Further optimization and decentralization of Local and Regional Self-Government System by supporting functional merging of Local Governments Units

Commissioned by: The Ministry of Justice, Public Administration and Digital Transformation
Project duration: April 10, 2024 - June 11, 2025
Project manager: Ivana Rašić
Collaborators: Tanja Broz, Dubravka Jurlina Alibegović, Željka Kordej-De Villa, Ivona Krezić, Sunčana Slijepčević, Mihovil Škarica

Summary: 
Within the project, the relevant legislative and strategic framework were analyzed in the part that regulates the possibility of joint performance of public services and tasks. Also, the practice of merging of LGUs in the EU Member States was analyzed and recommendations for the functional merging of LGUs in the Republic of Croatia was proposed based on good EU practices. In addition to the above, the capacities of Croatian local self-government units were analyzed based on the indicators available in the Information System for Data Collection and Storage. A pilot project was carried out on selected 30 local self-government units and a citizen and public official surveys of these units were conducted. Based on the results of these activities, a methodology was developed to support the functional and actual merging of local self-government in Croatia.