Vietos savivaldos administracinės teritorinės reformos Lietuvoje ir kitose valstybėse

Abstract

The functions and powers of local self-governance are broadly discussed at all levels of governmental institutions, non-governmental organisations and communities. There is an expressed position that local communities and their local self-governing institutions should be given the power of subsidiary decision-making in locally specific issues. However, year after year, the unanimous attitude is suppressed by dependence upon central government, unreasonably large territorial units with high population density. These circumstances limit down policy formulation, decision-making and, moreover, the implementation of decisions. From this point of view, the powers of local self-governing institutions and, consequently, the decision-making strata differ significantly from those in other European Union countries, Baltic and Central European countries, as well as other states (Ukraine, China, Armenia, USA, Macedonia). This article deals with the analysis of local self-governing administration in terms of the size of the local communities and its impact on decision-making. A comparison is drawn with European Union, Central European and Baltic countries, and with other countries.