OSCE Skopje Mission aids publication of new handbook for local councillors
A workshop for inter-municipal co-operation, organized by the OSCE Mission to Skopje in 2003. (OSCE) Photo details
SKOPJE, 11 February, 2005 - A "Handbook for Elected Municipal Officials" that has been supported by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje will be presented today to the public. The publication provides elected officials within a decentralized system with a clear description of their roles and functions.
It will be particularly useful to the incoming officials who are elected under the new legislation in the March municipal elections.
"The establishment of effective and accountable local government is crucial to the stability of a democratic society," said Ambassador Carlos Pais, Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje. "We are confident that the Handbook will support tdhe successful work of the Association of Units of Local Self-Government and the Ministry of Local Self-Government in preparing municipalities for decentralization and the new competencies that local officials will face."
The Handbook was developed by local experts and municipal government practitioners in co-operation with the Association and the International Co-operation Agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities. It is based on the model used in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.
A total of 2,000 copies of the handbook and 1,000 CDs were produced in Macedonian, Albanian, as well as in English.
It is one of many successful examples of the co-ordinated efforts of donors: the USAID Project "Make Decentralization Work", the Ministry of Local Self-Government and the Swiss Development Co-operation were all members of the Handbook Steering Committee.
It will be particularly useful to the incoming officials who are elected under the new legislation in the March municipal elections.
"The establishment of effective and accountable local government is crucial to the stability of a democratic society," said Ambassador Carlos Pais, Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje. "We are confident that the Handbook will support tdhe successful work of the Association of Units of Local Self-Government and the Ministry of Local Self-Government in preparing municipalities for decentralization and the new competencies that local officials will face."
The Handbook was developed by local experts and municipal government practitioners in co-operation with the Association and the International Co-operation Agency of the Association of Netherlands Municipalities. It is based on the model used in the Netherlands and the Czech Republic.
A total of 2,000 copies of the handbook and 1,000 CDs were produced in Macedonian, Albanian, as well as in English.
It is one of many successful examples of the co-ordinated efforts of donors: the USAID Project "Make Decentralization Work", the Ministry of Local Self-Government and the Swiss Development Co-operation were all members of the Handbook Steering Committee.