OSCE Mission to Skopje presents results of annual decentralization survey

SKOPJE, 17 December 2009 - The OSCE Mission to Skopje presented the results of its annual survey on decentralization at a conference in Skopje today. The survey assesses the progress of decentralization in 2008 and 2009 in the areas of public administration reform, decision-making process, local economic development, fiscal decentralization, inter-ethnic relations, and education.

The conference was organized jointly by the OSCE Spillover Monitor Mission to Skopje and the Association of Municipalities (ZELS).

"Special attention was paid to the transfer of competences from the central to the municipal level in key reform areas laid out in the Ohrid Framework Agreement, such as inter-ethnic relations, equitable representation, use of languages and education. The OSCE Mission to Skopje will continue to support the implementation of the Agreement within the framework of its mandate to facilitate the country's integration into European and Euro-Atlantic structures," said Ambassador Jose Luis Herrero, the Head of the OSCE Mission to Skopje.

ZELS' President Koce Trajanovski added: "All municipalities have worked together on improving the legal and financial environment to stimulate decentralization in the country and to ensure more effective implementation of the acquired competences. The co-ordinated work proved that local governments are on the right path to accomplish the common goal of decentralization."

The survey has served as a basis for programmes and project development by the international community in the country.

The Ohrid Framework Agreement was signed in August 2001 following a seven-month conflict in the country.