The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe today noted the overall positive state of local self-government in Slovenia and adopted a series of recommendations to help the authorities further improve it. The recommendations are based on a monitoring report on the implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government, presented by Konstantinos Koukas (Greece, L, EPP/CCE).
The rapporteur noted with satisfaction the country’s overall compliance with the Charter and its Additional Protocol on citizen participation at local level, the strengthened climate of consultation and negotiation between the central government and local authorities, the variety of judicial mechanisms available for local authorities to defend their rights, and the adoption of legal amendments to improve the financial compensation of mayors. Another welcome development was the 2024 agreement between the government and local authorities’ associations on the “lump sum” amount for the 2025–2026 budget years, which is the main source of revenue for local budgets.
While the report provides a generally positive assessment of the application of the Charter in Slovenia, as was also the case in the previous report adopted in 2018, the rapporteur pointed out some areas that still need improvement. These include overregulation and the excessive number of prior documents from the central authorities required for getting an approval of measures at local level, particularly in urban development planning, the dependence of municipalities on centrally allocated resources and a relatively high proportion of earmarked funds.
The Congress recommended that Slovenia reduce the number of prior reports and opinions that municipalities must obtain from the state-level structures, strengthen fiscal powers of municipalities, increase the proportion of non-earmarked grants to boost their financial autonomy, and ensure that local authorities’ funding corresponds to the actual costs incurred in fulfilling their responsibilities.
Addressing the session, Jure Trbič, State Secretary from the Ministry of Public Administration of Slovenia, emphasised that his country remained firmly committed to the principles of the Charter and understands local self-government to be an indispensable pillar of the democratic system and the protection of human rights. “Decisions on changes to the local self-government system in Slovenia will always be the result of dialogue between the government and representative associations of municipalities,” he said.
* * * This report follows the fourth monitoring visit to Slovenia since the country ratified the European Charter of Local Self-Government in 1996. Countries that have ratified the Charter are bound by its provisions. The Charter requires compliance with a minimum number of rights, which form the European foundation of local self-government. The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities ensures that these principles are respected through its monitoring activities.
Mediabox interview with Konstantinos Koukas
Monitoring of the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Slovenia
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