OSCE Mission to Skopje presents results from 2008 Survey on Decentralization

OHRID, 4 December 2008 - The OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje presented the results of its 2008 Survey on Decentralization at the 3rd Conference on the Decentralization organized by the Association of Local Self Government Units (ZELS) in Ohrid today.

Ambassador Giorgio Radicati, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje, reported that progress has been achieved in several areas. "The 2008 Survey confirms that the decentralization process has helped municipalities improve their capacities and exchange best practices," he said. He also pointed out the challenges identified in the report:

"Findings reveal that Local Self Government Units need to improve their relations with the central Government. Together they will need to address the issue of financing services but at the same time focus on performance indicators, quality control and proper monitoring."

One best practice noted in the report is Inter-Municipal Co-operation, in which resources and instruments have been shared between municipalities to provide better services.

The Mayor of Gazi Baba and current ZELS President, Koce Trajanovski also noted the key role of inter-municipal co-operation.

"Achieving a high level of local democracy is our motto; especially since we view local governance as a service to the citizens," he said.

The 2008 Survey also shows positive developments regarding reforms in the fields of education, local economic development, urban planning, culture, communal services and municipal finance.