Local and Regional Governments in Europe

Regional level 19 counties (fylkeskommune)
The county council (fylkestinget) is
composed of councillors elected by
proportional representation for a
period of four years. It is the county's
legislative body and is in charge of
budgetary, financial and planning
issues.
The executive committee
(fylkesutvalget) is composed of
members designated by and from
within the county council and meets
at least once a month. Much like the
municipality's executive committee,
it prepares decisions on the county's
budget, annual accounts and taxes.
The executive committee also makes
decisions on less important or more
urgent matters and monitors the
administration's implementation of
political decisions.
The county mayor (fylkesordfører)
is elected by the county council
among the members of the executive
committee for a four-year mandate.
He/she heads both the county council
and the executive committee and
represents the county.
The city of Oslo has the status of a
municipality and of a county, and thus
enjoys both the local and regional
competences listed above.
Four of the counties, in addition to
Oslo, have a parliamentary system,
whereby the county council elects a
county government supported by the
majority of the councillors.
Competences
• Secondary education
• Regional development
• Transport and environment
• Trade and industrial policy.
• Culture
• Dental health
CEMR in Norway - Norwegian Association of Local and Regional Authorities (http://www.ks.no/)
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