Local Government: Progress in Decentralization

This chapter starts with a discussion of territorial organisation, and in particular of territorial reforms at both the local and regional level, which have been a common feature for most countries of the region. The picture of territorial organisation in the countries of the studied region is highly diversified. The relatively small countries of Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania and Slovenia, as well as the considerably larger Bulgaria, have one (municipal) tier of sub-national government. As elsewhere in Europe, sub-national governments in the studied region are responsible for several public services which are essential for the everyday life of citizens. First of all, municipalities deal with the major metabolic functions of cities, related for example to provision of water and sewage systems, waste management, public transport, roads, street lighting, parks and green areas. During the last 20 to 30 years Europe has undergone dramatic change in terms of local leadership models.