Izvorni znanstveni članak
The role of the counties in the Croatian system of local self-government in the 1990’S and prospects of regionalization after the constitutional amendments of 2000
Ivan Koprić
; Pravni fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu, Zagreb, Hrvatska
Sažetak
The formation ofthe institutions o f the independent Croatian state has been based on the French model. It is a model of a centralistic state with a very strong position of the executive power and direct and marked vertical Unes of subordination in the territorial administrative System, from the President o f the State to the level of basic locai units.
In West European countries as well as ín a number ofEast European countries in transition, growing processes of regionalization tend toward self-government of smaller territorial units within the state, strengthening the sense of responsibility of their population, politicians and officiais for their own development. Contrary to this, the Croatian counties, established during the reform of 1992/93, enabled centralization within the state mechanism itself as well as complete etatization, i.e. widening of thè scope of operation and influence o f the state in thè society at the expense of non-governmental and autonomous institutions. Legislative solutions with regard to the county offices, the institution ofthe county governor, administrative supervision, brauch offices of ministries and the so-called state administrative organizations, détermination ofthe scope of self-government within the counties, etc. have significantly contributed to such processes. The territorial structure of the counties was built according to politicai and not administrative-technical criteria. The counties did not prove to be capable ofpromoting economic, cultural and social development but instead they provided favourable ground for thegrowth ofbureaucracy, that is, accumulation of inefficient state administration. By thè Amendments to thè Constitution of2000, solid foundations were laid for
thè development of thè counties as regional self-governing units. Such a direction has been supported by further legislative changes. Redesigning of thè institution of thè county govemor, rationalization of thè structure o f thè county administrative departments, substantial widening ofthe scope of powers of all self-governing units and a number ofother measures should lead to strengthening of local and regional
self-government and also to thè création ofmore efficient, cheaper and more adequate state administration. However, in order to achieve this goal, it is needed to take a number o f other measures, from dealing with thè network ofbranch offices of central administrative bodies to necessary corrections in respect ofthe number and territorial structure of thè counties.
Ključne riječi
local and regional self-government - Croatia; county; regionalization
Hrčak ID:
197485
URI
Datum izdavanja:
8.3.2001.
Posjeta: 2.045 *