THE RIGHTS AND MECHANISMS FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION INDECISION-MAKING PROCESSES AT LOCAL LEVEL
THE RIGHTS AND MECHANISMS FOR CITIZEN PARTICIPATION INDECISION-MAKING PROCESSES AT LOCAL LEVEL

Summary/Abstract: Citizen participation in decision-making processes at the local level is an issue open to discussion and involves quite a few interesting challenges, especially for the decentralized governments such is in Macedonia. Enhancing citizen participation in decision-making process is in line with the EU commitments of the statefor strengthening participatory and representative democracy, the rule of law and human rights, in particular by reinforcing an active role of civil society. Consultation with citizens is essential for practicing democratic, participatory and transparent good governance by the municipalities. The concept is based on the idea of citizens improving their own life through direct participation and the administration developing accountable local governance that can be trusted. Local governments which are oriented toward their citizens and in continuous communication with them are in position to better address local needs and manage public expenses more efficiently. Hence, the exchange between the local government and the citizens needs to be practiced through institutional mechanism. Basic forms of consultation with citizens are elaborated in legal documents adopted in the country at both national and local level. But when it comes to including citizens as equal partners in decision-making process the situation is somewhat challenging. Both citizens and local governments have at their disposal tools and mechanisms laid out in the legal documents yet they refrain from using them. Besides, by law there is no restriction on the methods that local governments can use to and other forms can be implemented as needed.

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