The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe has called on the Slovak authorities to address the problems associated with municipal fragmentation in the country, improve the funding of local authorities, revise the fiscal equalisation system aimed at mitigating regional and inter-municipal disparities and improve consultation.
In a recommendation adopted today evaluating the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in the Slovak Republic, the Congress welcomes some positive developments in the country, such as the synchronisation of the election and terms of office of local and regional self-government, including mayors and regional governors. It also notes with satisfaction the positive effects of the creation of the Supreme Administrative Court, the ongoing civic/public service reform and the implementation of programmes such as “Effective Public Administration“.
On the other hand, it expresses concern about several matters. The fragmentation of local government results in small municipalities having limited administrative capacity and financial resources, hampering the provision of high-quality standardised services to citizens. Therefore, the Congress invites the authorities to encourage voluntary mergers and promote inter-municipal cooperation, including through joint municipal offices.
The Congress also notes with concern the ongoing problems regarding the need for more local financial resources and the gap between the actual cost of tasks delegated to local authorities and the allocated funds, which increases their dependence on central government funding. To tackle this situation, adequate funding should be ensured to local and regional authorities and their financial autonomy strengthened.
Other shortcomings that need to be solved are the ineffectiveness of the current fiscal equalisation system, which does not fully remediate the effects of the unequal distribution of sources of finance, and the absence of fiscal powers at the regional level. In addition, consultation mechanisms should be improved to enable effective and timely consultation with subnational authorities on all matters that concern them.
Finally, the Congress invites the Slovak Republic to sign and ratify the Additional Protocol to the European Charter of Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority.
The Congress recommendation is based on the findings of a report on the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government by the Slovak Republic prepared by rapporteurs Matthias Gysin, Switzerland (L, ILDG) and Levan Zhorzholiani, Georgia (R, NR).
