DISTRIBUTION OF COMPETENCES THROUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN EU COUNTRIES
DISTRIBUTION OF COMPETENCES THROUGH LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN EU COUNTRIES

Summary/Abstract: The European Charter of Local Self-Government (ECLSG) is the reference source of supranational local autonomy for all countries that are members of the Council of Europe. The Charter sets out several key principles of the highest relevance for the apportioning of competences to the local level, namely: the clause of general competence; the principle of subsidiarity; the principle of exclusivity of local powers; the principle of diversity in delivery systems; and consultation of local authorities for sector legislation. European Union treaties, as well as regulations from European Union institutions, are also a source for setting national legislative frameworks on the distribution of functions across levels of government. Once ratified, the European Charter of Local Self-Government (ECLSG) of the Council of Europe is a source for legislation in signatory countries. The Charter establishes several principles that underpin local autonomy.

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