Regional Associations - Prerequisite and Opportunity for Implementing Effective Regional Policy

by Ginka Kapitanova,

Executive Director of the FLGR

The regional associations of municipalities are voluntary non-profit organizations, registered under the Persons and Families Act.

The municipalities implement through them joint development, social, economic, environmental and investment policies, combining national priorities, regional programs and local interests.

The first regional associations in Bulgaria were founded in 1992 and successfully develop their activities ever since.

Local economic development is their first priority. Despite the limited legal possibilities of the municipalities the associations are working on the elaboration of development strategies for the respective regions in a transition period to market economy. The regional development agencies created in Smolian and Bourgas with the associations support are good example of successful regional policy implemented mostly in the tourism industry.

The municipalities participation in joint regional, national and international programs for social and economic development is facilitated through the associations. As non-profit organizations they are in better position to work-out projects and apply for financial assistance under international programs and from donor organizations. The possibility of combining the resources and human potential of a group of municipalities constitute a real prerequisite for successful regional social, economic and investment policies.

(An example in this connection could be the work through an intranet of tourist information centers and the implementation of a common policy for the development of tourism in the respective region).

A reasonable investment policy for the construction of elements and units of the social and technical infrastructure can be coordinated through the associations. Attraction of specific grants will be facilitated when not only local but also regional interests are involved.

The regional approach will be particularly useful when implementing the structural reform in the

social sector and restricting the expenditures under budget deficit. Good relations among the municipalities and reaching consensus when defining the regional priorities will facilitate optimal decision making.

Information and best practice exchange is of great importance for the municipal associations. Specialists with different qualification and experience are employed by the municipalities and therefore the regular exchange of ideas and reasonable decisions will make the work of all municipalities more efficient. Good contacts between specialists maintained at all levels are very useful in a dynamically changing legal basis. Organizing seminars and work shops on issues of the present day, inviting lecturers and specialists as well as of experts of national level is much easier if made on behalf of an association and not just for the needs of one specific municipality.

Working out of a common opinion and criteria for the work of regional structures (decentralized structures of central government agencies) help to improve interaction with them and direct their activities towards resolving regional issues according to the municipalities priorities.

The role of the regional associations in the process of changing the legal frame of local self-government is also important. The opinions and proposals of different municipalities can be summarized with their help and further submitted to the National Association of Municipalities in the Republic of Bulgaria (NAMRB) which is an official partner of Bulgarian Parliament and state government. It is unlikely that the NAMRB is in a position to present bills or draft proposals reflecting the specificity and opinion of all its members. This can be achieved much easier through the regional associations which will take into account the specific conditions of each region and summarize the opinions of their members. Regional associations serve as a natural link between national association and the different municipalities. Similar practice which gives excellent results exists in Denmark.

The regional interaction between the municipalities is of particular importance when allocating specific grants from the state budget and discussing the criteria for subsidies allocation.

Regional associations can have a particularly important role for the development of civil society in the country, better understanding of the importance and functions of the local self-government, encouraging public participation in local self-government and citizens active position in defining local and regional priorities. Regional association can act as a spokesman of the local authorities in the region and defend specific issues before the public, which is not likely to be achieved easily by a single municipality. That will be of particular importance when the structural reforms take place and as a result unpopular measures will be applied, when municipalities will have to limit or give up some of their activities for economic reasons.

In order to improve their work and involve greater number of competent persons, the regional associations carry out their activities through standing committees in different fields. Therefore, the regional associations are not considered as a regional trade-union of mayors but as a real association of municipalities.

An already established practice of the regional associations is to issue their own periodicals (newsletters,) which will be another good opportunity especially for small municipalities, that cannot afford to have an edition of their own, to inform the public about the activities, achievements and respective problems of local authorities.

It is natural that each regional association can focus its activities in various fields according to the region s needs and available resources. Once an association is established, it may constantly expand its activities by generating new initiatives and offering new services to its members. The benefits of its activities will contribute to the well-being not only of a separate person or municipality but of the region as a whole.