Systems of multilevel governance[1]
Representation[2]
There are three representative associations of municipalities in Slovenia: the Association of Municipalities and Towns of Slovenia, established in 1992,[3] the Association of Municipalities of Slovenia, established in 1999,[4] and the Association of Urban Municipalities of Slovenia, established in 2010.[5] The three associations represent the local government vis-à-vis the central government. In particular, according to Article 86a of the Local Self-Government Act, 'an association of municipalities shall represent the interests of its members in national bodies when the latter draft or adopt laws or regulations laying down tasks, rights, obligations, and liabilities of municipalities, or when regulations relate to the interests of the members in any other way.' According to the same article, an association of municipalities obtains the status of a representative organisation when at least 30% of the municipalities are its members. In the case of an association of urban municipalities, at least half of urban municipalities need to be members.
The fifty-eight devolved state administrative units liaise with local government. Special joint councils exist for this purpose.
Information and consultation[6]
During the legislative process, information is provided to the local authorities by means of being published on the Parliament's website.
According to Article 94 of the Local Self-Government Act, the Parliament has to obtain the opinion of municipalities before adopting legislation which concerns their benefits. Moreover, the article stipulates that 'before adopting proposals of laws and before submitting them to the Parliament for adoption and before adopting other regulations in its competence, which concerns competences, activities and funding of municipalities, the Government must suitably ensure collaboration of national associations of local authorities.'
Also, associations of local and regional authorities participate in ministerial working groups and in 'working consultation' with competent state bodies. However, in practice, state authorities either do not take into consideration the opinions and proposals of municipalities and their associations, or do not consider them to a large enough extent. Sometimes, state bodies do not even consult with local authorities or associations of municipalities at all.
Coordination[7]
According to Article 86a of the Local Self-government Act, 'the government determines the criteria and procedure for the composition of permanent missions of representative associations of municipalities for co-operation with national bodies, and the composition of their delegations within international organisations.'
The delegation consists[8] of members or members and their deputies or alternates nominated by the minister responsible for local self-government among elected municipal officials, i.e. members or members of municipal councils or deputy mayors or mayors or mayors. The minister proposes delegations to international organizations to be appointed for the mandate period set by the international organization. The term of office of a member of the delegation shall expire when the period for which he was appointed or expires by the term of office of a municipal official expires.
The number of members of the delegation is determined in accordance with international treaties or with the rules of the European Union, the Council of Europe or other international organizations. The delegation is selected in such a way that:
- both sexes are represented and at least a third of the total number of members are women; if the delegation is composed of two members, one of the members needs to be a woman,
- political parties are represented at the municipal level,
- the municipalities (members of associations) are represented according to the size of the association,
- all areas of the country are adequately represented,
- all associations of municipalities are represented.
Members must speak at least one official or working language of an international organization.
These rules are currently being revised.
[1] Council of European Municipalities and Regions, Consultation procedures within European States, 2007.
[2] Consultation procedures within the European states, Council of European Municipalities and regions, 2007 and Under the supervision of Professors Michael Keating and Jacques Ziller, Study on the Division of Powers between the EU, the Member States and regional and Local Authorities, European University Institute, Florence, 2008
[3] https://skupnostobcin.si/english/
[4] http://www.zdruzenjeobcin.si/en/
[5] https://www.zmos.si/english/
[6] See footnote 8.
[7] Ibid.
[8] http://www.pisrs.si/Pis.web/pregledPredpisa?id=DRUG4578
