ДЕЦЕНТРАЛИЗАЦИЯТА ОТ ОБЩИНАТА КЪМ КМЕТСТВАТА – СКЪСЯВАНЕ НА ДИСТАНЦИЯТА МЕЖДУ ГРАЖДАНИТЕ И ВЛАСТТА
DECENTRALIZATION FROM THE MUNICIPALITY TO TOWN HILLS - CANCELLATION OF DISTANCE BETWEEN CITIZENS AND THE POWER

Summary/Abstract: Bulgaria is one of the few EU Member States where the decisions on the regional policy are taken by the central authorities, although two-thirds of the European Directives in principle are implemented at local or regional level. The efficient regional policy based on the principles of good governance and targeted toward socio-economic, cultural, historical, demographic and educational development is of paramount importance for overcoming the disparity in the economic status of the towns and villages in Bulgaria. The fact that regional policy is formulated at central level following the top-down approach is in contradiction with the subsidiarity principle. Decentralisation is based on the principle that the problems, needs and preferences of the citizens cannot be addressed adequately if the decisions on the type and scope of the civil services are taken at central level. Therefore, the decisions should be taken at a level closer to the citizens, while the central government is to define the general priorities and perform coordination functions. Decentralisation should not stop when reaching the municipalities (which are the only centres at local level that regulate and distribute services and resources). There is an expressed need of decentralisation of the municipal authorities toward the town councils providing mayors with greater financial independence and clearly defined powers. Decentralisation is a means of ensuring efficient and effective public services to the citizens. Increasing the governance and financial independence of the municipalities is an important pre-requisite for decentralisation and provision of quality services to the citizens where the responsibility should be borne by the public authority structures, which are closest to the people and their needs and problems. This can be achieved if there exists balance in the distribution of the services, the rights, responsibilities and resources for their provision between the municipality and the town councils. Decentralisation toward town councils will contribute to more balance relations between the municipality and the town council, better financial status of the town councils that will allow for designing and providing services of better quality and efficiency that raise the satisfaction of the users. This way the local authorities and the municipal administration will be released from routine obligations and will concentrate on developing and implementing the local policy while creating conditions for development and efficient functioning of the town halls under their control. Decentralisation toward the town halls will save the users of services time and money; it will improve the service quality and will make their lives easier.

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