The Union of Municipalities has published a Manual for Drafting Regulations of Local Self-Government Units

The Union of Municipalities (ZOCG) has published the Manual for Drafting Regulations of Local Self-Government Units, authored by Dragan Šoć, the first document of its kind in Montenegro intended to improve the quality, compliance and uniformity of local regulations.

The manual provides practical guidelines for the preparation, drafting and adoption of local acts, along with an overview of key legal and technical rules, examples of good practice and recommendations for improving the normative work of local governments.

"It is intended for employees in local governments, councilors and all other stakeholders who participate in the preparation and adoption of local regulations," the statement said.

The Secretary General of the ZOCG, Mišela Manojlović, assessed that the Manual will represent an important tool for local governments in the process of improving the quality of regulations and strengthening legal security at the local level.

"Quality local regulations are the basis for the efficient functioning of local self-government, better provision of services to citizens and successful implementation of European standards at the local level. This manual was created in response to the need to further improve and standardize normative practice in Montenegrin municipalities, and to provide employees working on the preparation of regulations with practical support in their daily work," said Manojlović.

She added that in recent years, the ZOCG has worked intensively on strengthening the capacities of local governments through training, professional support and exchange of experiences among municipalities.

"The manual represents a logical continuation of these activities and a contribution to the professionalization of local administration. We are convinced that it will contribute to greater legal certainty, more efficient work of local authorities and better understanding of local regulations by citizens and other users," said Manojlović.

The design and printing of the publication were provided through the Municipality for the EU project - Empowering local communities in the European integration process of Montenegro, which is being implemented with the financial support of the European Union (EU), and in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration and the ZOCG.

The team leader of the Municipalities for the EU project, Branka Mračević, emphasized that the goal of the project is to provide local governments with practical knowledge and tools that will help them implement reforms and strengthen their capacities for European integration.

"Through the Municipalities for the EU project, we strive to provide local governments with practical knowledge and tools that will help them be stronger partners in the European integration process. We believe that this manual will be a valuable support to municipalities in improving normative work and providing better quality services to citizens," said Mračević.

The manual is available in electronic form on the website of the ZOCG and the platform of the Municipalities for the EU project.