OSCE Mission to Skopje holds discussion on decentralization challenges

SKOPJE, 29 November 2013 – How to ensure transparency and inclusive public participation in local self-government through decentralization policies is the topic of an OSCE-supported event that started in Skopje today.

The roundtable discussion will focus on key conclusions and recommendations of analytical papers on decentralization drafted by the OSCE Mission to Skopje based on a research in several mainly ethnically mixed municipalities in 2012. The papers cover general status of the decentralization, human resources management at local level, work of the committees for inter-community relations, fiscal decentralization, citizens’ participation and functioning of the municipal council.

“Decentralization is a key element of the Ohrid Framework Agreement; it strengthens the fundamental democratic mechanisms in the society through bringing the power of decision-making closer to the citizens,” said the Head of OSCE Mission to Skopje, Ambassador Ralf Breth. “Over the past eight years the OSCE Mission has been monitoring the developments and contributing with its own policy recommendations to the future course of the reform.”

The feedback received from the event participants will be used for the final report on decentralization process to be published in January 2014.

The OSCE Mission to Skopje held four regional roundtable meetings with representatives of 19 local self-government units, including the City of Skopje. Mayors, presidents of municipal councils, representatives of the committees for inter-community relations and civil society organizations attended the events.