Rozwój samorządu terytorialnego w państwach Europy Środkowej i Wschodniej
Development of local government in Central and Eastern European countries

Summary/Abstract: Development of local government in Central and Eastern European countries One of the most important element of political and democratic transformation after 1989 in Central and Eastern European countries was the local government reform. The main aim of that reform was to renew the local government structure and replace the soviet system of councils which was highly centralized administrative and bureaucratic system. The introduction of territorial self-government was considered as essential task in the process of political changes after fall of communism. The basic regulations of the local government system were included in the Constitutions, acts on local government and acts on free local elections adopted in ten Central and Eastern European countries which became the members of European Union in 2004 (Czech Republic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Hungary) and in 2007 (Bulgaria and Romania). The main principles of local government reform in Central and Eastern European countries were: — democratization and decentralization — autonomy from the central government — establishment of independent local budgets — property transformation — democratic local elections.

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