Local and Regional Governments in Europe
CEMR_structures_and_competences_2016_EN
CEMR_structures_and_competences_2016_EN
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Icel<strong>and</strong><br />
Icel<strong>and</strong> is a unitary state<br />
composed of municipalities (sveitarfélag).<br />
State structure<br />
unitary<br />
Number of<br />
Sub-national governments<br />
2012 2016<br />
LOCAL 76 74<br />
Capital city<br />
Reykjavík<br />
Population<br />
333,000<br />
Geographical size<br />
103,000 km²<br />
Currency<br />
Icel<strong>and</strong> Krona (ISK)<br />
Vote<br />
non-compulsory<br />
<strong>Local</strong> level 74 municipalities (sveitarfélag)<br />
The municipal council (called<br />
differently depend<strong>in</strong>g on the size<br />
of the municipality: sveitarstjórn,<br />
bæjarstjórn or borgarstjórn for<br />
Reykjavík city) is composed of<br />
councillors elected by direct universal<br />
suffrage, for a four-year term. These<br />
councillors are responsible for the<br />
management of the municipality<br />
<strong>and</strong> appo<strong>in</strong>t permanent committees<br />
to assist the council <strong>in</strong> its work. These<br />
committees work on specific issues<br />
wholly or partly related to local life<br />
<strong>and</strong> make recommendations to the<br />
council.<br />
The executive committee (called<br />
differently depend<strong>in</strong>g on the size of<br />
the municipality: byggðaráð, bæjarráð<br />
or borgarráð for Reykjavík city) is the<br />
municipality's executive body <strong>and</strong><br />
is composed of municipal council<br />
members designated by the council.<br />
It is <strong>in</strong> charge of the f<strong>in</strong>ancial <strong>and</strong><br />
adm<strong>in</strong>istrative management of the<br />
municipality.<br />
The president of the council (called<br />
oddviti or forseti depend<strong>in</strong>g on the<br />
size of the municipality) is elected by<br />
municipal council majority. He/she<br />
presides over the council. Follow<strong>in</strong>g<br />
elections, the municipal council may<br />
decide to appo<strong>in</strong>t one of its members<br />
as mayor or may designate a nonpolitical<br />
person to take on this role.<br />
Municipalities have the possibility of<br />
tak<strong>in</strong>g on additional tasks concern<strong>in</strong>g<br />
their <strong>in</strong>habitants provided that they<br />
have the budget to support these<br />
<strong>and</strong> that the tasks <strong>in</strong> question are<br />
not assigned to other government<br />
adm<strong>in</strong>istrations by law.<br />
Competences<br />
• Social services <strong>and</strong> child welfare<br />
• Services for persons with<br />
disabilities<br />
• Preschools <strong>and</strong> primary schools<br />
• Culture, sports <strong>and</strong> leisure activities<br />
• Public utilities (heat<strong>in</strong>g, sewage,<br />
water <strong>and</strong> electricity)<br />
• Spatial <strong>and</strong> urban plann<strong>in</strong>g<br />
• Build<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong>spection<br />
• Public parks <strong>and</strong> open areas<br />
• Monitor<strong>in</strong>g of public <strong>and</strong><br />
environmental health<br />
• Fire services<br />
• Public transport<br />
• Waste management <strong>and</strong> collection<br />
• Harbours<br />
CEMR <strong>in</strong> Icel<strong>and</strong> – Icel<strong>and</strong>ic Association of <strong>Local</strong> Authorities (www.samb<strong>and</strong>.is)<br />
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