skupština local authority. He/she is elected by • Economic development opštine or općinsko vijeće) is the local direct universal suffrage for a period • Spatial and urban planning authority’s decision and policy- of four years*. The mayor can put • Social care making body. It is composed of forward draft legislative proposals • Civil protection and defence members elected by direct universal to the municipal assembly. He/she • Environment suffrage for a period of four years. also implements local policy, has • Heating The municipal assembly notably responsibility for the execution of • Local roads adopts the municipal budget and the municipal budget and enforces • Sewage and solid waste disposal can appoint or dismiss members of national laws and regulations to be • Water the municipality or city’s permanent implemented at the local level. • Culture and tourism
* See p.88
13
companies, institutions and • Housing Cities and municipalities are other organisations so as to help • Pre-school encouraged by existing local manage, finance and improve local • Sports government laws to establish infrastructures and services. • School building maintenance • School bus transportation • Ambulance services • Health care supplies
Regional level 10 cantons (kanton or županija)
Cantons, which have their own The premier (premijer) is at the head regional government, are federal units of the canton. He/she is assisted in his/ within the entity of the Federation of her duties by a number of cantonal Bosnia and Herzegovina. ministries, agencies and services.
All cantons are ethnically mixed and thus have special laws so as to ensure equality amongst all citizens.
* See p.88
CEMR in Bosnia and Herzegovina - Association of Municipalities and Cities of the Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina (www.sogfbih.ba) and Association of municipalities and Towns of Republic of Srpska (www.alvrs.com)
14 Bulgaria is a unitary state with one level of local self-governance: Bulgaria the municipality (obshtina).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Sofia Bulgarian Lev (BGN)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 7,245,677 (1.4% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 264 265 Geographical size 111,002 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2007 17 12 of the Regions
Local level 265 municipalities (obshtina)
The municipality is Bulgaria’s only chairperson convenes the council Competences administrative and territorial level of meetings and guides the preparation local governance. It is an independent of these meetings. The chairperson • Management of municipal legal entity which owns property also coordinates the work of standing property, municipal companies and has responsibility for its own committees, assists councilors with and enterprises, municipal budget budget. The population lives in their activities and represents the and borrowing, and the municipal 5,600 settlements (naseleno myasto), Council before third parties. administration organised in 265 municipalities. The • Public safety* average number of settlements per The mayor (kmet) is the municipality’s • Education* municipality is 20. executive body. The mayor of the • Social and welfare services* municipality is elected by direct • Cultural activities* The municipal council (obchtinski universal suffrage based on a majority • Public works savet) is the municipality’s legislative system for a four-year term. His/her • Parks and recreation body and decides on local policy. role is to implement and manage the • Sports and leisure Its members are elected by direct policies of the municipal council, to • Water supply and sewage universal suffrage for a four-year represent the municipality and to • Tourism term. The municipal council elects a manage the municipal staff. • Household refuse collection chairperson from among its members • Spatial planning (between 11 and 61 councillors). The • Public transportation
* See p.88
15 The law requires three types of • The municipal mayor appoints • Maintenance and conservation administrative and territorial units mayor’s representatives in settlements of cultural, historical and within the municipalities: with a population below 100 (kmetski architectural monuments* namestnik). • Environmental protection* • Wards (gradski rayon) are territorial units in the three largest cities The term of all elected officials (population above 300,000). The ward (mayors and councilors) is four years. mayors are elected by direct universal suffrage. The wards have their own administration.
• The settlements, which are not cities, with a population of above 100, are called mayoralties (kmetstvo) and have elected mayors.
* See p.88
CEMR in Bulgaria - National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (www.projects-namrb.org)
16 Croatia is a unitary state composed of municipalities, towns and cities (grad), Croatia and counties (županija).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Zagreb Croatian Kuna (HRK)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 4,246,700 (0.8% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 556 555 Geographical size REGIONAL 21 21 56,594 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2013 11 9 of the Regions
Local level 428 municipalities, 127 towns and cities
Municipalities Competences of municipalities and towns Municipalities in Croatia are units of The municipal mayor (načelnik) is the local self-government with less than municipality’s executive body. He/she • Localities and housing 10,000 inhabitants. notably directs the activities of the • Regional and town planning administrative bodies and ensures • Child care The municipal council (općinsko that existing legislation is enforced. • Social welfare vijeće) is the municipality’s • Primary health care representative body. Members of • Education the municipal council are elected by • Culture direct universal suffrage for a period • Sports of four years. • Consumer protection • Fire prevention • Civil protection • Regional traffic
17 Towns and cities
Towns are units of local self- The mayor (gradonačelnik) is the Competence of cities government with more than 10,000 town/city’s executive body. He/she (on top of those also held inhabitants and cities are units of notably directs the activities of the by municipalities) local self-government with more than administrative bodies that ensure 35,000 inhabitants. In exceptional that existing legislation and laws are • Maintenance of public roads cases, when there are some special enforced. • Building and renting permits reasons (historic, economic, and geographic), a place may be defined as being a town /city even though it has fewer than 10,000 inhabitants. The city of Zagreb, the capital of Croatia, has the status of both a The town/city assembly (gradska city and a county, which means its skupština) is the town/city competencies are those of both local representative body. Members of the and regional authorities. town/city assembly are elected by direct universal suffrage for a period of four years.
Regional level 21 counties (županija)
There are a total of 21 counties, The county assembly (županijska Competences including the city of Zagreb, which skupština) is the county’s doubles as a county and as a city. representative body. The assembly • Education is composed of members elected by • Health services Counties are the primary territorial direct universal suffrage for a four-year • Regional and urban planning subdivision of Croatia. These regional term. The county assembly elects the • Economic development self-government units have a large county’s executive leadership and • Traffic and traffic infrastructure degree of autonomy. Croatia is decides on the yearly budget. • Maintenance of public roads currently undergoing a process of decentralisation of power from the The county prefect (župan) is the national level to the regional level. county’s executive body. He/she Thus, many administrative tasks are represents the county in external gradually being devolved to the affairs and presides over its executive counties. government.
CEMR in Croatia – Croatia (www.hrvzz.hr)
18 Cyprus is a unitary state composed of communities (koinotites) Cyprus and municipalities (dimoi)*.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Nicosia Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 858,000 (0.2% EU) compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 380 380 Geographical size 9,251 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2004 6 5 of the Regions
Local level 350 communities* (koinotites) and 30 municipalities (dimoi)
There are two different types of local authorities in Cyprus: communities in rural areas and municipalities in urban and tourism areas.
Communities Competences*
The community council (koinotiko The president (proedros) of the • Urban planning sumvoulio) is composed of members community is elected by direct • Protection of the environment elected by direct universal suffrage for universal suffrage for a period of • Water supply a five-year term. This legislative board five years and chairs the community • Land development is also composed of a president and a council. • Household refuse vice-president.
* See p.88
19 Municipalities
The municipal council (dimotiko The mayor (dimarchos) is the sumvoulio) is the municipality’s municipality’s executive leader deliberative assembly and is and is elected by direct universal composed of members elected by suffrage for a five-year mandate. He/ direct universal suffrage for five she represents the municipality in years. It is responsible for providing a court of law and before any state assistance and advice to the mayor authority. The mayor also supervises as regards the execution of his the municipality’s administration and duties. The municipal council also chairs the municipal council. sets up different committees within the municipality, including the management committee responsible for the preparation of the budget and other ad-hoc committees that provide technical, cultural, and environmental and personnel assistance.
CEMR in Cyprus - Union of Cyprus Municipalities (www.ucm.org.cy)
20 The Czech Republic is a unitary state composed of municipalities Czech Republic (obec) and regions (kraje).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Prague Czech Koruna (CZK)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 10,512,419 (2.1% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 6,250 6,258 Geographical size REGIONAL 14 14 78,867 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2004 21 12 of the Regions
Local level 6,258 municipalities (obec)
The municipal council (zastupitelstvo The mayor (starosta for smaller Competences obce) is the municipality's deliberative municipalities or towns and primátor assembly and is composed of for larger towns or cities) is elected by • Municipal budget members elected by direct universal and from within the municipal council • Local development suffrage for a four-year term. It for a four-year mandate. He/she • Agriculture and forest appoints the members of the heads the municipal committee and management municipal committee. administration, and represents the • Municipal police municipality. In municipalities with • Water supply and sewage The municipal committee (rada fewer than fifteen municipal council • Household refuse obce) is the executive body of the members, the executive authority is • Primary education municipality and is composed of ensured by the mayor. • Housing members elected by and from within • Social services the municipal council for a four-year The city of Prague, the capital of • Spatial planning term. The mayor and vice-mayors the Czech Republic, is divided into • Cooperation with other are also members of the committee, metropolitan districts, each made up municipalities and regions which can form specific commissions, of its own elected local council. The • Public transport such as a financial commission, city's local council is composed of cultural commission and commission members elected by direct universal for minorities. suffrage for a four-year term. Council members elect the mayor of the city as well as the members of its executive body, the municipal committee.
21 Regional level 14 regions (kraje)
The regional assembly (zastupitelstvo departments in charge of specific Competences kraje) is the region's deliberative body fields, such as social affairs, transport, and is composed of members elected spatial planning and environment. • Secondary education by direct universal suffrage for a four- • Road network year term. It controls the regional The president (hejtman) is elected • Social services budget and the subsidies granted to by and from within the regional • Environment municipalities. It can also submit draft assembly for a period of four years. • Transport legislation to the national chamber of He/she represents the region at the • Regional development deputies. local, national and international levels. • Health
The regional committee (rada kraje) The city of Prague is both a is the executive body of the region municipality and region with only one and is composed of the president, assembly and one board. vice-presidents and other members elected by and from within the regional assembly for four years. It is assisted by a regional authority (krajský urad), which is headed by a director and divided into several
CEMR in the Czech Republic - Union of Towns and Municipalities of the Czech Republic (www.smocr.cz)
22 Denmark is a unitary state composed of municipalities (kommuner) Denmark and regions (regioner).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Copenhagen Danish Krone (DKK)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 5,627,235 (1.1% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 98 98 Geographical size REGIONAL 5 5 42,921 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1973 13 9 of the Regions
Local level 98 municipalities* (kommuner) Competences
The municipal council four years. Permanent committees • Primary education, including (kommunalbestyrelsen or byrådet) assist the municipal council in special education for adults is composed of members elected the preparation of its decisions. • Childcare by direct universal suffrage for four The council is obliged to set up a • Care for the elderly years and by a system of proportional financial committee, but may also • Social services: total regulatory, representation. It is in charge of the set up special committees such as the supply and financing responsibility municipal budget, the running of local education, the employment, or the • Social psychiatry institutions and the adoption of local health and social affairs committees. • Health care preventive treatment, policies. care and rehabilitation, home care The municipal council also elects the and treatment of alcohol The executive committees mayor (borgmesteren) for four years. and drug abuse (kommunale udvalg) are in charge of He/she heads the municipality's • Integration of refugees local administration. The municipal administration as well as the and immigrants council appoints the members of the municipal council. • Environmental protection executive committees for a period of and waste management, water and preparation of local plans • Unemployed service • Assistance to the unemployed • Economic development • Culture and sports • Local business service * See p.88 and local tourism • Local roads
23 Regional level 5 regions* (regioner)
The regional council (regionsrådet) The chairman of the regional council Competences* is the region's deliberative body and (regionsrådsformanden) heads the is composed of members elected council and region's administration. • Health care by direct universal suffrage for a He/she is elected from among the • Hospital provision period of four years by a system of regional council's members and is • Health insurance proportional representation. It can assisted by deputies also elected by • Mental health treatment establish special committees, such as the council. • Social services and special the hospitals committee, the regional education development committee and the • Regional development sustainability committee, which can • Business promotion be assisted by dedicated secretariats. Danish regions and the Island of • Tourism The regional council also appoints its Bornholm are also in charge of a • Nature and environment chairman. regional growth forum, composed • Employment of representatives from the region, • Culture The executive committees (udvalg) municipalities, local trade and • Transport are composed of members elected by industry, knowledge institutions and • Soil pollution and from within the regional council the labour market. Their mission is to for four years. They oversee the foster optimal conditions for trade administration of the region and assist and industry in order to generate the regional council in the preparation growth and development. and implementation of its decisions. Greenland and the Faeroe Islands have an autonomous status. They both have their own government and legislative assembly*.
* See p.88
CEMR in Denmark - Local Government Denmark (www.kl.dk) and Danish Regions (www.regioner.dk)
24 Estonia is a unitary state Estonia composed of rural municipalities (vald) and cities (linn).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Tallinn Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 1,315,819 (0.3% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 226 213 Geographical size 45,227 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2004 6 6 of the Regions
Local level 183 rural municipalities (vald) and 30 cities (linn)
The municipal council (volikogu) is members appointed by the mayor, Competences the municipality’s legislative body following the council’s approval. and is composed of members, Members of the local government • Municipal budget whose number varies according to cannot sit on the municipal council. • Education the demographic size of the local • Social welfare authority, elected by direct universal The mayor (vallavanem in rural • Health services suffrage for four years. The municipal municipalities and linnapea in • Culture, leisure and sports council appoints and may dismiss the cities) is appointed by the municipal • Social housing council chair as well as the mayor. It council for a four-year term. He/she • Urban and rural planning is assisted in its work by sector-based is the representative of the local • Tourism commissions. government but cannot be the • Public transport municipal council chair. • Water supply, sewage, public The local government (valitsus) is lighting and central heating the municipality’s executive body. • Environment It is composed of the mayor and of • Waste collection and disposal • Road and cemetery maintenance • Local taxes
CEMR in Estonia - Association of Estonian Cities (www.ell.ee) and Association of Municipalities of Estonia (www.emovl.ee)
25 Finland is a unitary state composed of municipalities (kunta) Finland and regions (maakunnan liitto).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Helsinki Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 5,451,270 (1.1% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 336 313 Geographical size REGIONAL 2 18 338,435 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1995 13 9 of the Regions
Local level 313 municipalities (kunta)
The municipal council The mayor (kunnanjohtaja) is elected Competences (kunnanvaltuusto) is composed of by the municipal council for a members elected via a proportional fixed or indefinite term of office, • Health care (primary, secondary, representation system for a period as decided upon by the municipal and dental services) of four years. This deliberative body council. He/she is at the head of the • Social services (child day care, appoints the executive board and municipality's administration and services for the aged and the elects the mayor. prepares the decisions to be adopted disabled) by the executive board. The mayor • Education (pre-school, primary, The executive board (kunnanhallitus) can be appointed from amongst secondary, vocational training, is composed of members appointed the members of the council. As of adult education and libraries) by the municipal council. It is December 2015, two cities have done • Culture and leisure responsible for running the municipal so. • Sports administration and managing its • Territorial planning finances. The executive board is • Building and maintenance of assisted in its work by sector-specific technical infrastructure and committees. environment (roads, energy, water and sewage, waste, harbours and public transport) • Business and employment • Independent taxation rights and finances
26 Regional level 18 regional councils (maakunnanliitto)
The regional council is the region's Each regional council is Competences statutory joint municipal authority; governed by a regional assembly every local authority must be a (maakuntavaltuusto) and a regional • Regional development member of a regional council. board (maakuntahallitus) assisted by • Regional land use planning the council's office run by the director • International affairs of the regions of the council. The total number of • Promoting region’s interest staff of all offices is about 650 persons, • Responsibility for the EU's and the budgets about 50 million structural Fund Programmes and euros, or slightly less than 10 euros/ its implementation resident. • Protection and promotion of culture and regional traditions • Promote mental and economic well-being
Autonomous province the Åland Island The Åland Islands is an autonomous (lantråd). This provincial authority also Competences province. The autonomous has a legislative assembly (lagting), government (Landskapsstyrelse) whose members are elected by direct • Education is the province’s executive body, universal suffrage. • Culture presided over by a president • Police • Health care • Social affairs • Employment
CEMR in Finland - Association of Finnish Local and Regional Authorities (www.kunnat.net)
27 Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia The Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia is a unitary state composed of municipalities (opstina).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Skopje Denar (MKD)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 2,108,000 non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 85 82 Geographical size 25,713 km²
Local level 81 municipalities (opstina) and the capital city of Skopje
The local council (sovet na opstinata) The country's capital, the city of Competences is elected by direct universal suffrage Skopje, is a special unit of local for a period of four years. The number self–government made up of ten • Urban and spatial planning of municipal councillors is determined independent municipalities. The • Environment by law and depends on the capital's independent municipalities • Local economic development demographic size of the municipality. have individual competences, some • Water supply and treatment of which are shared with Skopje, • Road maintenance The mayor (gradonacalnik) is the and which set them apart from the • Culture municipality's executive body and is country's remaining 74 municipalities. • Sports and leisure elected by direct universal suffrage for Examples of these shared • Tourism a four-year mandate. He/she executes competences include property tax, • Social services decisions made by the municipal road maintenance, urban planning • Health care council and submits draft municipal and building permits. • Child care acts to the local council. The mayor • Elementary and secondary represents the municipality, acts on education its behalf and is responsible for the • Fire services organisation, performance and quality • Disaster protection and assistance of services of its administration. He/ she cannot be a local councillor at the same time as mayor.
CEMR in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia Association of the Units of Local Self-Government of the Republic of Macedonia (www.zels.org.mk)
28 France is a unitary state composed of municipalities (communes), France departments (départements) and regions (régions).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Paris Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 65,856,609 (13% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 36,700 36,658 Geographical size INTERMEDIATE 101 99 632,834 km² REGIONAL 27 16
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1958 74 24 of the Regions
Local level 36,658 municipalities
The municipal council (conseil Traditional competences municipal) is composed of councillors elected by direct universal suffrage Since 2015, the municipality is the • Registrar office functions • Organisation of elections on behalf for a six-year term. This deliberative only level of local government which of the State assembly is headed by the mayor. benefits from a general competence • Protection of local public order clause; they can intervene over and • Maintenance of municipal roads The mayor (maire) and his/her above their competences in all fields deputies represent the municipality's of local interest. executive branch. The mayor is elected Core decentralised competences by and from within the municipal Since 2014, all municipalities are council for a six-year mandate. He/ part of an intercommunal structure*. • Urban planning she is in charge of the municipal These structures have limited • Education: nursery and elementary administration and is assisted by a competences allocated to them by schools deputy or deputies. the municipalities. • Social action • Environment: water supply and The city of Paris is both a department sanitation and a municipality. • Culture • Sports
* See p.88
29 Intermediate level 96 departments and 3 overseas departments
The county council (conseil The president (président) of the Competences départemental) is the department's county council is the department's deliberative body. It is composed of executive authority. He/she is assisted • Social and health action: children, members elected by direct universal by a permanent committee which disabled people, seniors, social suffrage for a six-year term. The elects vice-presidents. assistance council elects its president among • Urban and equipment planning its members and is composed of The prefect (préfet) represents the • Education: colleges specialised committees. The county government within the department. • Culture and tourism councils can manage part of the He/she is in charge of maintaining • Safety: departmental fire European structural funds. public order and holds police powers, and emergency services providing him/her with the status of administrative police authority. The prefect is also in charge of monitoring the legality of the local authorities' actions.
Regional authorities 13 regions* and 3 overseas regions
The regional council (conseil régional) The prefect (préfet) of the region is Competences is the deliberative body of the region. also the prefect of the department It is composed of regional councillors in which the main city of the region • Economic development elected by direct universal suffrage for is located. He/she is responsible for • Territorial development and a six-year term. The regional council the services devolved to the regions planning elects its president from among its by the state. Other competences • Transport members. Since the adoption of include relaying the government's • Education: secondary schools the law of 27 January 2014, regional policy on major projects, monitoring • Job training programmes councils, instead of the state, can the legality and compliance of • Culture now manage part of the European budgetary acts, and preparing policies • Tourism structural funds. for the region's economic, social and territorial development. The permanent committee (commission permanente) is the Among the 13 regions, Corsica has a region’s deliberative body, which specific status and represents a self- assists the council in the execution governing authority with specific of some of its competences. The institutions. vice-presidents are members of the permanent commission. There are several types of overseas communities: The president (président) is elected • Overseas departments and regions from among the members of the (DOM and ROM) regional council for a six-year period. • Since December 2015, there are He/she is the region's executive two additional overseas territories, authority and is at the head of which combine the competences of the regional administration. The overseas departments and overseas president's functions are similar to local authorities those of the president of the county • Overseas communities council. • New Caledonia and the Territory of the French Southern and Antarctic Lands (TAAF)
* See p.88
CEMR in France - French Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (www.afccre.org)
30 Georgia is a unitary state composed of municipalities (minucipaliteti) Georgia and self-governing cities (tvitmmartveli qalaqebi).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Tbilisi Lari (GEL)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 4,323,000 non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 69 72 Geographical size 69,700 km²
Local level 60 municipalities (minucipaliteti) and 12 self-governing cities (tvitmmartveli qalaqebi)
The municipal or city assembly elections with 50% of electoral Competences (sakrebulo) is the local authority’s barrier threshold. The executive legislative deliberative body and branch is composed of the heads of • Municipal property is composed of members elected several structural and territorial units • Municipal service provision for a four-year term, via a party-list present in each local authority and • Land resources system and from single mandate implements decisions taken by the • Municipal budget constituencies. This assembly controls municipal or city council. The mayor • Local taxes the activities of the municipal or city / gamgebeli is the supreme official of • Waste management board and elects the board’s chief city/municipality. • Spatial planning executive officer. It also reviews and • Pre-school education approves the local budget, approves The chairman of the municipal • Public transport local socio-economic development or city assembly (sakrebulos • Fire safety plans and introduces taxes and tavmjdomare) is elected by and fees as well as any other measures from within the municipal or city defined by law. The assembly can assembly for a period of four years. set up committees such as the legal The chairman organises the work of affairs committee, the social affairs the municipal or the city assembly committee and the finance and and approves decisions of the council. budget committee.
The municipal or city executive branch is represented by a mayor The capital city of Tbilisi* also exercises (in cities) and a gamgebeli (in competences delegated by central municipalities), elected by direct government agencies, including
* See p.89
31 military recruitment, emergency The remaining local government units response and state of emergency, in Georgia have limited delegated environment and legalisation of powers, which extend mainly to property. The city of Tbilisi is divided military procurement and sanitation. into ten administrative districts. Each The tasks are delegated from specific district has its own executive branch ministries by a legal decision or headed by a chief executive officer agreement between the relevant nominated by the mayor. ministry and a particular municipality.
There are two autonomous provinces in Georgia: the autonomous republics of Abkhazia and Adjara.
CEMR in Georgia - National Association of Local Authorities of Georgia (www.nala.ge)
32 Germany is a federal state composed of the federal and the regional level. Municipalities (Gemeinden), cities (Städte) and counties Germany (Kreise) are a constitutional part of the regions (Länder).
State structure Capital city Currency federal Berlin Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 80,780,000 (15.9% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 11,481 11,313 Geographical size INTERMEDIATE 295 295 357,340 km² REGIONAL 16 16
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1958 96 24 of the Regions
Local level 11,313 municipalities (Gemeinden) of which 2,060 are cities (Städte)*
There are two types of local The local council (Gemeinderat) is Competences* structures in Germany, depending the municipality’s central body. It is on the region’s municipal code elected by direct universal suffrage • Urban planning (Gemeindeordnung): the magistrate for a mandate that can vary from four • Municipal taxation system (Magistratsverfassung) and to six years. The local council is the • Public security and order the council system (Süddeutsche legislative organ and makes most of • Municipal roads Ratsverfassung). the decisions, whilst at the same time • Public transport having a monitoring and controlling • Water supply and waste water The council system (Süddeutsche function vis-à-vis the mayor and local management Ratsverfassung) exists in all German administration. • Flood control and management regions except for Hessen. According • Fire fighting to the council system, the local The magistrate system • Social aid and youth council is elected by direct universal (Magistratsverfassung) only exists in • Child care suffrage for five years. The mayor one region (Hessen). In this system, • Housing (Bürgermeister) is also elected by the executive branch is composed • Building and maintenance direct universal suffrage for a mandate of the mayor and his/her deputies of schools that can vary from four to nine years, (Magistrate). These are civil servants • Cemeteries which also applies to Hessen. The appointed by the local council for mayor chairs the local council and a mandate that generally lasts four heads the municipal administration. years. The magistrate represents the
* See p.89
33 municipality, is in charge of the daily local administration and implements local council decisions.
Intermediate level 295 counties (Kreise)
The county assembly (Kreistag) is depending on the region. He/she is a Competences* composed of members elected by civil servant elected for a period that direct universal suffrage for a mandate varies from five to eight years and • Construction and maintenance that can vary from four to six years, chairs the county assembly. of intermediary roads depending on the region. It is the • Social services and youth county’s legislative body. The county office (Landratsamt) is • Collection and disposal the county’s executive body and is of household waste The county president (Landrat) is composed of civil servants recruited • Health care elected either by the county assembly by the county or by the region. • Food safety or by direct universal suffrage, • Protection of nature and environment • Foreign affairs • Disaster management • Public transport
Regional level 16 regions (Länder)
The parliament (Landtag) is the This differs for the three city-states Competences region’s legislative body. It consists of Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg, members elected by direct universal where the house of representatives • Legislation suffrage for a four-year mandate. It (Abgeordnetenhaus) or citizens’ • Public administration elects the minister-president of the assembly (Bürgerschaft) is the • Police region. legislative, the senate of the city • Homeland security (Senat) is the executive and the mayor • Taxation The government (Landesregierung) is (Bürgermeister) is the governing chair. • Justice the executive body of the region. It is • Culture elected by the parliament for a four- • University education year mandate. It elects the minister- • Education president. Regional competences are shared • Environment with the central government in the • Legal supervision The minister-president (Minister- fields of justice, social policy, civil law, of local self-government präsident) chairs the government. criminal law and labour law. He/she has the exclusive power to designate and dismiss the ministers of the region.
* See p.89
CEMR in Germany - German Association of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (www.rgre.de), Association of German Cities (www.staedtetag.de), German Association of Towns and Municipalities (www.dstgb.de) and German County Association (www.landkreistag.de)
34 Greece is a unitary state composed of municipalities (dimos) Greece and self-governing regions (peripheria).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Athens Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 10,992,589 (2.2% EU) compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 325 325 Geographical size INTERMEDIATE 13 13 131,957 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1981 21 12 of the Regions
Local level 325 municipalities (dimos)
The municipal council (dimotiko The executive committee (ektelestiki Competences simvoulio) is composed of members epitropi dimou) is the municipality's elected by direct universal suffrage executive body. It is composed of • Building permits and urban for a five-year term. This deliberative the mayor and deputy mayors and planning applications assembly, headed by the mayor, is monitors the implementation of • Social welfare the decision-making body of the municipal policy, as adopted by the • Issuing of professional licenses municipality. The municipal council is municipal council. • Agriculture, livestock and fisheries composed of a number of committees • Transport infrastructure including the financial committee, The mayor (dimarchos) is elected • Health care the quality of life committee and the by direct universal suffrage for a • Education board of immigrant integration. period of five years. He/she defends local interests, oversees all local development actions and represents the municipality. The mayor also presides over the executive committee and coordinates the implementation of its decisions.
35 Insular and mountainous Metropolitan areas too have their municipalities have a wider set own extra set of competences, of competences, which include such as transport, communication, development, environment, quality environment, quality of life, urban of life, health and welfare. They can planning, urban regeneration as well also set up special committees for the as civil protection and security. promotion of tourism.
Regional level 13 self-governing regions (peripheria)
The regional council (peripheriako The head of the region Competences simvoulio) is composed of members (perifereiarchis) is elected by elected by direct universal suffrage for direct universal suffrage for a five- • Regional development planning a period of five years. This deliberative year mandate. He/she directs • “Green” development assembly, presided over by the the implementation of regional head of the region, is the regional development plans, issues all non- authority's decision-making body. regulatory acts, and implements The regional council is composed of a the decisions made by the regional number of committees, including the council, the executive committee and financial and the regional committees the financial committee. The head of for consultation. the region convenes and presides over the regional council and the The executive committee (ektelestiki executive committee and represents epitropi perifereias) is the region's the region. executive body and is composed of the head of the region and the deputy head. It is responsible for monitoring the implementation of regional policy.
CEMR in Greece - Central Union of Municipalities of Greece (www.kedke.gr)
36 Hungary is a unitary state composed of municipalities (települések), towns (városok), towns with county rank (megyei jogú városok), capital town districts (fővárosi kerületek), Hungary the city of Budapest and counties (megyék)*.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Budapest Hungarian Forint (HUF)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 9,879,000 (1.9% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 3,177 3,201 Geographical size INTERMEDIATE 19 19 93,024 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2004 21 12 of the Regions
Local level 3,177 municipalities* (települések), towns (városok), towns with county rank (megyei jogú városok), 23 capital town districts (fővárosi kerületek) and the city of Budapest
The body of representatives direct universal suffrage for a five-year Competences (képviselõ-testület) is the municipality’s term. The body of representatives is legislative body. It is composed of obliged to elect deputy mayors from • Local development members elected by direct universal within its ranks or may also elect • Urban planning suffrage for five years, responsible external persons to this post, on the • Protection of the environment for the management and control of basis of a secret ballot. • Housing the municipality. Its decisions are • Public transport presented in the form of resolutions The notary (jegyző) is appointed • Social services and decrees. by the mayor, usually for an • Maintenance of roads, public undetermined period of time. areas, cemeteries and sewage The mayor’s office (Polgármesteri He/she is at the head of the local • Water resources hivatal) is the municipality’s executive administration and is the head of • Fire services body and the mayor presides over the mayor’s office. She/he prepares • Culture the body of representatives. He/ and assists the work of the body of she is a member of the body of representatives and of the mayor, and representatives and is elected by executes their decisions.
* See p.89
37 The capital city of Budapest is assembly is composed of the mayors composed of 23 districts. This level of the 23 districts and the Lord Mayor is managed by autonomous local who is also elected by direct universal entities, which have the status of suffrage. a municipality. The capital general
Intermediate level 19 counties (megyék)
The county council (megyei közgyûlés) Towns with more than 50,000 Competences is the county’s deliberative body. It is inhabitants can gain the rank of a composed of members elected from county. However, this process is quite • Secondary schools party lists for a five-year term. The rare in Hungary, as the last town to • Cultural infrastructures sphere of power of the county local have gained county rank was Érd in (libraries, museums, etc.) government has been reduced since 2006. There are 23 towns with county • Maintenance of retirement 2011. status in Hungary. homes and hospitals • Land development The county chair (közgyűlés elnöke) • Tourism is elected for a five-year mandate by and from within the county council. There is no hierarchy between local The county’s executive branch is and county authorities as they have the county local government office equal rights in the eyes of the national and the chair represents the county government. council.
CEMR in Hungary - Hungarian National Association of Local Authorities (TÖOSZ), Association of Hungarian Local Governments and Representatives (MÖSZ) (www.toosz.hu) and Partnership of Hungarian Local Government Associations (www.kisvarosok.hu)
38 Iceland is a unitary state Iceland composed of municipalities (sveitarfélag).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Reykjavík Iceland Krona (ISK)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 333,000 non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 76 74 Geographical size 103,000 km²
Local level 74 municipalities (sveitarfélag)
The municipal council (called The president of the council (called Competences differently depending on the size oddviti or forseti depending on the of the municipality: sveitarstjórn, size of the municipality) is elected by • Social services and child welfare bæjarstjórn or borgarstjórn for municipal council majority. He/she • Services for persons with Reykjavík city) is composed of presides over the council. Following disabilities councillors elected by direct universal elections, the municipal council may • Preschools and primary schools suffrage, for a four-year term. These decide to appoint one of its members • Culture, sports and leisure activities councillors are responsible for the as mayor or may designate a non- • Public utilities (heating, sewage, management of the municipality political person to take on this role. water and electricity) and appoint permanent committees • Spatial and urban planning to assist the council in its work. These • Building inspection committees work on specific issues • Public parks and open areas wholly or partly related to local life Municipalities have the possibility of • Monitoring of public and and make recommendations to the taking on additional tasks concerning environmental health council. their inhabitants provided that they • Fire services have the budget to support these • Public transport The executive committee (called and that the tasks in question are • Waste management and collection differently depending on the size of not assigned to other government • Harbours the municipality: byggðaráð, bæjarráð administrations by law. or borgarráð for Reykjavík city) is the municipality's executive body and is composed of municipal council members designated by the council. It is in charge of the financial and administrative management of the municipality.
CEMR in Iceland – Icelandic Association of Local Authorities (www.samband.is)
39 Ireland is a unitary state composed of two levels of local government: the first tier is composed of municipal districts, Ireland cities, and counties* and the second tier is composed of regions .*
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Dublin Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 4,604,029 (0.9% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 80 126 Geographical size INTERMEDIATE 34 69,797 km² REGIONAL 3
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1973 11 9 of the Regions
Local level 31* cities and counties and 95 municipal districts (administrative local level)
City and county councils 26 county councils, 3 city councils, 2 city and county councils
Local authorities (county* and city or county council is assisted by Competences city councils) operate under the local policy committees, made up of supervision of the Minister for the both local elected council members • Economic Development Environment, Community and Local and representatives from local interest • Planning city development Government. groups. • Road infrastructure • Environmental Services The city council or county council is The council exercises what are • Housing elected by direct universal suffrage known as reserved functions, • Fire services and civil defence every five years, via proportional which include the adoption of local • Community development representation. The number of main policies. These include major • Libraries councillors varies and is set by policy documents, council plans • Local arts, culture and leisure national legislation. There are 949 and strategies, as well as local laws facilities elected members in the Irish local and the annual budget. The city or • Coordination of public services government system (2016). Local county council also oversees the across different agencies elections take place every five years administration of these policies. operating locally (the last one was in May 2014). The
* See p.89
40 The chief executive, formerly known The mayor or chairperson of the as the city or county manager, heads council is the ceremonial head of the the administration, generally for local authority. He/she is elected each a period of seven years, and has a year by and among council members. number of responsibilities related to The mayor or chairperson presides the internal management of the local over council meetings and represents authority and to the implementation the city or county. of policy. In particular, he/she exercises and oversees executive functions such as staff management, public agreements, revenue collection, planning permissions and housing allocations.
Administrative local level 95 municipal districts
The Local Government Reform Act As each county council comprises Competences gave legal affect to the replacement a number of municipal districts, of 80 town councils with the councillors are elected simultaneously • Policy and regulatory functions in designation of 95 municipal districts. in local electoral areas to both a areas e.g. planning, housing, roads, The Act integrated town and county municipal district and county council, environment governance with municipal districts with members in common in the • Representational and oversight acting as decision-making entities plenary council. functions rather than corporate structures. • Civic and ceremonial roles The elected members focus on • Citizen/community engagement Municipal districts are designed to operational issues at municipal district and leadership enhance democratic governance, level and strategic issues at plenary subsidiarity and accountability and council level. There is no duplication are intended to improve operational or overlapping of functions of efficiency and value for money, with members between county and a single county-wide executive (the municipal district jurisdictions; executive of the city/county council) matters decided at district level are and operational structure. not dealt with at county level.
Regional level 3 regions
Under the Local Government Reform both the former regional authorities Competences Act (2014) eight regional authorities and regional assemblies, with were dissolved and replaced with significant enhancement of some • Adoption of Regional Spatial and a 3-regions structure. Regional powers. Economic Strategies assemblies have the functions of • Spatial and Economic Strategies • Management of EU structural funds (ERDF) and ad hoc EU-funded projects
CEMR in Ireland - Local Government Management Agency (www.lgma.ie)
41 Israel is a unitary state composed of regional councils (moatsa ezorit) local Israel councils (moatsa mekomit) and municipalities (iria)*.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Jerusalem New Sheqel (NIS)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 7,822,000 non-compulsory 2016 LOCAL 260 Geographical size REGIONAL 6 22,072 km²
Local level 57 regional councils (moatsa ezorit), 126 local councils (moatsa mekomit), 75 municipalities (iria) and 2 industrial councils
The law distinguishes between three The city council (moetset hair) is the Competences types of local authorities: regional deliberative and executive body. As councils, which represent the rural a mandatory responsibility, the city • Local development areas of Israel, local councils with council has to approve the city’s yearly • Health 20,000 inhabitants or less and budget and the motions presented • Managing local services (water, municipalities in urban centres with by the city councillors or inhabitants sewage, garbage disposal, road 20,000 inhabitants or more. regarding the use of the financial paving) plan. It also makes crucial decisions • Public gardens and parks The city council (moetset hair) and concerning the city’s management • Sanitation local council (moatsa mekomit) are and legislates local municipal laws. • Household refuse the local authority’s deliberative • Education body. Their members are elected The mayor (rosh hair) is elected by • Social services by direct universal suffrage for a direct universal suffrage for a five- • Levy local taxes five-year term. As the elections are year mandate. He/she represents the • Establishment of facilities for proportional, the different parties local authority vis-à-vis the Ministry of sports, education, culture and form a coalition to manage the the Interior and other governmental health council. The number of councillors, bodies. The mayor is in charge of the • Manage finances as determined by the ministry of the local administration and of executing • Culture interior, varies depending on the size the city’s annual working plan. He/she • Sports of the population. is assisted by a number of deputies • Safety and emergency services of his choosing, nominated according • Public transport to the constitution of the coalition • Maintenance of roads, public areas leading the local public authority. and cemeteries • Environment
* See p.89
42 Regional level 6 administrative regions
Although the 1957 government coordinating unit, each government decision divided Israel into six regions, ministry either utilised the regional it did not develop a coherent regional division to establish its own local governance level. Instead of an branch or abolished it altogether. independent and resourceful regional
CEMR in Israel – Union of Local Authorities in Israel (www.masham.org.il)
43 Italy is a unitary state composed of municipalities (Comuni), provinces (Province), Italy metropolitan cities (Città metropolitane) and regions (Regioni).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Rome Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 60,782,668 (12% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 8,094 8,006 Geographical size INTERMEDIATE 110 110 302,073 km² REGIONAL 20 20
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1958 73 24 of the Regions
Local level 8,006 municipalities (Comuni)
The council (Consiglio) is elected The mayor (Sindaco) is elected by Competences by direct universal suffrage for five- direct universal suffrage for a of five- year period. It is the main decision- year period. He/she delegates some of • Social services making body of the municipality, is his/her powers to the deputy mayor, • Urban planning responsible for planning and controls who is appointed by the mayor. The • Economic development governance matters. The city council mayor also heads up the local civil • Public services in particular adopts the budget of the service. • Land development town. • Environment • Culture The city board (Giunta comunale) is the executive body of the Each municipality responds to a municipality. It implements decisions province or a metropolitan city, but taken by the council. Its members are they may also directly relate to its called deputy mayors (Assessori) and region or the central government are appointed by the mayor. if necessary. The municipality may acquire city status if the president of the Republic provides them with this status.
44 Intermediate level 100 provinces (Provincia) and 10 metropolitan cities (Città metropolitane) Italy is composed of two intermediate levels, i.e. the provinces (Province) and the metropolitan cities (Città metropolitane).
Provinces
The members of the provincial The president (Presidente) is elected Competences council (Consiglio provinciale) by the mayors and councillors of the are elected by, and from among municipalities of the province, for a • Environment themselves, i.e. from the mayors and period of four years, and who will be • Transport and land use planning councillors of the municipalities of drawn from one of the municipalities' the province concerned, for a period mayors coming from the province of two years. The council decides concerned. He/she represents the upon the policies of the province and province, is the chairperson of the approves the budget. board and of the assembly of mayors. His/her functions are to supervise the The assembly of mayors is composed operation of the services and offices. of mayors of municipalities within the province. It has advisory and control powers as well as the power of initiative.
Metropolitan cities
The members of the metropolitan The metropolitan conference Competences council (Consiglio metropolitano) (Conferenza metropolitana) is are elected by, and from among composed of the metropolitan mayor, • Environment themselves, i.e. from the mayors and who convenes and chairs it, and of the • Education councillors of the municipalities of the mayors of the municipalities within • Transport metropolitan city. They are elected for the metropolitan city. It has the power • Urban planning a period of five years. The statute of of initiative and consultative powers. • Public services the institution may provide for the • Traffic management direct election of the metropolitan The metropolitan mayor (Sindaco • Economic and social development council. It performs a planning and metropolitano) is the mayor of the control function. provincial capital. The status of the institution may provide for his/her direct election. He/she represents the metropolitan city and supervises the operation of services and offices.
45 Regional level 20 regions (regione)
The regional council (Consiglio The president (Presidente) is elected Competences regionale) is the legislative body of the by direct universal suffrage if the region. It can present projects of law statute does not otherwise provide • International relations with other to the national parliament and can for a period of five years. He/she regions and with the EU dismiss the president of theregional chairs the regional committee and • Trade executive committee. appoints or dismisses the members. • Health The president represents the region, • Land development The regional executive committee determines the regional policy and • Transport (Giunta regionale) is the executive executes the laws and regional • Manufacturing and distribution of body of the region. It consists of a regulation. He/ she is responsible electrical energy president and aldermen appointed by for executing the administrative • Urban planning the president for a period of five years. functions delegated by the state to • Agriculture the regions, according to government guidelines.
CEMR in Italy - Italian Section of the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (AICCRE) (www.aiccre.it)
46 The Republic of Kosovo* is a decentralised * unitary government. Kosovo* is divided into two territorial Kosovo levels: municipality and settlement.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Pristina Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 1,859,203 non-compulsory 2016 LOCAL 1,323 Geographical size 10,908 km²
Local level 38 municipalities (Komunë in Albanian and Opstina in Serbian) and 1,285 villages (fshat /selo)
The municipal assembly (Kuvendi i The villages (fshat) are registered as Own competences Komunës in Albanian and Skupstina cadastral zones. Each municipality Opstine in Serbian) is the highest regulates the division of its suburbs. • Local economic development representative and decision-making • Urban and rural planning body of the municipality consisting • Land use and development of all its elected members. The • Implementation of building members of the municipal assembly There are three types of municipal regulations and building control are directly elected for a four-year competences: own competences, standards term. The number of members of the delegated competences and • Local environmental protection municipal assembly varies from 15 enhanced competences. • Provision and maintenance of to 51 depending on the size of the public services and utilities, municipality. including: water supply, sewers and drains, sewage treatment, The mayor (Kryetar/Gradonacelnik) waste management, local roads, is the highest executive body of the local transport, and local heating municipality and is elected through scheme direct elections. The mayor of the • Local emergency response municipality shall be elected for the • Provision of public pre-primary, same term of office as the members of primary and secondary education the municipal assembly. The elected • Promotion and protection office of the mayor is not subject to of human rights term limits. • Provision of family and other social welfare services • Public housing • Public health
47 Delegated competences Enhanced municipal competences
• Cadastral records Certain municipalities have their own Gracanica, and Shtërpcë / Štrpce) • Civil registrar competences enhanced in the areas • Voter registration of health, education and cultural • Higher education: the municipality • Business registration and licensing affairs and have a participatory of Mitrovica North • Distribution of social assistance right in selecting local station police payments (excluding pensions) commanders. • Cultural affairs: all municipalities • Forestry protection on the in which the Kosovar Serb municipal territory Central authorities of Kosovo* Community is in the majority monitor the exercise of enhanced competences. Central authorities in Kosovo* may delegate other competences to • Secondary health care: the municipalities, as appropriate, in municipalities of Mitrovica North, accordance with the law.
Villages, Settlements and Urban Quarters
Each municipality may make The statute and local municipal arrangements with villages, regulations shall stipulate the settlements and urban quarters within form of cooperation between the its territory to ensure that services municipality and villages, settlements are offered closer to all citizens of the and urban quarters and the scope of municipality. the work and organisation of villages, settlements and urban quarters. With the approval of the municipality, villages, settlements and urban quarters, singly or in combination, may carry out activities that are within the responsibilities and powers of the municipality.
*All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, in this text shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation's Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
CEMR in Kosovo* - Association of Kosovo* Municipalities (AKM)
48 Latvia is a unitary state composed of municipalities (novads) and cities (pilsēta). The creation of new regional governments has been postponed and the Latvia elements of regional governments are fulfilled by 5 planning regions.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Riga Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 2,001,468 (0.4% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 119 119 Geographical size REGIONAL 5 64,573 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2004 8 7 of the Regions
Local level 110 municipalities (novadi) and 9 cities (pilsēta)
The council (dome) is the local The chairperson of the council Competences authority's legislative body. Its (priekšsēdētājs) is elected by and from members are councillors elected by within the council for a four-year term. The competences listed below are direct universal suffrage for a period He/she chairs the council and the autonomous, determined by law: of four years. The council elects Finance committee. • Water and heating supply the chairperson of the council and • Waste management members of the standing committees • Public services and infrastructure from among its councillors. The • Public management of forests and existence of both the Finance The competences of local authorities water committee and Social, Education and can either be autonomous • Primary and secondary education Culture committee are mandatory. (determined by law or voluntary) • Culture However, local authorities are free to or delegated by the state or central • Public health set up other standing committees, government. • Social services all of them are composed of • Child welfare politicians and local experts. Standing • Social housing committees prepare draft decisions • Licencing for commercial activities for the council. • Public order and civil protection • Urban development • Collection of statistical information • Public transport • On-going training for teachers
49 Regional level 5 planning regions
The regional development council council elects the chair and executive Autonomous competences (Plānošanas reģiona attīstības director (head of the administration padome) is elected by representatives of the planning region). The • Development planning and spatial of all local governments, whose administration of the planning planning, including legislative administrative territories compose region is responsible to the regional elements the territory of the respective development council planning • Organisation of public transport, planning region. Its members are regions have their own property, in cooperation with central local councillors, who are involved legislative and administrative rights government directly. The regional development and responsibilities.
Delegated competences
• Coordination of the replacement of deinstitutionalisation of social care • Coordination of the regional scale public investment policy
CEMR in Latvia - Latvian Association of Local and Regional Governments (www.lps.lv)
50 Lithuania is a unitary state Lithuania composed of municipalities (savivaldybė).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Vilnius Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 2,943,472 (0.6% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 60 60 Geographical size 65,300 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2004 11 9 of the Regions
Local level 60 municipalities (savivaldybė)
The local council (savivaldybės taryba) for the implementation of national Competences is the municipality's legislative and (except where the council decision decision-making body and is made is required) and local legislation • Municipal budget, local charges up of members elected by direct in the municipality. He/she can be • Pre-school, primary and basic universal suffrage for four years. dismissed by a local council decision education It adopts the budget, enacts local at the proposal of the mayor and must • Civil protection legislation, and has the power to resign when the new council meets • Culture establish smaller territorial units for the first time. • Environment (seniūnija). The local council also sets • Sanitary up the number of deputy-mayors and The mayor (meras) is elected by direct • Housing appoints them. universal suffrage for four years. He/ • Transport, local roads she is the head of the municipality • Labour market measures and The director of administration and local civil service, and chairs local promotion of entrepreneurship (administracijos direktorius) is in council meetings. The mayor resigns • Primary health care charge of all executive tasks. He/ when the new council meets for the • Public services and municipal she is nominated by the local first time. property management council for four years. The director is • Spatial planning directly and personally responsible
51 By local council decision, each An advisory council composed of • Local development, participation municipality can be administratively citizens can be established within in drafting regional development divided into smaller territorial units these smaller territorial units, so programmes called seniunija. Seniunija is a branch as to provide their respective local • Sports of the municipality administration administrations with advice on how • Tourism acting in a certain territory of to provide better municipal services • Social care the municipality. It is generally or on how to draft and implement • Information society responsible for the provision of local policies. daily local services to citizens in a given municipal area. Each territorial unit is headed by a civil servant (seniūnas) appointed by the director of administration of the municipality concerned.
CEMR in Lithuania - Association of Local Authorities in Lithuania (www.lsa.lt)
52 Luxembourg is a unitary state Luxembourg composed of municipalities.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Luxembourg Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 549,680 (0.1% EU) compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 106 105 Geographical size 2,586 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1958 6 5 of the Regions
Local level 105 municipalities
The municipal council (conseil varies according to the demographic Competences municipal) is the municipality's size of the municipality; the mayor legislative body and is composed of and alderman are chosen from within • Local land development councillors elected for a period of six the municipal council and sit on the • Social assistance years using a proportional or relative council. • Culture and sports majority voting system, depending • Preschool and primary education on the demographic size of the The mayor (bourgmestre) is proposed • Environment municipality. The council represents by a majority of members from within • Water management and sanitation the municipality and is presided over the municipal council for a six-year • Waste management by the mayor. It is in charge of all mandate. He/she chairs the college • Cemeteries matters of municipal interest. of the mayor and aldermen and the • Regulatory and police powers municipal council. • Fire and rescue services The college of the mayor and • Road maintenance and traffic aldermen (collège des bourgmestre management et échevins) is the municipality's executive and daily administrative body. It is composed of the mayor and the aldermen, whose number
CEMR in Luxembourg - Association of Luxembourg Cities and Municipalities (www.syvicol.lu)
53 Malta is a unitary state Malta composed of local councils (kunsill lokali).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Valletta Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 425,384 (0.1% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 68 68 Geographical size 316 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2004 6 5 of the Regions
Local level 68 local councils (kunsill lokali)
The local council (kunsill lokali) is The executive secretary (segretarju • Establishment and maintenance of the local authority's deliberative ezekuttiv) is designated by the local Child care Centres, Kindergartens body. Its members are elected by council for three years. He/she is the and other educational services* direct universal suffrage via a system executive, administrative and financial • Establishment and maintenance of of proportional representation for head of the council. health and rehabilitation centres* a period of five years. The number • Health district offices, of councillors varies according to Homes for Senior Citizens and the demographic size of the local Competences Night Care Centre* authority. • The promotion of social policy • Maintenance of road infrastructure initiatives The mayor (sindku) is the political (not including reconstruction) and • Safeguard local identity representative of the local council. road signs • Provide assistance to artists, He/she is the local council member • Waste management musicians and sports individuals to have received the highest number • Maintenance and upkeep • Cultural activities of votes within the political party of children's playground, public • Protection of the urban that gained overall majority during gardens and other leisure centres Environment the local election. The mayor holds • Recommendations in the field • Promotion of sports activities a five-year mandate and chairs local of planning or building schemes • Promotion of lifelong learning council meetings. • Restoration, design or alteration • Provision and maintenance of the facade of buildings of local library services • Support to citizens with regards • Promotion of entrepreneurship to their rights (transport, policy communications, taxation)
CEMR in Malta - Local Councils' Association (www.lca.org.mt) * See p.89
54 The Republic of Moldova is a unitary state composed of two levels of local government. The first tier is composed by: villages (sate), communes (comune), cities (orașe) and municipalities (municipii)*. The second tier is formed of districts (raioane), the Gagauzia Autonomous Territorial Administrative Unit and the Moldova municipalities of Chisinau and Balti.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Chisinau Moldovan Leu (MDL)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 3,461,000 non-compulsory 2016 LOCAL 1,679 Geographical size REGIONAL 35 33,846 km²
Local level 1,547 villages (sate) and communes* (comune), 5 municipalities (municipii) and 61 cities* (orașe) plus about 66 villages (sate) within cities structure
The local council (consiliu local) The executive body is represented by Competences of communes, is the deliberative body of the the mayor (primar), who is elected by cities and municipalities* local authorities. Its members are direct universal suffrage for a period elected by direct universal suffrage of four years, and by the mayor's • Urban and spatial planning for a period of four years, either on office (primarie). • Waste management the basis of political party lists or • Water management and sewerage independent candidates. Budget systems setting, local policies and territorial • Local roads management planning are the main competences. • Local public transport • Cemeteries • Local property management • Educational centre management • Local gas and heating distribution • Culture, sport and recreation • Economic development • Social housing • Fire services
* See p.89
55 Regional level 32 districts (raioane), the Gagauzia Autonomous Territorial Administrative Unit and the municipalities of Chisinau and Balti
The district is a territorial- The chair (presedinte) of the district Competences administrative unit of the second is elected by the regional council level, consisting of a large number of for 4 years. He/she is at the head of • Management of property villages and cities and satisfying the the region's executive branch or • Regional public transport role of a distinct regional entity. apparatus. The executive body at the • Spatial planning regional level is called the district • Economic development support The district council (Counsiliul chair's office (Aparatul Presedintelui • Local gas and heat distribution raional) is a representative body of raionului). • Education building maintenance local government, elected through • Cultural, tourism and sport free and universal elections. The The executive body is responsible for management district council sets up a permanent the administration of regional affairs • Social assistance board as a working body and and implementation of the decisions executive authority comprised of the of the district council. chair of the district, vice chairs and their executive apparatus.
The Gagauzia Autonomous Territorial Administrative Unit (Gagauz-Yeri)
Gagauzia is an autonomous elected by direct universal suffrage Competences territorial unit having a special for a period of four years. Permanent statute and representing a form of executive power in Gagauz-Yeri is • Science self-determination of the Gagauzian exercised by an executive committee • Culture people. As a special territorial unit it (Bakannik Komiteti/Comitetul Executiv). • Education has its own assembly, the Gagauzian Its members are appointed by the • Housing management people's assembly (in Gagauz: governor or by a simple majority vote • Urban planning HalkTopluşu; in Romanian: Adunarea in the assembly at its first session. • Health services Populara), which enjoys lawmaking The executive committee ensures • Physical culture and sports powers within its own jurisdiction, the application of the laws of the • Local budget, financial and and a governor (Gagauz: Başkan; Republic of Moldova and those of the taxation activities Romanian: Guvernatorul Gagauziei) Gagauzian assembly. • Economy and ecology holds the executive power. She/he is • Labour relations and social security • Own police force • International and foreign policy
56 The municipality of Chisinau (municipiul Chisinau) and the municipality of Balti (municipiul Balti)
The municipalities of Chisinau and Competences Balti have competences of both local level and district level. • Social and economic development • Maintenance of public roads • Construction of hospitals, schools, roads • Health care • Maintenance of sanitation and social institutions • Assistance to young families • Social protection to the unemployed • Public order • Environment protection • Youth activities and sports • Secondary education and professional education
CEMR in Moldova - Congress of Local Authorities of Moldova (www.calm.md)
57 Montenegro is a unitary state Montenegro composed of municipalities (opština).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Podgorica Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 622,000 non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 21 23 Geographical size 13,812 km²
Local level 23 municipalities (opština)
The municipal assembly (Skupština He/she is the municipality's executive Competences opštine) is the municipality's legislative body. The mayor proposes regulations body. Its members are elected by to be adopted by the assembly and is • Local development direct universal suffrage for four responsible for their implementation. • Urban and spatial planning years. Each assembly is made up of He/she also supervises the work of the • Environmental protection 30 councillors plus an additional municipal administration and can • Social welfare councillor for every 5,000 voters. appoint or dismiss deputy mayors. • Public transport The municipal assembly adopts • Culture and sports regulations and the budget, and also The capital city of Podgorica is made establishes the level of local taxes. It up of two districts each of which can establish internal commissions enjoys the status of a municipality. and boards and is chaired by a speaker elected from among the councillors.
The mayor (Predsjednik opštine in municipalities and gradonačelnik in cities) is elected by the municipal assembly for a four-year mandate.
CEMR in Montenegro - Union of Municipalities of Montenegro (www.uom.co.me)
58 Montenegro is a unitary state composed of municipalities (opština). The Netherlands The Kingdom of the Netherlands is a constitutional monarchy. The state of the Netherlands is a decentralised unitary state composed of municipalities (gemeenten) and provinces (provincies) and water boards (waterschappen).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Amsterdam Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 16,829,289 (3.3% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 418 390 Geographical size REGIONAL 12 12 41,540 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1958 26 12 of the Regions
Local level 390 municipalities (gemeenten) Competences
The local council (gemeenteraad) is for executing national policies at the • Urban planning* the municipality's deliberative body. local level (medebewind). Aldermen, • (Social) Housing* Its members are councillors elected whose number varies depending on • Civil engineering* for a period of four years via the the municipality, are elected by the • Transport: local roads, city proportional representation system. council for a four-year mandate. transport and public transport** The local council is in charge of the • Public health and youth care: college of mayor and aldermen, The mayor (burgemeester) chairs the prevention and education* makes all main municipal decisions local council and the college of mayor • Public safety and order and has the power to pass by-laws. It and aldermen. He/she is formally • Disaster management * is chaired by the mayor, who cannot appointed for a six-year mandate • Primary and secondary education: take part in any of the council votes. by the national government at the school buildings* proposal of the local council. The • Employment The college of mayor and aldermen mayor has the power to vote within • Local and regional economy (burgemeester en wethouders) is the the college of mayor and aldermen • Childcare municipality's executive body. The and his/her vote can be decisive. • Social services and welfare* college prepares and implements local • Culture and sports council decisions and is responsible • Leisure, Recreation and Tourism • Local media and broadcasting
* See p.90
59 Regional level 12 provinces (provincies)
The provincial states (provinciale provincial states and is responsible Competences* staten) are the provinces' legislative for executing national policies at body. Their members are elected by the provincial level. The provincial • Regional planning direct universal suffrage for a four-year executive board is composed of the • Environment mandate. The provincial states have king's commissioner and of three to • Culture the power to pass by-laws and are nine members designated by the • Leisure and tourism chaired by the king's commissioner, provincial states. • Public transport, provincial road who cannot take part in any provincial maintenance and traffic state votes. The provincial states also The king's commissioner • Energy elect the Senate. (commissaris van de koning) chairs • Regional media and broadcasting the provincial executive board and is The provincial executive board appointed for a six-year term by the (gedeputeerde staten) is the province's national government at the proposal executive body. It prepares and of the provincial states. implements decisions taken by the
* See p.90
CEMR in the Netherlands - Association of Netherlands Municipalities (www.vng.nl) and Association of Provinces of the Netherlands (www.ipo.nl)
60 Norway is a unitary state composed of municipalities (kommune) Norway and counties (fylkeskommune)*.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Oslo Norwegian Krone (NOK)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 5,092,000 non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 430 428 Geographical size REGIONAL 19 19 32,387 km²
Local level 428 municipalities (kommune)
The local council (kommunestyret) The mayor (ordfører) is elected for Competences is the municipality's deliberative a period of four years by and from body and is composed of councillors within the local council. He/she heads • Child welfare elected for four years from party the council, chairs its meetings and • Primary and secondary education lists via a system of proportional represents the municipality. • Health care representation. The local council is the • Social services highest decision-making body of the Three of the larger cities, Oslo, Bergen • Culture and leisure municipality and is in charge of local and Tromsø, have a parliamentary • Technical infrastructure budgetary, financial and planning system, whereby the local council • Local planning issues. elects a city government supported by a majority of councillors. The executive committee The city government heads (formannskap) is composed of the local administration, makes members coming from the different recommendations to the city council, political parties, based on the results and is responsible for carrying out its obtained in the last local election. decisions. Following the 2015 local The committee prepares decisions elections, Tromsø will return to the concerning the local budget, as well executive committee model by mid- as annual accounts and local taxes 2016. for the local council. It also makes decisions when it comes to less The capital city of Oslo is divided into important or more urgent matters fifteenboroughs , each of which has a and monitors the administration’s borough council, whose members are implementation of political decisions. elected by direct universal suffrage.
* See p.90
61 Regional level 19 counties (fylkeskommune)
The county council (fylkestinget) is The county mayor (fylkesordfører) Competences composed of councillors elected by is elected by the county council proportional representation for a among the members of the executive • Secondary education period of four years. It is the county's committee for a four-year mandate. • Regional development legislative body and is in charge of He/she heads both the county council • Transport and environment budgetary, financial and planning and the executive committee and • Trade and industrial policy. issues. represents the county. • Culture • Dental health The executive committee The city of Oslo has the status of a (fylkesutvalget) is composed of municipality and of a county, and thus members designated by and from enjoys both the local and regional within the county council and meets competences listed above. at least once a month. Much like the municipality's executive committee, Four of the counties, in addition to it prepares decisions on the county's Oslo, have a parliamentary system, budget, annual accounts and taxes. whereby the county council elects a The executive committee also makes county government supported by the decisions on less important or more majority of the councillors. urgent matters and monitors the administration's implementation of political decisions.
CEMR in Norway - Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (http://www.ks.no/)
62 Poland is a unitary state composed of municipalities (gminy), counties (powiaty) and Poland regions (voivodship-województwo).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Warsaw Polish Złoty (PLN)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 38, 495,659 (7.6% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 2,479 2,479 Geographical size INTERMEDIATE 379 380 312,679 km² REGIONAL 16 16
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2004 51 18 of the Regions
Local level 2,479 municipalities (gminy)
The municipal council (rada gminy) officially represents the municipality. Competences is composed of councillors elected by direct universal suffrage for a The head of the municipal • Public transport four-year term. In addition to its administration (sekretarz gminy) is • Social services legislative powers, the council votes appointed by the mayor. He/she can • Housing the municipal budget and determines act on the mayor's behalf, particularly • Environment local taxes. The council is sub-divided when it comes to the organisation • Culture into commissions responsible for of the city hall’s work and to the • Pre-school and primary education the preparation and execution of management of human resources. decisions taken by the municipal council. Members of the commissions are elected by and from among the municipal councillors. In Poland, 66 urban municipalities have a special status whereby they are The mayor ( wójt in rural responsible for competences usually municipalities, burmistrz in urban ones exercised by counties. The capital city and prezydent miasta in cities of more of Warsaw, which is divided into 18 than 100,000 inhabitants) is the local districts, also has this special status authority's single executive body. and thus exercises the competences He/she is elected by direct universal of both a municipality and a county. suffrage for a four-year term and
63 Intermediate level 380 counties (powiaty), which includes the 66 municipalities with special status
The county council (rada powiatu) within the county council for a period Competences is composed of members elected by of four years. This body is in charge of direct universal suffrage for a four- implementing council decisions. • Road building and maintenance year term. This deliberative assembly • Secondary education appoints members of the executive The head of the county (starosta) • Civil protection committee as well as the head of the is elected for a four-year term by • Environment county. the county council. He/she officially • Employment represents the county and is assisted • Health The executive board (zarząd powiatu) by his/her deputies. is composed of the head of the county and deputies elected by and from
Regional level 16 regions (voivodship-województwo)
The regional council (sejmik The marshal (marszalek) is elected Competences wojewodztwa) is composed of by the regional council for a period of members elected by direct universal four years. He/she officially represents • Economic development suffrage for a four-year term. This the region vis-à-vis the national and • Higher education deliberative assembly elects the international levels. • Environment marshal. • Employment The governor (wojewoda) represents • Social policy The regional executive board the prime minister as well as the • Regional road management (zarzad województwa) is composed national Polish government at the of members and the marshal, elected regional level. He/she is appointed by the regional council for a period by the country’s prime minister of four years. The board implements upon proposal by the minister decisions made by the regional responsible for public administration. council. The governor is responsible for the implementation of national government policy in the region.
CEMR in Poland - Association of Polish Cities (www.zmp.poznan.pl) and Association of Polish Counties (www.zpp.pl)
64 Portugal is a unitary state composed of parishes (freguesias), Portugal municipalities (municípios) and autonomous regions.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Lisbon Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 10,427,301 (2.1% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 4,567 3,400 Geographical size REGIONAL 2 2 92,225 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1986 21 12 of the Regions
Local level 3,092 parishes (freguesias) and 308 municipalities (municípios)
Parishes
The parish assembly (Assembleia de members. The executive committee Competences Freguesia) is the deliberative body has responsibility for the preparation of the parish and is composed of and implementation of parish • Maintenance of roads and parks councillors elected by direct universal assembly decisions. • Culture and sports suffrage for a four-year period via a • Environment system of proportional representation. The president (Presidente da junta • Issuing of pet licences de Freguesia) is elected for a four- The executive committee (Junta de year mandate and is selected as the Freguesia) is the parish's executive electoral candidate as a result of body and members are elected for being head of the list with the most a period of four years period by and votes. He/she chairs the executive from within the parish assembly's committee.
65 Municipalities
The municipal assembly (Assembleia The mayor (Presidente da Câmara Competences Municipal) is composed of the Municipal) is elected for a four-year presidents of the parishes located mandate and is selected as the • Education within each municipality's jurisdiction electoral candidate as a result of • Energy and of members elected by direct having been head of the list with the • Maintenance of roads and parks universal suffrage for a four-year term. most votes during the election of the • Social facilities for children, It is the municipality's deliberative executive council. He/she presides youth and seniors body and monitors the activities of over the work of executive council. • Culture and sports the executive council. • Environment • Housing and urban planning The executive council (Câmara • Health Care (PHC) Municipal) is the municipality's Alongside the municipalities and • Procurement Contracts executive branch and is composed of parishes, Portuguese local self- • Civil engineering members elected by direct universal government units include other • Community protection (municipal suffrage for a four-year period. types of authorities, such as inter- fire departments for example) Its members can intervene in the municipal communities, associations • Municipal police municipal assembly however they of municipalities, big metropolitan • Town Twinning cannot vote. The executive council areas and urban communities. • Local residence permits organises and implements municipal • Infrastructure (water, waste, etc.) services, more specifically in the fields The role of these authorities is of municipal planning and public principally aimed at coordinating works. the municipal investments of inter- municipal interests. Their areas of competence also include strategic, economic, social and territorial management.
Regional level 2 autonomous regions (Açores and Madeira)
The legislative assembly (Assembleia The president (President do Governo Legislativa) is composed of members Regional) co-presides over the elected by direct universal suffrage. regional government for a period of four years.
CEMR in Portugal - National Association of Portuguese Municipalities (www.anmp.pt)
66 Romania is a unitary state composed of municipalities (comune), towns (orase), Romania cities (municipii) and counties (judete).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Bucharest Romanian Leu (RON)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 19,942,642 (3.9% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 3,181 3,181 Geographical size REGIONAL 41 41 238,391 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2007 32 14 of the Regions
Local level 2,861 municipalities (comune), 217 towns (orase) and 103 cities (municipii)
Competences The local council (consiliul local) is the The mayor (primarul) is the local local authority's deliberative assembly. authority's executive body and is • Housing It is composed of councillors elected elected by direct universal suffrage • Local police by direct universal suffrage for a four- for a period of four years. He/she • Urban planning year term. The number of councillors is responsible for the local budget • Waste management is determined by order of the prefect and public services. The mayor also • Public health based on the demographic size of represents the local authority vis- • Transport infrastructure the local authority. The local council's à-vis other authorities, represents and urban transport planning work revolves around economic, social the national government within • Water supply and sewage system and environmental development, the municipality, town or city, and • District heating public and private property and the cooperates with the decentralised • Pre-school, primary, secondary, management of public services. departments of national government vocational and technical education ministries and specialised units • Local heritage administration present within its jurisdiction. • Administration of parks and open green public areas
67 Regional level 41 counties (judete)
The county council (consiliul judetean) The prefect (prefect) is appointed by Competences is composed of members elected by the national government. The prefect direct universal suffrage for a four-year is the guarantor of law and order at • Regional development term. It monitors the implementation the local level and ensures the legality • Economic, environmental of provisions outlined in public of the administrative acts adopted by and social development administration-related legislation. local public administration authorities. • Management of public services The council is also responsible for the He/she represents the national • Urban planning and landscaping distribution of public funds, for the government within the county and • Water supply economic, social and environmental ensures that national government • Sewage development of the county, for strategies and programmes are • Public transport managing county property and for implemented at the regional level. • Public health managing certain public services. There are 42 prefects in total: one for • Transport infrastructure each county and one for the capital • Social assistance The president (presedinte) heads the city of Bucharest. • Education county council and is elected by direct • Cooperation between local universal suffrage for a period of four There is no subordination between and national authorities years. He/she is in charge of the legal local councils and county councils. representation of the council vis-à- vis third parties. The president can delegate responsibilities to the two vice-presidents, appointed by the members of the county council.
CEMR in Romania – Association of Romanian Communes (www.acor.ro), National Union of County Councils of Romania (www.uncjr.ro), Romanian Municipalities Association (www.amr.ro)
68 Serbia is a unitary state composed of municipalities (opstina), cities (grad) Serbia and autonomous provinces (autonomne pokrajine).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Belgrade Serbian Dinar (RSD)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 9,468,000 non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 174 174 Geographical size REGIONAL 2 2 88,361 km²
Local level 174* municipalities (opstina) and cities (grad)
The municipal or city assembly budget proposal) to the assembly, to Competences (skupstina opstine or skupstina take decisions on appeal in relation grada) is composed of councillors to administrative procedures, and to • Tourism elected by direct universal suffrage assist the mayor in his work • Public transport (including for a four-year term. The assembly waterway line transport) and taxi enacts municipal or city statutes, The mayor (predsednik opstine in services rules of procedure, development municipalities or gradonacelnik in • Urban planning and residential programmes, the municipal budget, cities) is the executive body of the buildings (shared competence urban planning and other municipal city or municipality and is elected with central authorities, the local regulations. It also appoints and by the assembly for a period of four governments are in charge of dismisses the mayor, the deputy years. The mayor represents the city investment and the maintenance mayor, the members of the municipal or municipality, chairs the city or of buildings) or city council and the president of municipal council, implements city • Primary education and primary the assembly. or municipal assembly decisions, healthcare, sport and dictates the work of the local • Social services and protection The municipal or city council administration. He/she proposes the • Communal services (waste, energy (opstinsko or gradsko vece) is deputy-mayor and the members of efficiency, water, electricity, composed of members elected by the city or municipal council to the transport, markets, parks, green the municipal or city assembly by assembly. public spaces, public parking, secret ballot for a period of four cemeteries, spatial planning) years. It monitors the work of the • Additional competences* municipality's administration and is chaired by the mayor. The council has a legally defined role to propose draft decisions (including draft
* See p.90
69 The capital city of Belgrade and 25 The city of Belgrade, as a capital city, other local authorities have city status has additional competences e.g. in and therefore have an additional the field of water, fire protection, and competence: the communal police. construction.
Regional level 2 autonomous provinces (Autonomna Pokrajina Vojvodina and Autonomna Pokrajina Kosovo-Metohija)
The assembly of the autonomous Competences province of Vojvodina (skupstina autonomne pokrajine) is composed Note from the Standing • Spatial planning, regional of deputies elected by direct Conference of Towns and development and construction universal suffrage and is chaired by Municipalities of Serbia of facilities the president, who represents the • Agriculture, forestry, hunting assembly at the national level and Kosovo-Metohija is an autonomous and fisheries, veterinary abroad. It also appoints one or more province within the Republic of • Environment vice-presidents. This deliberative Serbia and, in line with the United • Water body enacts programmes relative Nations Security Council Resolution • Tourism, hotels and restaurants, to economic, regional and social 1244, adopted on 10 June 1999, it is spas and health resorts development and adopts the under the interim civilian and military • Industry and handcraft provincial budget. administration of the UN. Serbia’s • Road, water and railway state policy determines that Republic transport maintenance The provincial government of of Serbia will never recognise the • Social welfare Vojvodina (pokrajinska vlada) is unilaterally proclaimed independence • Health care the province's executive body. It of Kosovo and asserts that the future • Education is composed of a president, vice- status of the southern Serbian • Employment presidents and members, responsible province can only be defined within • Science and technology before the autonomous province’s the framework of adequate principles • Economy and privatisation assembly. and norms of the United Nations and • Mining and Energy other international organisations, with • Culture the respect of the constitutional order • Human and minority rights, of the Republic of Serbia. Given this support to religious communities The autonomous province of specific situation, further data on the Vojvodina generates its own revenue Autonomous Province of Kosovo and and thus provides its municipalities Metohija cannot be provided. with the financial resources usually allocated by the national government.
CEMR in Serbia - Standing Conference of Towns and Municipalities of Serbia (www.skgo.org)
70 Slovakia is a unitary state composed of municipalities (obec) Slovakia and self-governing regions (samosprávny kraj).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Bratislava Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 5,415,949 (1.1% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 2,930 2,930 Geographical size REGIONAL 8 8 49,035 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2004 13 9 of the Regions
Local level 2,751 municipalities* (obec), 140 cities (mesto) and 39 city districts (mestská časť)
The local council (obecné and executes the tasks according to Competences* zastupiteľstvo in municipalities, local council decisions. mestské zastupiteľstvo in cities and • Road maintenance miestne zastupiteľstvo in city districts) The mayor (starosta in municipalities • Public transport is the local authority's deliberative and city districts and primátor in cities) • Environment body. It is composed of members is the community's highest executive • Water supply elected by direct universal suffrage body and statutory representative. • Sewage and municipal waste for a period of four years. He/she is elected by direct universal • Local development suffrage for a four-year mandate and • Housing The local board (obecná rada in chairs both the local council and the • Pre-school and primary school municipalities, mestská rada in cities municipal board. • Social assistance and miestna rada in city districts) is • Health the mayor's consultative body and • Culture and sports the local council's executive body. Its • Participation in regional planning formation is optional and its members are elected by and from within the local council. The municipal board has the power of initiative, control
* See p.90
71 Bratislava and Košice have two levels are responsible for issues of local of self-government: the magistrate significance such as urban planning, (magistrát), which represents the local road maintenance, budget, local city as a whole, and city districts ordinances, park maintenance and (mestská časť). These city districts public safety.
Regional level 8 self-governing regions (samosprávny kraj)
The regional council (zastupiteľstvo The commissions (komisie) may be Competences samosprávneho kraja) is the region's established by the regional council legislative and decision-making body and act as its consultative body with • Regional road network and is composed of members elected the power of initiative and control. • Land development by direct universal suffrage for a four- Commission members are elected by • Regional development year term. and from within the regional council. • Secondary education • Hospitals The president (predseda) is elected • Social services by direct universal suffrage for a • Culture four-year mandate. He/she is the self- Self-governing regions may perform • Participation in civil defence governing region's representative and certain duties in the name of the • Licences for pharmacies statutory body, and chairs regional state, mainly regarding education, and private physicians council meetings. healthcare and transport.
CEMR in Slovakia - Association of Towns and Communities of Slovakia (www.zmos.sk)
72 Slovenia is a unitary state Slovenia composed of municipalities (občin).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Ljubljana Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 2,061,085 (0.4% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 211 212 Geographical size 20,273 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 2004 8 7 of the Regions
Local level 212 municipalities (občin)
The municipal council (obcinski svet) The mayor (zupan) is the Competences is the municipality's deliberative municipality's executive body and is body and is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage • Public safety and protection elected by direct universal suffrage for a mandate of four years. He/she • Housing for a four year-term. Deputy-mayors represents the municipality and is at • Land development are appointed by and from among the head of the local administration. • Urban planning council members, upon the mayor's • Trade and industry proposal. The council is responsible • Environment for making the municipality's main • Roads network decisions, such as adopting local Slovenian municipalities are divided • Transport land and development plans and into local, village or neighbourhood • Pre-school and primary the municipal budget as well as communities, (krajevne, vaške or education deciding on the acquisition or selling četrtne skupnosti), where each has a • Social security of municipal property. council whose members are elected • Water treatment and waste by direct universal suffrage. These collection councils have the power to enact the municipal council decisions.
73 The capital city of Slovenia, Ljubljana, Urban municipalities have more and 10 other municipalities have competences than the other the status of urban municipality municipalities, including responsibility (mestna obcina). A municipality for urban transport, hospitals, public can acquire the status of urban services, culture, radio, television, municipality if it has a minimum of press, sports and recreation. 20,000 inhabitants and 15,000 jobs.
CEMR in Slovenia - Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia (www.skupnostobcin.si), Association of Urban Municipalities of Slovenia (ekoper.si/tag/zmos/)
74 Spain is a unitary state composed of municipalities (municipios), county councils (diputaciones), Canary Island county councils (cabildos), Balearic Island county councils (consejos insulares), autonomous cities (ciudades autónomas) and Spain autonomous communities (comunidades autónomas).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Madrid Euro (EUR)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 46,507,760 (9.2% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 8,169 8,176 Geographical size REGIONAL 19 19 505,970 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1986 54 21 of the Regions
Local level (8,176) 8,124 municipalities (municipios) and 52* county council (diputaciones, consejos and cabildos)
The local council (pleno) is the local The mayor (alcalde) or president In local authorities of over 5, 000 authority's deliberative body and is (presidente) is the head of the inhabitants - in addition to the composed of councillors elected by executive body. He/she is appointed aforementioned direct universal suffrage for a four- by and from within the local council • Public libraries year term. This assembly approves the and is assisted by a number of • Green areas local budget, urban planning, by-laws councillors which he/she nominates • Local police and municipal rules. and can dismiss. The mayor also chairs the local council. In local authorities of over 20, 000 The government council (junta inhabitants - in addition to the de gobierno) is the local authority's aforementioned executive body. It is composed of local Competences • Social services councillors appointed by the mayor to • Fire prevention assist him in his work and to exercise a In every local authority • Sporting facilities number of executive functions. • Water supply • Street lighting In local authorities of over 50, 000 • Urban traffic inhabitants - in addition to the • Food security aforementioned • Road maintenance • Public transport • Sewage and waste management • Protection of the environment * See p.90
75 Regional level 17 autonomous communities (comunidades autónomas) and 2 autonomous cities (ciudades autónomas)
The regional assembly (asamblea coordinates the work of the regional Competences regional) is the autonomous government council and represents community's deliberative body. the autonomous community vis-à-vis • Territorial development Its members are elected by direct the national government. • Civil engineering universal suffrage for a four-year • Economy term. It exercises devolved legislative • Agriculture power. • Culture The autonomous communities can • Social policies The regional government create their own police force. • Environmental management council (consejo de gobierno) is the • Development of economic autonomous community's executive The two autonomous cities (Ceuta activities body and is headed by the president and Melilla) are special administrative • Health who appoints its members. It units, halfway between a municipality • Education regulates and initiates legislation. and an autonomous community. Unlike the independent communities, The president is elected by the they do not have their own legislative regional assembly for a four-year assembly but do have deliberative mandate. The president manages and powers.
CEMR in Spain - Spanish Federation of Municipalities and provinces (www.femp.es)
76 Sweden is a unitary state composed of municipalities (kommuner), county councils Sweden (landsting) and regions (regioner).
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Stockholm Swedish Krona (SEK)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 9,644,864 (1.9% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 290 290 Geographical size REGIONAL 20 20 438,574 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1995 20 12 of the Regions
Local level 290 municipalities (kommuner)
The municipal assembly the municipal administration, Competences (kommunfullmäktige) is composed of supervises the activities of the members elected by direct universal specialised committees, drafts the Mandatory competences suffrage for a four-year term. This municipal budget as well as prepares • Social services assembly is the municipality's and implements municipal council • Childcare and pre-school decision-making body but can decisions. • Primary and secondary education delegate important decision-making • Care for the elderly powers to the municipal executive It is presided over by a chair • Support for the physically and committee and to the specialised (kommunstyrelsens ordförande), intellectually disabled committees. It also levies taxes and the highest political representative • Primary healthcare adopts the municipal budget. of the municipality, which can be • Environmental protection referred to in other countries as the • Urban planning The municipal executive committee “mayor”. However, in some Swedish • Refuse collection and waste (kommunstyrelsen) is composed of municipalities, the “mayor” is the disposal members appointed for a period of chair of the municipal assembly • Rescue and emergency services four years by the municipal assembly (kommunfullmäktiges ordförande). • Water supply and sewerage based on the share of seats obtained • Road maintenance by each party within the municipal assembly. The municipal executive committee heads and coordinates
77 The specialised committees assisting the municipal executive Optional competences (nämnder) are composed of members committee in the preparation and • Culture appointed for a four-year mandate implementation of decisions made • Housing by the municipal assembly. The by the municipal assembly. • Energy committees are responsible for • Employment • Industrial and commercial services
Regional level 11 county councils (landsting) and 9 regions (regioner)
The county council o r The specialised committees Competences regional council assembly (nämnder) are composed of members (landstingsfullmäktige for county either appointed or elected by Mandatory competences councils and regionfullmäktige for the council assembly depending • Healthcare regions) is composed of members on its political composition. The • Dental care elected by direct universal suffrage for committees are responsible for • Public transport (via a regional a period of four years. This assembly assisting the executive committee in public transport authority) is the decision-making body of the the preparation and implementation county or region, approves the budget of decisions made by the county or Optional competences and levies taxes. The assembly can regional council assembly. • Regional development delegate important decision-making • Culture powers to the executive committee The nine regions of Gävleborg, • Tourism and to the specialised committees. Halland, Jämtland, Jönköping, Kronoberg, Skåne, Västra Götaland, The executive committee Örebro, and Östergötland have (landstingsstyrelsen for county retained the status and functioning of councils and regionstyrelsen for the county councils but have assumed regional councils) is appointed for greater responsibility in terms of four years by the county or regional regional development. Gotland, council assembly based on the share an island in the Baltic Sea, has the of seats obtained by each party within status of a municipality but also has the assembly. This executive body competences normally attributed to is responsible for the preparation regions, which is why it is also referred and implementation of county or to as a region. regional council assembly decisions. It also supervises the activities of the specialised committees, which are chaired by what can be considered in English as the “president” of the county council or region.
CEMR in Sweden - Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (www.skl.se)
78 Switzerland is a federal state where political power is shared between Switzerland the confederation, cantons and communes.
State structure Capital city Currency federal Bern Swiss Franc (CHF)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 8,211,700 non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 2,551 2,324 Geographical size REGIONAL 26 26 41,285 km²
Local level 2,324 municipalities
There is no single municipal system ruling on municipal affairs (direct in Switzerland. There are two types democracy). The citizens nominate Competences of municipal parliaments (parlements the executive and can take political communaux): the municipal assembly decisions themselves, not through • Municipal heritage (system of direct democracy) which representatives. This parliament of • Local taxation is the most common (4 out of 5 the people is established in several • Education (School operations) municipalities) and the general Swiss communes. • Community policing or municipal council (parliament and traffic monitoring composed of elected representatives; The legislative power has different • Civil protection its name can vary from one canton designations depending on the • Spatial planning to another), mainly in cities. cantons. The general or municipal • Road infrastructures Furthermore, and depending on or local council (Conseil municipal) • Water and sewage networks the canton, municipalities of up to is composed of members who are • Streets and roads 1,000 inhabitants can either have a elected by direct universal suffrage for • Protection of the environment municipal assembly or a general or a mandate that varies depending on • Sports municipal council. Over and above the canton. This legislative assembly • Culture this number of inhabitants, it must can elect members of the municipal • Energy be a municipal council, a deliberative or local council (again, its name varies • Social welfare body composed of elected officials from one canton to another) and representing the citizens. members of the committees (finance, schools, management, etc.). It also The municipal assembly is composed adopts the budget. of citizens who have the right to vote and who wish to participate in the The executive power has also diverse municipality's legislative branch by designations. The administrative
79 or municipal or local council is or municipal council, implements the composed of members either elected municipal decisions and budget, and by direct universal suffrage or by the represents the municipality. general or municipal council for a mandate varying from four to five In Switzerland, municipalities have years, depending on the canton. The extremely varied competences and municipal or local council is presided autonomy, depending on the canton's over by a mayor, syndic or president, legislation. also depending on the canton, and executes the decisions of the general
Regional level 6 half-cantons and 20 cantons
In reality there are no differences The president executes the decisions Competences between half-cantons and cantons. taken by the great council. Currently, The separation of cantons is historical, the canton of Vaud and Geneva have • Public health in particular due to religious reasons, a president elected by peers for the • Primary, secondary and following a reform in 1536 which entire legislative period (five years). In post-secondary education affected part of Switzerland. the other cantons, he/she is elected by (hautes écoles) peers for a one-year period, according • Social policy The great council is the canton's to a traditional rotation which takes • Police legislative body and is composed of into account the length of service • Justice members elected by direct universal and the number of votes during the • Spatial planning suffrage, their mandate varying from election process. • Environment one canton to another. The great • Cantonal taxes council elects its president, usually for The cantonal court is composed of a one-year term, and adopts laws and judges and substitutes elected by the decrees. However, five cantons have great council for the duration of the a public assembly (Landesgemeinde) legislative period. It is the supreme rather than a council, whose members judiciary authority of the canton. are citizens that have the right to vote. As federal states, cantons are The state council (called "executive sovereign local and regional council" in the canton of Berne) is the authorities with great legislative, executive body of the canton and is executive and judicial autonomy and composed of members elected by a constitution. They are sovereign the great council or by citizens, insofar as their sovereignty is not with differing mandate durations limited by the Federal Constitution depending on the canton. The state and they exercise all rights that are council is divided into different not delegated to the Confederation departments and is headed by a (art. 3 of the Federal Constitution). president.
CEMR in Switzerland – Swiss Section (ASCCRE) (www.asccre.ch)
80 Turkey is a unitary state composed of villages (köy), municipalities (belediye) Turkey and special provincial administrations (il özel idaresi)*.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Ankara Turkish Lira (TRY)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 75,837,000 compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 37,336 19,695 Geographical size 783,562 km²
Local level 18,247 villages (köy), 1,397 municipalities (belediye), and 51 special provincial administrations (il özel idaresi)
Villages
Villages are the traditional local The village executive committee Competences administration in rural areas and (ihtiyar heyeti) is the main executive usually have a population size of 150 body of the village. • Urban planning to 5,000 inhabitants. • Water supply and sewage The headman (muhtar) is elected by • Transport The village council (köy derneği) is the villagers for a period of five years. • Environment and one of the decision-making bodies of He/she represents the village and environmental health the village and is composed of citizens carries out the services provided to • Hygiene of 18 years or older. its inhabitants. • Police, fire fighting, emergency, rescue and ambulance services • Urban traffic Municipalities • Funerals and cemeteries The municipal executive committee • Parks and green spaces The municipal council (belediye (belediye encümeni) is both the • Housing meclisi) is the local authority's main executive and decision-making body • Culture and tourism decision-making body. It is composed of the municipality. A proportion of its • Youth and sports of members, whose number varies members are bureaucrats appointed • Social services and assistance from nine to 55, depending on the by the mayor from among the local • Weddings demographic size of the municipality, administration's heads of unit, while • Vocational and skills training elected by direct universal suffrage for the rest are elected from within the • Services for economic and a period of five years. municipal council for a one-year term. commercial development Local authorities with a population of
* See p.90
81 less than 100,000 have five executive heads the municipal administration committee members while those with and represents the local authority. more than 100,000 inhabitants have seven members.
The mayor (belediye başkanı) is the Municipalities with more than 100,000 executive body of the municipality. inhabitants must also open shelters He/she is elected by direct universal for women and children. suffrage for five years. The mayor
Special provincial administrations
The provincial council (il genel Competences meclisi) is the special provincial The governor (vali) is the head of administration's legislative body and the special provincial administration. • Health and social assistance is composed of members elected by He/she is appointed by the national • Public works direct universal suffrage for a five-year government and represents the • Culture mandate. It is headed by a president, special provincial administration. • Education elected by and from among the Governors represent the central • Agriculture and animal husbandry members of the council. government apparatus across the • Economic and commercial matters provinces, whereas district governors • Urban planning for villages The provincial executive committee do so for districts. (il encümeni) is composed of ten members. Five members are elected each year by the provincial council from among its own members via In 2014, the status of 30 provinces was secret ballot. The other five are converted into that of a metropolitan appointed for a one year period by municipality system and their the governor, from among the heads special provincial administration of unit of the special provincial was abolished. Municipalities enjoy administration. The head of the full administrative and financial financial services unit is mandatorily autonomy. one of them.
CEMR in Turkey - Union of Municipalities of Turkey (www.tbb.gov.tr)
82 Ukraine is a unitary state composed of villages (sela), towns (selyshcha), Ukraine cities (mista), districts (rayony) and regions (oblasti)*.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary Kiev Hryvnia (UAH)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 44,941,000 non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 11,517 10,885 Geographical size INTERMEDIATE 488 488 603,500 km² REGIONAL 24 25
Local level 10,885 municipal councils, among them 9,644 village councils (silska rada), 783 town councils (selyshchna rada), and 458 city councils (miska rada)
The municipal council (rada) is the The mayor (silskyy golova in villages, Competences local authority's deliberative assembly selychshnyy golova in towns and and is composed of members elected miskyy golova in cities) is the main • Maintenance of technical by direct universal suffrage for a five executive body of the municipality infrastructure year term. Council members exercise and is elected by direct universal • Urban development, planning and their power through council sessions suffrage for a period of five years. He/ control or standing commissions. she chairs municipal council meetings • Energy and represents the municipality vis-à- • Transport The executive committee vis third parties. • Water, heating and sewage (vykonavchyy komitet) implements • Waste management council decisions and is responsible • Tourism for development programmes, • Environment the municipal budget and for the The cities of Kiev and Sevastopol have • Promotion of local business coordination of departments and a special status as their respective and employment services within the committee. The system of local self-government • Development programmes mayor puts forward a list of potential coexists with their system of state • Local budget executive committee members, which administration. • Education is in turn approved by the municipal • Social welfare council. • Health care • Culture • Administrative Services
* See p.90
83 Intermediate level 488 districts (rayony)
The district council (rayonna rada) The head of the district council Competences is the district's decision-making (golova rayonnoyi rady) is elected body. Its members are elected by for five years by and from within the • District planning direct universal suffrage for a five district council. He/she heads the • District development programmes year mandate. The district council council and delegates his executive • Distribution of state budget funds represents the common interests of powers to the state administration. • Natural resources the municipalities in its jurisdiction. • Health It does not have a separate executive • Education committee like municipalities, as its • Culture executive functions are performed by • Social welfare a district state administration created • Transport by the national government.
Regional level 24 regions (oblasti) and 1 autonomous republic (Crimea)
The regional council (oblasna rada) The head of the regional council Competences is the region's decision-making body. (golova oblasnoyi rady) is elected by Its members are councillors elected and from within the district council • Regional development by direct universal suffrage for a five- for a period of five years. He/she heads programmes year mandate. The regional council the regional council. • Health represents the common interests of • Education its municipalities. It does not have • Culture a separate executive committee • Social welfare like municipalities, as its executive • Distribution of state budget funds functions are performed by a regional • Regional planning state administration set up by the • Transport national government.
CEMR in Ukraine - Association of Ukrainian Cities (www.auc.org.ua) and Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils (http://uaror.org.ua/)
84 United Kingdom The United Kingdom is a unitary state with certain characteristics of a federal state, following the implementation of the 1997 devolution agenda in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
State structure Capital city Currency unitary London Pound Sterling (GBP)
Number of Population Vote Sub-national governments 64,308,261 (12.7% EU) non-compulsory 2012 2016 LOCAL 433 419 Geographical size REGIONAL 4 4 248,528 km²
Seats in the EU Member State since Seats in the European Committee European Parliament 1973 73 23 of the Regions
Local level 419 local authorities*
In general, councillors are elected for Wales has 22 single tier unitary Competences* a four-year term, based on either a authorities (county and county first-past-the-post voting system or borough councils). These authorities Local competences are not uniform a proportional system. deliver a wide range of services, such throughout the United Kingdom as as housing, social services, transport they are wholly transferred (devolved) England has 27 county councils, 36 and highways, environmental health, to Scotland, while other arrangements metropolitan district councils, 201 libraries, leisure and tourism. The 22 are applied to Wales and Northern non-metropolitan district councils existing single-tier unitary authorities Ireland. English local governments (local authorities outside of big were established in 1996. remain directly accountable to the cities) and 56 unitary authorities (a UK government and parliament. one tier local authority). In the United Scotland has 32 single tier unitary Kingdom's capital city of London, authorities. In Scotland delivery There are two tiers of local there are 33 boroughs, including the of services is becoming more government in parts of England City of London, which is the city’s complex with Community Planning (counties and districts) and a single financial district. Partnerships bringing together by tier in other parts of England and all of law the municipalities with the other Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland (councils). * See p.90
85 public and voluntary bodies of that In addition to the local authorities Counties local area. Furthermore in addition referred to above, there are over • Education to transfer of some services to the 12,000 other smaller authorities at • Social services central level there is now integration the local level (parishes, community • Highways and transport of national and local services of social councils, town councils). Most of these • Strategic planning advice care and health. have small elected bodies to look after • Fire local interests. • Waste disposal Northern Ireland has 11 district • Libraries councils whose competencies The Greater London Authority, set are more limited than elsewhere up in 2000, is considered a regional Districts in the UK, but who have been authority. • Local planning reformed in April 2015, restructured • Housing from 26 to 11 authorities, to • Licensing possess new powers including • Building Standards Planning, Community Investment • Environmental health and Economic Development, in • Waste collection addition to Regulatory, Registration, • Park and leisure services Enforcement, Animal Welfare, Refuse, Waste Management, Building Control, Leisure, Arts and Environmental Health.
Nations and regions England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland
In England, the only directly elected elected regional assemblies, but only regional authority is the Greater if there is a positive popular vote by London Authority, which has an referendum. At present, no regional assembly of 25 elected members, assembly has been set up and there with an executive mayor, elected are no plans to do so. by direct universal suffrage. Its main competences include public The National Assembly for Wales transport, sustainable development came into existence in 1999. It has planning, fire and emergency a more limited range of legislative planning and metropolitan police. powers than the Scottish Parliament (mainly on secondary legislation, In the rest of England, legislation giving more detailed effect to UK could allow for the setting-up of parliament measures). However, its
86 primary law-making powers were justice, social work, planning and enhanced following a referendum local government. A further transfer held in March 2011, making it of mainly tax and borrowing powers possible for it to legislate without to the Scottish Parliament was having to consult the UK parliament enacted via the Scotland Act 2012 and in devolved areas. Its competences following the Scottish independence include policy development and referendum in 2014 a new package implementation in agriculture, is currently (2016) being discussed in culture, economic development, the UK parliament. education, environmental health, highways and transport, social The Northern Ireland Assembly also services, housing, spatial planning came fully into being in 1999. Its main and local government. competences include the economy, foreign direct investment, justice, Since 1999, the Scottish Parliament, policing, education, health, regional with a Scottish executive government infrastructure and agriculture, with has had full legislative powers over a some planning and economy powers wide range of matters – effectively, now devolved to Councils. From April all issues except those reserved 2015, there is the possibility of further to the UK Parliament. Its exclusive powers being transferred to it at a competences include education, later date. health, environment, agriculture,
CEMR in the United Kingdom - Local Government Association (www.local.gov.uk/), Welsh Local Government Association (www.wlga.gov.uk), Convention of Scottish Local Authorities (www.cosla.gov.uk) and Northern Ireland Local Government Association (www.nilga.org)
87 Notes
Belgium Cyprus Regional level
Local level Local level Since January 2007, a new regional structure was adopted replacing the Each municipality has a public There are nine municipalities and 135 pre-existing 14 counties with today's centre for social welfare (CPAS in communities in the occupied part five regions. The Danish regions now French/ OCMW in Dutch), which has of Cyprus, bringing the total on the have between 0.6 and 1.6 million an autonomous status and which island to 524 local authorities. inhabitants. provides social integration income and the right to social assistance, A community may become a The regions cannot levy taxes as well as being in charge of social municipality by local referendum directly, but are financed through services (elderly services and care, provided it has a population contributions from the state and the etc.). of more than 5,000 or has the municipalities. The region's economy economic resources to function as a is divided into three separate parts: Intermediate level municipality. health, social services, special education and regional development. Brussels-Capital is not a province, but The consultation with the central a region. It does however have special government, for the reform of local The Faroese Municipal Organisation competences normally allocated to self-government, is still ongoing. (www.ksf.fo) has the status of observer provinces. Three Bills of Law have already been to the work of CEMR. sent to the House of Parliament, which will be examining them as of January Bosnia and Herzegovina 2016. The Bills provide for compulsory France clustering of services between Local level municipalities and/or communities, to Local level jointly promote various competences, There are some exceptions for certain policies, projects and services, with a There are different levels of mayoral elections. In the Federation of view to merging these clusters into intercommunal structures: Bosnia and Herzegovina, the mayor new entities. of Mostar and the mayor of Sarajevo • The metropolises (minimum are not directly elected. Instead they population of 400,000 inhabitants) are elected by the cities' assemblies. Denmark • The urban communities (minimum In the Republic of Srpska, this is also population of 250,000 inhabitants) the case for the mayor of the city of Local level • The conurbation communities East Sarajevo. (minimum population of 50,000 A new municipal structure was inhabitants) implemented in January 2007. The • The commune communities Bulgaria new structure reduced the number (minimum population of 15,000 of municipalities but increased the inhabitants) Local level overall sizes. This model requires municipalities to have a minimum Regional level The service provision of these of 20,000 inhabitants. Municipalities activities is shared between the with a population of less than 20,000 The law of 16 January 2015 has municipalities and the national are accepted as long as they establish reduced the number of regions government. a legally binding cooperation with a from 22 to 13. Six regions have kept larger municipality. their original boundaries, others have merged with one or two other regions. This new delimitation entered into force on 1 January 2016.
88 Georgia Hungary Israel
Local level General note General note
Tbilisi has also broader functions The new Hungarian Act on Local Municipalities and local councils are such as the organisation of local Government was released in 2011 assembled within the Union of Local business support programmes and and has led to the recentralisation Authorities in Israel, established in social protection. The mayor is the of certain local competences, such 1938, while regional councils are head of the municipal cabinet, which as primary education, due to current represented by the Association of is composed of the mayor, three budget restrictions being experienced Regional Councils. vice-mayors and the heads of the in Hungary. sectoral departments, in which can be included transport, social affairs Local level Malta and architecture. Each department has its own head and staff. A municipality can become a Local level city at the initiative of its body of representatives, depending on its In conjunction with any competent Germany level of development and its impact authority. at the regional level. Local level Moldova 11,313 (31.08.2015) municipalities Ireland (Gemeinden) of which 2,060 General note (01.01.2015) are cities (Städte). General note The first tier of local government The mentioned competences The city and county councils are includes the localities of Transnistria are examples of the mandatory considered as the primary units of region whose statute is not defined competences of local authorities in local government in Ireland and, yet. Germany. There also exist a number between them, cover the entire area of optional competences, notably and population of the country. Local level in the fields of energy, economic development, infrastructure, culture, The Local Government Reform Act Communes consist of two or several sports, migration and integration. (2014) gave legal effect to a major villages in one administrative- programme of reform in relation territorial structure. Intermediate level to local government structures, functions, funding, governance Out of the 61 cities, 5 are officially The mentioned competences and operational arrangements and recognised municipalities, of which are examples of the mandatory reduced the total number of local two are located in the region with a competences of county authorities. authorities per se from 114 to 31. special status, allowing them to fall There also exist a number of optional outside the control of the Moldavian competences, notably in the fields of Local level government (Transnistria). The other culture, economy, tourism, as well as is located in the autonomous region building and managing libraries. The Local Government Reform Act Gagauzia. gave legal affect to the merger of city/ county councils in Limerick, Tipperary All local governments of the first tier and Waterford reducing the overall have the same competences and the number of city and county authorities same degree of local autonomy, which from 34 to 31. is quite low.
Each county has at least one council, although Dublin County, for example, has a total of three councils, on top of a city council.
89 Netherlands • Support to people with disabilities United Kingdom and vulnerable groups, child Local level protection Local level • Human and minority rights Competences shared with the Combined authorities consist of two national or provincial government. or more English councils (outside Slovakia London only). The creation of a Regional level combined authority is voluntary but Local level its formation must be approved by Competences mostly shared with the Parliament. The combined authority national government. Municipalities can gain city status has the power to exercise any function upon request and as long as they of its constituent councils that meet the criteria specified within relates to economic development Norway municipal law. and regeneration, and any of the functions that are available to the General note Municipalities may perform certain transport authorities; combined duties in the name of the state, authorities are encouraged to Both municipalities and counties can mainly regarding office registrations, borrow from EU institutions for themselves choose to implement a construction permits and some social and environmental schemes parliamentary system. The proposal aspects relative to education, though which meet EU objectives. The Cities simply has to be put forward in one the state remains responsible for the and Local Government Devolution election period, although it does not quality and funding of such duties. Bill 2015–16 is intended to allow require a majority vote, and can be the introduction of directly-elected implemented after the next election. mayors to combined authorities in Spain England and to make it possible for combined authorities to exercise a Serbia Local level wider range of powers, including those otherwise delivered nationally. Local level The 52 county councils are composed Since 2011, the following combined of 38 county councils and of the 3 authorities have been created: Greater 174 is the number of local units provincial councils of the Basque Manchester, North East, Liverpool according to the Law on Territorial Country, the 7 county councils of City Region, Sheffield City Region, Organisation of the Republic of Serbia the Canary Island, and the 4 county and West Yorkshire; others are being (including Kosovo-Metohija), Official councils of the Balearic Island. planned from 2016 onwards. Gazette of the Republic of Serbia, No. 129/07. Unitary authorities have the Turkey competences of both counties and Local level districts. General note Additional competences: • Environment Turkey is administratively divided into • Local and non-categorised roads 81 provinces and 919 districts. and streets • Local economic development Ukraine and tourism • protection and natural disasters General note • Agricultural land, pasture land and cooperatives In 2015 the consolidation of territorial • Legal assistance to citizens communities started in Ukraine which • Local public property and led to 159 consolidated communities construction land being established (21 cities, 45 towns, • Protection and development and 93 villages). of culture
90 Acknowledgements
CEMR would like to thank the member associations who contributed to the finalisation of this publication, as well as Caroline Cornil for the translation (www.corniltranslations. com) and Aurore de Boncourt for the graphic design (www.auroredidit.com).
Our special thanks to Luca Nizzola, Project Manager for the City of Geneva, for his input; and to the Secretariat colleagues Carol, Marlies, Jaimie, and Jeremy, for their support and involvement.
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