Local and Regional Governments in Europe
CEMR_structures_and_competences_2016_EN
CEMR_structures_and_competences_2016_EN
Create successful ePaper yourself
Turn your PDF publications into a flip-book with our unique Google optimized e-Paper software.
Towns <strong>and</strong> cities<br />
Towns are units of local selfgovernment<br />
with more than 10,000<br />
<strong>in</strong>habitants <strong>and</strong> cities are units of<br />
local self-government with more than<br />
35,000 <strong>in</strong>habitants. In exceptional<br />
cases, when there are some special<br />
reasons (historic, economic, <strong>and</strong><br />
geographic), a place may be def<strong>in</strong>ed<br />
as be<strong>in</strong>g a town /city even though it<br />
has fewer than 10,000 <strong>in</strong>habitants.<br />
The town/city assembly (gradska<br />
skupšt<strong>in</strong>a) is the town/city<br />
representative body. Members of the<br />
town/city assembly are elected by<br />
direct universal suffrage for a period<br />
of four years.<br />
The mayor (gradonačelnik) is the<br />
town/city’s executive body. He/she<br />
notably directs the activities of the<br />
adm<strong>in</strong>istrative bodies that ensure<br />
that exist<strong>in</strong>g legislation <strong>and</strong> laws are<br />
enforced.<br />
The city of Zagreb, the capital of<br />
Croatia, has the status of both a<br />
city <strong>and</strong> a county, which means its<br />
competencies are those of both local<br />
<strong>and</strong> regional authorities.<br />
Competence of cities<br />
(on top of those also held<br />
by municipalities)<br />
• Ma<strong>in</strong>tenance of public roads<br />
• Build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>and</strong> rent<strong>in</strong>g permits<br />
<strong>Regional</strong> level 21 counties (županija)<br />
There are a total of 21 counties,<br />
<strong>in</strong>clud<strong>in</strong>g the city of Zagreb, which<br />
doubles as a county <strong>and</strong> as a city.<br />
Counties are the primary territorial<br />
subdivision of Croatia. These regional<br />
self-government units have a large<br />
degree of autonomy. Croatia is<br />
currently undergo<strong>in</strong>g a process of<br />
decentralisation of power from the<br />
national level to the regional level.<br />
Thus, many adm<strong>in</strong>istrative tasks are<br />
gradually be<strong>in</strong>g devolved to the<br />
counties.<br />
The county assembly (županijska<br />
skupšt<strong>in</strong>a) is the county’s<br />
representative body. The assembly<br />
is composed of members elected by<br />
direct universal suffrage for a four-year<br />
term. The county assembly elects the<br />
county’s executive leadership <strong>and</strong><br />
decides on the yearly budget.<br />
The county prefect (župan) is the<br />
county’s executive body. He/she<br />
represents the county <strong>in</strong> external<br />
affairs <strong>and</strong> presides over its executive<br />
government.<br />
Competences<br />
• Education<br />
• Health services<br />
• <strong>Regional</strong> <strong>and</strong> urban plann<strong>in</strong>g<br />
• Economic development<br />
• Traffic <strong>and</strong> traffic <strong>in</strong>frastructure<br />
• Ma<strong>in</strong>tenance of public roads<br />
CEMR <strong>in</strong> Croatia – Croatia (www.hrvzz.hr)<br />
18
Change language