LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT FACING REFORM CHALLENGES

- GUIDE TO LOCAL DEMOCRACY -

Brochure –handbook LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT FACING REFORM CHALLENGES

–Guide to local democracyis the part of the project "Local media in strengthening local democracy and development of civil society " which STINA news agency realized in 2004/2005 with financial aid of the European Union (Program EIDHR 2001: European Initiative for Democracy and Human Rights).

During realization of this project STINA news agency, which has been working for long time on various project of civic education via media, has tried to contribute to the training of local media for that role, thus motivating citizens to get more actively and efficiently involved in civil society and reforms of local self-government.

Apart from the brochure, there is also a special monthly educational-informative service "---- for local democracy", 50 educational-informative live radio shows "Hour of Local Democracy" at the local radio stations throughout Croatia as well as two educational seminars for journalists in print media. Project information and content are available at

Brochure – handbook in front of you tries to present current issues of reform challenges facing local self-government in Croatia, especially in a context of achieving European standard during EU accession process.

Contents of this project have been primarily aimed towards local media and, indirectly, general public, but they can also be of interest to various NGOs, representatives of local government, political activists, all people who are working for improving local self-government.

Publisher:

STINA d.o.o., Split, Setaliste Bacvice 10, Hrvatska

Publisher representative:

Goran Vezic

Editor:

Stojan Obradovic

Authors:

Teodor Antic, Krzysztof Chmura, Davor Gjenero, Mirna Karzen, Silvija Kipson, Nenad Klapcic, Nenad Kocmur, Momo Kuzmanovic, Lidija Pavic-Rogosic, Zdravko Petak, Miljenko Turniski, Miljenko Smit

Layout:

Branko Galic

Print:

TYPO, Omis

Split 2005

Contents

REFORMS OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT– CHALLENGES AND LIMITS

Teodor Antic...... 7

EUROPEAN TRENDS AND STANDARDSIN DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL DEMOCRACY

Nenad Kocmur...... 19

DECENTRALIZATION AS WORLD TREND

Zdravko Petak...... 23

PARTICIPATORY DEMOCRACY AT LOCAL LEVEL IN DEVELOPED EUROPEAN DEMOCRACIES

Nenad Klapcic...... 32

FORMS OF DIRECT DEMOCRACY IN LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

Davor Gjenero...... 38

ADD VALUES OF TRANS-BORDER COOPERATION OF LOCAL COMMUNITIES

Miljenko Turniski...... 42

CITIZENS AND IMPROVING MANAGEMENT EFFICIENCY OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

Krzysztof Chmura, Mirna Karzen, Momo Kuzmanovic...... 45

E - GOVERNMENT

Miljenko Smit...... 57

PUBLIC SPACE AND DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT

Mirna Karzen...... 65

PLANNING ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AT A LOCAL LEVEL

Lidija Pavic-Rogosic, Silvija Kipson...... 70