Органи місцевого самоврядування та єс

Членство Швеції в ЄС не має прямого впливу на місцеве самоврядування. Так само й деякі важливі для місцевих громад питання, як, скажімо, соціальна політика та оподаткування, залишаються поза компетенцією ЄС. Але опосередковано співпраця між державами-членами ЄС дедалі більше позначається на діяльності органів місцевого самоврядування у Швеції. Це, зокрема, стосується і питань, що не входять до компетенції ЄС, наприклад, соціальна політика та допомога незахищеним групам населення — старим та інвалідам.

Водночас надані кошти та засади структурних фондів ЄС збільшили можливості органів місцевого самоврядування Швеції в розвитку територіальних громад і розширенні співпраці та взаємообміну з місцевою владою інших країн. Серед галузей місцевого самоврядування, на які безпосередньо поширюється законодавство ЄС — охорона навколишнього середовища, державне постачання та енергетика.

Окрім того, розширенню міжнародних зв'язків органів місцевого самоврядування Швеції значно посприяли демократичні перетворення в країнах колишнього Східного блоку. Місцеві ради Швеції та інших скандинавських країн беруть участь у програмах регіонального розвитку країн Балтики та північно-західної частини Росії.

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN SWEDEN

Local government in Sweden has a long tradition. The first legislative act in this area is considered to be local government decree in 1862 that distinction between church and community affairs. Responsibility for religious affairs was entrusted to the parish, and in public - in cities and rural communities. The decree also introduced a new local government at regional level - the district council (landstynh), to which an area corresponding to the regional administrative units - District (Lena). From January 1, 2000 in Sweden church separated from state, parish and immediately lost its administrative status.

So, in the case in Sweden there are two types of local government - municipality at the local level and landstynh - at the regional level. A total of 289 Swedish municipalities (Local Councils), 18 landstynhiv and four regional councils. The new law on local self-government of 1992 defines the boundaries of local councils, landstynhiv and regions.

Powers of municipalities and landstynhiv

The powers of local government sector can be divided into two categories: general powers delegated to local councils and landstynham law on local government, and powers determined by special legislation.

The division of responsibilities between local councils and landstynhamy still relies on the principle that services needed by all within the competence landstynhiv. A typical example is the health and medical care.

According to the law on local government, municipalities and landstynhy to decide general questions relating to their respective territories and not the prerogative of other governments. Based on these general powers of local councils and landstynhy care, including housing, arrangement of streets and roads, transport, water supply and sanitation, production and supply of energy, development of culture and leisure. In recent years, local councils are also responsible for arranging the growing number of refugees due to special state grants.

Compulsory powers to local councils, certain special regulations include education, social welfare, care for the elderly and people with disabilities, planning and construction, certain powers of the Environment and Rescue Service. For landstynhu such powers are health care, hospitals and public dental clinics.

Municipalities

Education is the largest and most important task of local councils. In the municipal educational institutions in the 2000/2001 academic year, students learned to 1787600. Local councils are responsible for:

• preschool education of children six years;

• nine-year compulsory secondary education for children aged 7 to 16 years;

• High School who attends 90% of older children;

• Adult Education and Swedish language instruction for immigrants;

• special schools for children and youth and adult education with disabilities.

That is, the provision of almost all education below university level relies on local councils. In addition, education can provide non-government, but acknowledged the state private schools. Currently there are 371 private schools and 72 private school. They receive subsidies from the municipalities.

Childcare or as defined in Swedish law, pre-school work is one of the duties of local councils, which for the past 40 years have increased considerably. Today, local councils have the cover of every preschool child aged one year, if the parents work or study or if the child needs special care. Pre-work through kindergarten, children's centers for families and preparatory classes. School children by local councils should take in groups of extended day, or in children's centers for families. 2000, more than 706 200 children aged 1 to 12 years attending kindergartens, child care centers for families and groups of extended day. Care of children can take care of not only the municipalities. In recent years significantly increased the number of local councils funded private childcare facilities.

Local councils provide social assistance to those who need it, according to the law on social security, which determines the types of assistance. Municipal social protection programs for individuals or families will assist vulnerable groups. These programs include:

• preventive and targeted research and educational work with children, youth and persons at risk;

• Social assistance (financial support);

• assistance in the form of consultations with family issues and measures to paternity.

Local councils have to create for people with functional disabilities appropriate conditions for normal life. It provides in relevant employment and provision of housing, adapted to specific needs. Under the 1994 law on assistance and providing citizens with functional disabilities, persons with disabilities and certain categories of mentally ill people have the right to personal assistants and assistance from the contact person. Act delegates most of the powers in this area to local councils, the rest is fixed by landstynhamy. Support local authorities receive more than 65 000 people with functional disabilities.

Another important responsibility of local councils is care for the elderly. The common goal - to create conditions for elderly people to secure life, while respecting their wishes and not interfering in private affairs. This is done through home care, adult centers and other social services for the elderly, and various forms of buildings for the elderly. To municipal duties also included health care nursing homes, adult centers and homes for the elderly.

Local councils are responsible for the planning and provision of a building permit. They carry out survey and geological research, cartographic design and thus provide much of the basic geographic data on Sweden.

The authority of local councils is an organization of fire safety and rescue in case of accidents. Also, each municipality is responsible for civil defense and emergency mobilization.

Finally, the functions of local councils are the environment and health, to prevent nuisance and disease. In addition, the municipalities to control the activity, threatening the environment. According to the principles of "Agenda XXI century." Adopted at the International Conference in Rio de Janeiro in 1992, municipalities have to take measures to make its operations environmentally safe and facilitate the growing shift to a permanent use of renewable natural resources.

Municipalities provide their residents and utilities, such as: water supply and sewerage, garbage disposal, compliance with clean streets, energy and others. They are responsible. also for the construction and maintenance of streets and roads in settlements, parks care.

Municipalities strongly supports cultural events and leisure activities. In Sweden about 30 000 sports facilities, of which nearly half is in communal ownership and maintained by municipalities. Approximately 40 percent are nonprofit organizations that keep them by various municipal subsidies. Local councils are also responsible for more than 1500 libraries, hundreds of museums and about 1500 youth recreation centers. They also sponsor cultural events and tourism.

Municipalities strongly supports local entrepreneurs. This direct aid to individual companies, usually forbidden. In the 1990 local council assumed an increasing share of programs focusing on labor market demand. 60 percent of these programs are carried out at the local level and partly financed from the state budget. About 100 000 people participating in these programs.

Landstynhy

Landstynhiv priority is medical care. With the exception of some private hospitals, landstynham controlling all medical institutions in Sweden. In some cases the hospital management is delegated to private health companies.

Landstynhy provide inpatient care in hospitals and outpatient care in district hospitals. The system of outpatient facilities include more centers for the mother and child. Landstynhy also responsible for public dental clinics and psychiatric hospitals.

In addition to responsibilities in the health sector, district councils manage a number of folk schools and separate gymnasium - medicine, agriculture and forestry. District Council funding the cultural activities in the relevant lenah. Finally, landstynhy responsible for regional development, particularly by supporting the business sector through a special authority.

Municipalities and landstynhy have common responsibilities for local and regional public transport, which often run jointly created by the company.

Cooperation between local and county councils

The need for cooperation between local and county councils is growing. For example, one municipality may need to use free accommodation in a house for the old garbage-processing plant or another municipality. The mechanism of these operations defines a common agreement between the local or county councils. If the parties want a broader and more organized cooperation for greater profits, can form associations. In this combination one or more municipalities may cooperate with one or more landstynhamy. Association may be delegated administration, ie, eligibility decisions on the rights and obligations of citizens and businesses. Number of associations of local authorities is growing, as of 1 January 2000, that was 60. Another form of cooperation is the joint committee, which creates two or more municipalities or landstynhiv to perform certain powers, say, schools or maintenance of first aid items. Municipalities and landstynhy may also establish joint stock companies or foundations. But to perform the above functions of state administration, unlike the associations can not.

Local governments manage about 1600 companies and funds, most of which is in communal ownership. It can be used alternative forms of governance. For example, the municipality may exercise power through a committee or corporation. Municipal enterprises provide, as a rule, public utilities, such as: street cleaning and garbage removal, electricity, public transportation or management.

To municipal enterprises generally applicable laws are the same as to private companies. With the difference that the public has a right to get acquainted with the reporting of these enterprises on the basis of so-called "Publicity principle", prescribed in the constitution of Sweden and distributed to the entire public sector. However, the law on official secrets establishes certain exceptions to this rule, protecting, in particular, privacy, and economic secrets.

Municipalities joined the Association of Municipalities of Sweden. Landstynhy, in turn, form the Association landstynhiv. The goal of both organizations is to support and develop local self-assertion of common interests, respectively, municipalities and county councils, their representation at the state level to promote cooperation between members of associations, providing services and advice.

Subdivisions

The division of Sweden 2500 urban and rural local communities in accordance with the Decree on local government in 1862 was based on the ancient division of the parish church. This division existed until 1952, when owing to administrative-territorial reform of the community dropped to 1037. During 1962-1974 he held further reorganization. One of the main reasons was the significant outflow of population during this period of rural areas to large cities, which led to economic decline of small rural communities. Since 1999 in Sweden, as mentioned, there are 289 municipalities. Merging administrative units positive impact on local government finance and administration, but the negative consequence of this process was reducing the number of elected people's representatives.

Today conducted four pilot projects for a new regional division of responsibility in Sweden. Therefore, the state has certain powers of the regions, in particular, responsible for economic development regions.

Local Democracy and organizational structure

Act 1991 on local government determines the basic rules of distribution of powers and responsibilities to municipalities and landstynhah. The law expands the boundaries of their competence and aims to strengthen local government. Much attention is paid to providing opportunities residents of local communities to control decision-making process and influence it. Important role in this play the political parties in local and district councils. Those parties that are represented in elected bodies receive grants from local or county budget.

The foundational principle of local administration is that its elected representatives govern the people. Today in local and county councils there are about 50 000 of posts, each choice holds an average of 1.5 posts.

Each local council has the legislative authority - a local council meeting. Corresponded in landstynhu is meeting the district council. Permanent council members and candidates elected by voters in general elections every four years, on election day to the Swedish Parliament (Riksdag). Deputies of the Riksdag, county and local councils are elected for four years. Elections to local and county councils and the Riksdag always occur on party lists, but after the last 1998 elections, voters can choose specific candidates.

The right to vote is every Swedish citizen who resides in a municipality or landstynhu and on election day reached 18. Citizens of one of the members of the European Union (EU), Iceland or Norway also have the right to vote. Other foreign citizens have the right to vote if they live in Sweden for at least three years before the election. Anyone who meets the requirements of electoral law, may be elected to the legislative body or local district council.

Legislative bodies of local and district councils approve all major decisions within their respective territories. They set goals and activities. Decide which committees to establish what should be their structure and form of activity. They also adopt the budget, establish local income tax rate and resolve other important financial issues including the size of charges levied by some local services.

Board

According to the law on local government, municipality or government task landstynhu Monitoring the performance of local government affairs and information on the activities of special committees. Board monitors all matters that may affect development and financial situation of local governments. Makes the project budget. Performs some administrative tasks, for example, property management. Board supervises the activities of utilities. To it by the preparation of most of the decisions taken by the Council. It is necessary for overall coordination of all activities of local government.

Members elect the board meeting or the local district council. It should include at least five people, but as a rule, the Board consists of 11-17 members.

Virtually all local and district councils, one or more deputies working a permanent job. Chairman of the municipality and landstynhu often have a permanent position and are known as, municipal councilors (and in cities - mayors) and counselors landstynhiv. If employed on a permanent work of several members, they tend to have board members or heads of other important committees.

Committees of local authorities

The law on local government and allows municipalities to form landstynham own organizational structure. Local authorities themselves decide which committees they create and answer questions on this or that committee. For example, schooling and other issues concerning children and young people, usually united in one committee - committee on children and education. Some municipalities have a special committee on pension provision, while others prefer to include this issue in more traditional committee on social security.

All committees of local government shall:

• see to it that measures in their respective areas consistent with the objectives and main directions taken by special laws and related activities;

• make decisions on matters delegated by the Council.

Committees also prepare agenda for decision-making meeting and carry out those decisions.

All committees are elected assembly, mainly on the basis of proportional distribution of seats on the board representation of political parties. Since 1980 municipalities have the right to create territorial decentralized system of district committees or boards that are responsible for certain issues in their territory. Today, about 20 municipalities have completely or partially decentralized system of regional committees.

Another organizational model, which has become widespread, so-called model "purchaser-provider". This model is designed, first, to introduce market mechanisms by creating greater competition for the public sector. Second, it will clearly divide the functions of elected MPs and civil servants of local authorities. Tasks deputies represent local voters. They can choose whom to buy the service - in its own public company or private provider. But state officials responsible for the production, that exercises leadership.

Political Structure

After the elections of 1998, the political spectrum Swedish local councils as follows: 113 socialist municipalities have a majority (Social Democrats and Left Party), 92 are right-most (moderate, centrists, liberals and Christian Democrats) and 84 have a different or unspecified majority. Many small local parties won seats in the councils.

Local referenda

One way to prepare questions for consideration could be a referendum, opinion polls and similar measures by which the council meeting to find out the opinion of the inhabitants of the territorial community. The results of local referenda are always advisory in nature. Have been implemented about 30 referendums, especially as regards the new administrative-territorial division. To put the question before the council meeting to hold a referendum rather a request, signed five percent of members of municipal or district council who have the right to vote. This, however, does not oblige the council to hold a referendum, as required to consider the merits of such a vote.

Local governments

1999 total expenditures of local and county councils in Sweden amounted to 22,7% of GDP. Local budgets have risen sharply during 1960-1970's. In 1980 this growth slowed doubled compared with 1970, we have for years. The planned increase in local spending for 2000-2003 is 0,7-1,2% per year.

Expenditure on salaries in 1999 amounted to 51,4% of total spending of municipal budgets and 49,1% of district budgets.

Education is the largest expenditure function of municipal budgets and is 29% of total spending. The second largest expenditure function is to provide for old age and care for people with functional disabilities (28%) in third place, spending on preschool education (12%). Municipalities have to ensure their balance in old age from 1992 municipal budgets later incorporated into their expenses care for people with deviations in mental development (1991-1996), and keeping mentally ill (1995). In landstynhah priority expenditure is a function of health and medical care - more than 80% of total recurrent expenditure.

The share of capital expenditures in total expenditures of local and county budgets gradually decreased from the early 1970's. Investment in 1999 amounted to 5,6% of total local spending.

The main source of local budget revenues are income tax, collected in the territories. Today it consists only source of income tax and tax on retirement. Previously here included revenues from income tax, tax on capital gains and certain types of real estate. Local governments can establish tax rates themselves.

The state tries to regulate the overall tax burden in Sweden. It would be contrary to local authorities on taxation and independence. During 1991-1994 he froze riksdag amount of income tax in place of those times. In 1995-1996 restrictions were loosened, and many local councils increased tax rate. In 1997-1999 there were a rule that a local budget, which increased the tax rate compared to 1996, lost half the potential revenue by reducing the same amount of government subsidies. From 2000 there are no restrictions on taxation.

In 2000, the highest income tax rate in local budgets amounted to 33.17%, the lowest - 27.13%. Average - 30.53%.

January 1, 1996 introduced a new system of inter-governmental alignment, with the goal of enabling local governments to guarantee citizens "the same quality service for the same price, regardless of location. The difference in service levels and needs is reflected in the budget gap filling. Align revenue means that local budgets in which podatkospromozhnist population is less than the average in Sweden, are subsidized, and budgets with higher than average population podatkospromozhnistyu make deductions. Endowment Fund consists of the total charges. Volume charges or subsidy is 95% difference between a population podatkospromozhnistyu local community and the national average.

Align expenditures designed to align the difference between needs and costs. This means that local budgets in which expenditures exceed the needs receiving subsidy from the state budget. Foundation grants equal to the amount removed from local budgets in which expenditures are larger than necessary.

Local governments receive general grants from the state budget. It consists of two parts: one - in population, the second - for the age structure of population. The first paid the total amount of per capita and the amount of second different for different age groups. The volume of subsidies for different municipalities and districts.

The relatively large share of local budget revenues accounted for by revenues from fees for services rendered. They make up more than 8,4% of total income communities (data for 1999).

A significant share of income of the district budget is the amount of payments of institutions of social insurance hospitals, clinics and more.

By 2015, children born in the early 1990's, will learn in middle schools and high schools. At the same time increase the share of pensioners in total population. These demographic changes will put challenges to local budgets.

Purchase of goods and services

Purchase of goods and services by local and state authorities is governed by the law on state procurement of goods and services, which came into force in 1994 statute consistent with the procurement rules of the EU internal market. This very full and detailed document aims to develop competition and prevent discrimination. Under the provisions of the law, the purchase can be done to challenge in court.

Employees of local governments

1999 in local and county councils of Sweden worked more than a million employees (21% in municipalities and 6% in landstynhah). Civil servants constituted 6% of the employed population of Sweden.

The municipality or landstynh often the largest employer in the local community or region. 51% of municipal employees working in the health and welfare, 23%

- In the field of education. Most municipal employees (79%) are women, many of them work part time. In 1998, women constituted over 81% of employees landstynhiv. The largest municipality has 50 000 employees, and most landstynh - 45 000, which makes them by Swedish standards, very large employers.

Employees of municipalities and landstynhiv are usually one of the unions within the Swedish Association of Trade Unions (Y), trade union manual workers, servants Association (CCA) or the National Association of professional associations, particularly for workers with higher education (prob). Swedish union of municipal employees is the largest single union of Sweden and is part of Y.

Collective wage agreements and other arrangements, participation in decision making and working conditions negotiated between the Association of Municipalities of Sweden, the Association landstynhiv, on the one hand, and various trade union organizations.

The relationship between the state and local governments

Central government and local governments are constantly working in different industries and in different ways. Distribution of functions between different levels of government are constantly changing. Government and riksdag define the basic parameters of the entire public sector. But within these parameters to local authorities, with the overall consistency, is given considerable freedom to form and implement public programs based on local conditions.

State directs and supervises the work of local authorities, using their right to make laws, to issue decrees and implementing regulations and oversight through public institutions.

Special laws in education, social welfare, planning, construction and others. also a way to control because exactly determine how local authorities should carry out various programs.

Another method of control is that approved by local or county councils decision may be appealed by any member of the relevant council in the state administrative court, which verifies compliance with these decisions of the law.

Local governments and the EU

Swedish EU membership has no direct impact on local government. And also some important local community issues as, say, social policy and taxation, remain outside the competence of the EU. But indirectly the cooperation between EU Member States increasingly affects the activity of local authorities in Sweden. This is particularly true of matters not within the competence of the EU, for example, social policy and help vulnerable groups - the old and disabled.

However, the funds and foundations of EU structural funds have increased the possibility of local governments in Sweden, development of local communities and expanding exchanges and cooperation with local authorities in other countries. Among the areas of local government, which directly applies EU legislation - Environmental protection, government procurement and energy.

In addition, the expansion of international ties of local government of Sweden has contributed to democratic change in former Eastern bloc. Local councils in Sweden and other Scandinavian countries involved in regional development programs of the Baltic Sea and the northwestern part of Russia.

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