Strengthening decentralization, empowering local communities and creating a system in which the government will be closer to citizens, and local institutions will work in their interests, is the goal of the Ministry of Public Administration (MPA), said the relevant Minister Maraš Dukaj.
He participated in the conference on strengthening local governments in the Western Balkans in regional cooperation and European integration, which was held in Tirana.
Dukaj, as announced by the MPA, emphasized that this government department is paying special attention to the reform of the local self-government system.
He said that Montenegro did not even have initial data on the situation in local governments and that they therefore had to start from scratch.
Dukaj reminded that they have prepared a comprehensive Analysis of the functioning of the local self-government system.
"According to the designed methodology, we collected data from all municipalities and state bodies, in order to objectively determine the shortcomings and challenges in the existing system," said Dukaj.
The analysis, he stated, showed that Montenegro is one of the most centralized countries in Europe and that the monotypic model of local government organization is not sustainable.
"There are serious challenges regarding local public finances and the functioning of local businesses. Also, the method of electing the mayor is not appropriate, as it does not reflect electoral legitimacy," the statement said.
Dukaj said that their goal was to improve decentralization, but that they were aware that not all municipalities had the capacity to take on new responsibilities.
That is why, as he said, they have opted for gradual improvement in this area, that is, for the introduction of asymmetric decentralization.
"This implies the introduction of cities as units of local self-government, which will exercise a wider range of responsibilities in the areas of primary health care, preschool education and social and child protection, as well as spatial planning," added Dukaj.
He reiterated that this decentralization model will be introduced by the new law on local self-government, which will affirm European integration, introduce innovative mechanisms for monitoring the work of local self-governments, and improve inter-municipal cooperation.
"And as another step forward - Montenegro will for the first time receive the Law on Local Servants and Employees," the statement said.
Dukaj emphasized that the MPA submitted two initiatives to the Parliament, concerning the reform of the local electoral system.
"We proposed introducing direct elections for mayors and holding local elections on one day," Dukaj said.
He reiterated that it is clear that without a comprehensive reform of the electoral system, no substantive changes can be made.
"Our goal is clear - to strengthen decentralization, empower local communities, and create a system in which the government will be closer to citizens, and local institutions will work in their interests," said Dukaj.
The Conference on Strengthening Local Governments of the Western Balkans in Regional Cooperation and EU Integration is organized by the Western Balkans Funds in cooperation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan, the International Visegrad Fund, the Network of Local Government Associations of Southeast Europe, and ReSPA.
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