REFLECTIONS ON THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE EUROPEAN CHARTER OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT
REFLECTIONS ON THE 40th ANNIVERSARY OF THE EUROPEAN CHARTER OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

Summary/Abstract: Local government is an important element of the democratic state and of public administration under the rule of law. The 40th anniversary of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in the year in which this study is being completed is an excellent occasion to focus on them. The Charter is an important milestone in the history of the development of local government in Europe and, together with its additional protocol, remains one of the most important international instruments for the protection and development of local autonomy in Europe. The focus of this study is to present the provisions of the Charter and to identify the main challenges and future trends affecting local government systems, with a view to providing a basis for further work. In my professional opinion, the crisis situations of the last 10-15 years have tested the resilience of local governments. These events have not favoured decentralisation efforts or the functioning of local autonomies. As a result, the last decade and a half has been dominated not by large-scale reforms but rather by steps to build resilience.

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