- ZMOS and SK8 presented a joint position paper on public administration reform.
- Municipalities describe the current model of competences and financing as unsustainable in the long term.
- The goal is a lean and decentralized state transferring sectoral policies to local governments.
- The proposal includes the constitutional anchoring of self-governments, multi-source financing and inter-municipal cooperation.
- Municipalities also request the right of veto on laws fundamentally affecting their functioning.
The Association of Cities and Towns of Slovakia (ZMOS) and the Association of Self-Governing Regions of Slovakia (SK8) presented on Friday a joint position paper on public administration reform entitled Territorial Self-Government as a Stable and Strong Partner of the State. In it, they present common requirements for the necessary public administration reform. They agreed on the principles and steps necessary for the modernization and more efficient functioning of services to citizens.
Meanwhile for example, they also demand the right of veto. They will then approach state representatives for negotiations to find breakthroughs and start preparing the reform itself. Representatives of both associations informed about this at the press conference on Friday.
“We think that in this case it is not just about asking for financial resources. It is not just about talking about how to redraw the maps. But we are asking and saying that we have the ambition to improve the functioning of public administration. We have the ambition and expert opinions on how municipalities, cities, regions and the whole of Slovakia could function better.” stated the chairman of SK8 and the chairman of the Trnava self-governing region, Jozef Viskupic.
According to the municipalities, the common material, which is the result of a two-year professional dialogue, represents a comprehensive vision of how to transform public administration into a modern, lean and functional system based on the needs of the residents of the territory. They have been warning for a long time that the current model of organizing competences and financing is unsustainable.
At the same time, the position paper is important for self-governments, i.e. regions, cities and municipalities, to be a “proud and determined partner”, including towards the government of the Slovak Republic, as well as towards the Union of Slovak Cities. The basis is therefore good decentralization, strengthening of the competences of local governments and more funding, especially stable funding.
The aim of the changes is to create a lean and thus decentralized state, which will transfer the performance of sector policies, such as education, social services, culture or regional development, directly to local governments. The proposal envisages the constitutional anchoring of the position of local governments, the elimination of duplications with the state administration and the introduction of a regional integrated management model. At the same time, it brings stability through predictable multi-source financing and mandatory inter-municipal cooperation.
At the same time, local governments also demand the right of veto, i.e. the possibility to return a “bad” law, an undrafted law or a law in an abbreviated legislative procedure back to the parliament, so that it can be discussed further and errors can be identified in it. They point out that decisions are often made that have a fundamental impact on the functioning of local governments and the quality of services provided.
“We are the arms and legs of the welfare state. It’s just that despite having such a great responsibility, we don’t have enough rights and we don’t have enough position in the system of power.” pointed out the vice-chairman of SK8 and the chairman of the Banskobystrica self-governing region Ondrej Lantern with the fact that this change should not cost the state any money.
According to the chairman of ZMOS and mayor of Partizánske Jozef Božik je by trying to open a discussion on the reform and modernization of public administration with the document. “Territorial self-government provides services that directly affect people’s lives on a daily basis. When a citizen solves his problem, he knocks on the door of a city or municipal office. That is why we present a proposal for public administration reform from the point of view of local governments.” remarked Božik.
They have already sent the document to the President of the Slovak Republic Petr Pellegrini, the Chairman of the National Council of the Slovak Republic Richard Raši (Hlas-SD) and the Prime Minister Robert Fico (Smer-SD). It should also be delivered to coalition and opposition parties. They expect the state to open a substantive dialogue, the goal of which will be the approval of a reform bringing a higher quality of life to residents in all corners of Slovakia.
