Role of Municipal Council in Increasing Citizen Participation at the Local Budget Process

2016 ◽  
Vol 14 (2-3) ◽  
Author(s):  
Memet Memeti ◽  
Veli Kreci
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Budget Process ◽  
Budgetary Process ◽  
Republic Of Macedonia ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Local Budget ◽  
Budgeting Process ◽  
Cross Matching

The paper explores the role of the municipal councilors in the budget process in the Republic of Macedonia as well as their role in motivating citizen participation in the budgetary process in the Republic of Macedonia. We demonstrate that municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia employ various forms of participatory mechanisms in the process of public policies and budgets according to their context. There are vivid dissimilarities in terms of opportunities and scope of citizen participation as well as discrepancies of councilors capacity to facilitate this process when cross-matching information and data derived from small rural and bigger urban municipalities. It is evident that very little has been accomplished in terms of defining uniformed processes and developing systems related to the relations between councilors and local community. We identify barriers that are impediment to a genuine involvement of the councilors as mediators between the Mayor and the community in the local budgeting process. We argue that any policy intervention in this dimension ought to be tailor-made, hence every municipality has its specific features that ought to be taken into account when designing an intervention to address shortcomings of the processes and the systems.

scholarly journals The Strategic Role of Local Community and Significance in Sustainable Entrepreneurial Ecosystem Development

2019 ◽  
Vol 57 (3) ◽  
pp. 365-379
Author(s):  
Milica Grujić
Keyword(s):  
Local Community ◽  
Technological Development ◽  
Social Indicators ◽  
Investment Strategies ◽  
Entrepreneurial Ecosystem ◽  
Responsible Investment ◽  
The Republic ◽  
Community Improvement ◽  
Community Investment

AbstractThe stimulation of entrepreneurship development is one of the most effective local community developing strategies, therefore, entrepreneurship is regarded as the key initiator of innovation and technological development within a local community. Local community improvement leads to the improvement of the entire entrepreneurial ecosystem it belongs to. In this paper, the role of local community in entrepreneurial ecosystem is regarded through local community investment, since it’s considered one of the socially responsible investment strategies. The focus of the paper is the case study on the example of Cross Border Development Office between the Municipality of Zitiste in the Republic of Serbia and the Municipality of Sakalaz in Romania. The research focuses on the local community investment and the activities of the Office that have led to the improvement of economic and social indicators in the community as an entrepreneurial ecosystem actor

scholarly journals Asymmetry in Priority Perception Form Local Community to PA – Budgeting through Citizen Participation (Municipality of Elbasan)

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (3) ◽  
pp. 119-131
Author(s):  
Merita Bejtja
Keyword(s):  
Decision Making ◽  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Public Services ◽  
Local Community ◽  
City Council ◽  
Project Proposal ◽  
Perceived Performance ◽  
Local Budget ◽  
Selection Stage

Abstract Considering several developments recently, especially at local self-government level, on budget design and application, we can notice that citizens have a deeply different perception on local PA performance than this last itself. Local government continuously claims their increasing performance, especially on accountability processes, even measuring it through effectiveness and efficiency of their investments as well as number and size of public services offered to the local community. Their pay-offs are not far of being glorious and making happy everybody taking notice on the presentation. While, on the other side, citizens of the same community have a far different view and estimation on this regard. They complain on communication, quality of public services, distribution quality of investments, division of local budget through sectors, till that point to refuse paying local taxes and tariffs, as well as burning career of “highly performance” local leaders (mayors) voting ‘no’ on elections not considering their ‘glorious increasing performance’ during the governmental mandate. Introducing citizen participation in a process of budget decision making in local self-government, especially during priority selection stage, as well as budgeting an important part of the local budget through common decision making – PA and community representativeness, analysing, first, the state of nature through adverse pricing or asymmetry reduction, both in their perception on prioritization, as well as estimating investments to each priority through independent estimation by each participator in a common Committee PA&citizens, Participatory Budgeting Committee, and second, presenting their project proposal, as well as defending it in front of the City Council, could produce a far better perceived performance by both sides.

scholarly journals Forms and mechanisms of participatory democracy

2021 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 15-25
Author(s):  
Tetiana Kuzhda ◽  
Mykhailo Halushchak ◽  
Olha Halushchak
Keyword(s):  
Civil Society ◽  
Participatory Democracy ◽  
Legal Framework ◽  
Budget Process ◽  
The Public ◽  
Public Hearings ◽  
Local Initiatives ◽  
The Government ◽  
Local Budget

The most important aspects of effective citizen-government interaction, successful development of civil society institutions, community and state depend on forming, legal consolidation and practical use of an effective forms and mechanisms of participatory democracy in Ukraine. Effective practical use of participatory democracy depends on the legal framework, the government's willingness to cooperate, as well as the competence and willingness to engage with civil society activists and the proper development of civil society institutions that contribute to democratization and development of Ukrainian society. The levels of citizen-government interaction including an informational, informational-consultative, mutual participation have been expanded by singling out the constant dialogue and mutual participation, public control and e-democracy. The citizens’ appeals, electronic petitions, public hearings, meetings of citizens at the place of residence, local initiatives, local referendum, advisory bodies, self-organization bodies, public discussions and public expertise as the forms of participatory democracy have been described in the article. The differences between the forms of participatory democracy in terms of the order of their preparation, implementation and legal consequences have been indicated. The role of public participation in the budget process has been determined and the participation budget was singled out as a tool of the community for better understanding of local budget and forming their own projects. The advantages of practical use of participatory democracy for the public and the government have been clarified, in particular, strengthening the level of mutual dialogue, increasing its efficiency and the government's response to public problems; growing citizens' trust in the government; improving the image of government through the implementation of transparency, openness and involvement; and consideration of public recommendations by the subjects of power within the framework of certain procedures.

scholarly journals THE ROLE OF MEASURES FOR SUPPORT OF SMEs ON EMPLOYMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 73-80
Author(s):  
Snezana Bardarova ◽  
Mimoza Serafimova ◽  
Drasko Atanasoski
Keyword(s):  
Transition Period ◽  
Small Enterprises ◽  
Market Regulation ◽  
Republic Of Macedonia ◽  
Regulatory Changes ◽  
The Subject ◽  
The Republic ◽  
New Jobs ◽  
Innovation And Entrepreneurship

The SME sector is the driving force of inclusive economic growth in Macedonia and in creating sustainable jobs and increasing productivity. Today, small enterprises have a growing number of supporters who believe that small enterprises are carriers of innovation and entrepreneurship and are able to react quickly to changes in the environment. For years, Macedonia has suffered from high unemployment, but this trend is beginning to decrease. However, as a country with a relatively young economy and a long transition period, unemployment is one of the main problems in the Macedonian economy. The condition of the labor market regulation is the field in which the country invests and strives to provide support to the population with the relevant laws, which is recognized through regulatory changes that affect the life cycle of business and employment. However, it is worth noting the trend of a gradual reduction in unemployment in recent years, despite the global effects of the crisis, due to several factors, including active employment measures (ALMs), measures against the gray economy, job creation in new companies with foreign capital, and a gradual economic recovery positively affect the reduction of unemployment. The subject of research in this paper is focused on analysis of SMEs and the measures for supporting their development with a special emphasis on employment, as well as conducting analysis of the active enterprises in the Republic of Macedonia by size, by sector and by number of employees, analysis of the activity of the population and employment by sectors. The aim of the paper is to determine the role of the SME support measures on solving the issues that the companies in Macedonia face in terms of creating new jobs.

The role of the police in anti-money laundering

2019 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
pp. 145-157
Author(s):  
Nikola Dujovski ◽  
Snezana Mojsoska
Keyword(s):  
Money Laundering ◽  
Social Life ◽  
Annual Reports ◽  
Comparative Approach ◽  
Main Body ◽  
Content Type ◽  
The Public ◽  
Republic Of Macedonia ◽  
The Republic

Purpose This paper aims to describe and discuss the role of the police in anti-money laundering, with particular reference to the situation in the Republic of Macedonia. Design/methodology/approach A doctrinal approach is used to describe the role of the police in anti-money laundering policy, as well as to discuss whether the police is the central and main body in the fight against this crime. Deductive and inductive methods are used to analyze the collected data about Macedonian activities, provided by domestic and international organizations and institutions. Government agencies, institutions and bodies with different capacities for identifying and combating money laundering are included. Findings According to global statistics, about $2tn is laundered annually. Money laundering directly affects general economic and social life and the entire development, which shows why the concerns about this phenomenon have been growing worldwide. The most important issue in combating money laundering refers to preventing and detecting the problem. The police have the central role in combating money laundering in the Republic of Macedonia, but they must co-operate with public prosecutors and other agencies to fight this crime with more success. Even though Macedonian legislation is harmonized with European Union (EU) directives, there are a lot of activities in the field of money laundering to be done to fulfill EU standards. Relevant collected data were acquired from MONEYVAL reports, annual reports from the Ministry of Interior, Public Bureau of Statistics and statistics from the public prosecutor’s office, including all published documents. Originality/value The paper answers questions related to the role and effectiveness of the police by examining different authorizations and powers. Different approaches in implementing the law are specified and suggestions to overcome “two voices” are given. A comparative approach is also used to demonstrate the number of criminal charges per year, mainly collected by the public prosecutor’s office. The authors analyze whether additional training is needed for the police. All institutions should collaborate with the police because money laundering offences may be disclosed during investigations of other offences.

scholarly journals DEVELOPMENT OF LOCAL SELF-GOVERNMENT IN SERBIA

2021 ◽  
pp. 157-168
Author(s):  
GORAN IVANČEVIĆ
Keyword(s):  
Citizen Participation ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Public Affairs ◽  
State System ◽  
Modern State ◽  
State And Society ◽  
Historical Role ◽  
State Organization ◽  
National Significance

Local self government, as a phenomenon, was established before the emergence of a modern state. Its role and significance has remained unsurpassed in nowadays world generally, and especially in modern states. The position that self-government has today is derived from the functions that this institution has in a modern state system. Namely, local self-government represents the basis of the state system in a narrower functional sense because it performs tasks that are important for the local community. However, it has a broader political and organizational significance, because, without that level of state organization, it would be almost impossible to reach numerous democratic achievements such as: citizen participation in public affairs, sharing power, decentralization (i.e. devolution of power), the exercise of certain rights and freedom, activities of civil society, etc. The importance of local self-government in Serbia is reflected in its historical role, inherited from tradition, which has outgrown and taken on a certain state-building, institutional and national character. It should also be emphasized that Serbian historiography, as well as other social sciences, to which this topic is related, has not paid enough attention to local self-government as a phenomenon in the context of its significance for the modern Serbian state and society as a whole. Therefore, it would be extremely important to look at this topic in a multidisciplinary manner and to offer scientific answers and facts about the historical, legal, political, and sociological role of local self-government. This work will try to synthesize its historical, political, institutional and national significance, by analyzing the emergence of self-government, that is, its development, which makes it one of the pillars of the Serbian state.

scholarly journals Participation of a Head of the United Territorial Community in the Budget Process of the United Territorial Community

2019 ◽  
pp. 176-192
Author(s):  
Viktor Synchak
Keyword(s):  
Financial Services ◽  
Budget Process ◽  
Full Participation ◽  
Domestic Legislation ◽  
Historical Origin ◽  
Important Direction ◽  
Historical Role ◽  
Local Budget ◽  
Administrative Decentralization

Administrative decentralization is identified as an important direction in the reform of local self-government bodies. The financial autonomy of local self-government budgets has been highlighted. It is emphasized on receipt of additional revenues from the redistribution of financial resources by the budgets of local self-government. The sequence of adoption of normative legal acts for ensuring the processes of decentralization in Ukraine is traced. A new institution in local self-government bodies is shown. It is a head of united territorial community. Scientific approaches to the historical origin of the position of a head of united territorial community are generalized. The historical position of a head of united territorial community in local self-government bodies is emphasized. The historical experience of realization of fiscal powers of a head of united territorial community is generalized. The historical hierarchy in the powers of a head of united territorial community is given. The historical role of a head of united territorial community in the supervision of the collection of taxes and fees is shown. The content of the concept of «Vogt» is revealed and its role in the organization of taxes and duties collection is substantiated. The main powers of a head of united territorial community according to domestic legislation are singled out. The existence of budget powers in the work of a head of united territorial community is proved. The participation of a head of united territorial community in the budget process is substantiated. There is a lack of legal grounds as for a head of united territorial community participation in the drafting of the local budget in the planning of incomes. It has been determined that it is inappropriate to exclude a head of united territorial community from the formation of a revenue part when preparing a draft of a local budget. The expediency of full participation of a head of united territorial community in the budget process is argued. The importance of interaction between a head of united territorial community and financial services in the conditions of the formation of local budget revenues is emphasized. The advantages of interaction of a head of united territorial community with financial services with attraction of payers before taxes and fees are shown. The necessity of interaction on the level of all services of local self-government bodies concerning mobilization of local budget revenues is emphasized. The necessity of observing the balance of the interests of a head of united territorial community between the filling of the revenue part of the local budget and the financing of budget programs is emphasized. The approaches to further expediency of centralization of tax control and introduction of the decentralization of fiscal cooperation with controlling bodies at the level of territorial communities are differentiated. Proposed changes to the current legislation concerning the expansion of budget powers of a head of united territorial community and their advantages are grounded.

scholarly journals Role of seasonality in the socio-economic development of rural areas of the southern part of the Republic of Karelia

2020 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 51-61
Author(s):  
Alexey Naumov ◽  
Varvara Akimova ◽  
Daria Elmanova ◽  
Elizaveta Velichko ◽  
Mikhail Topnikov ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Economic Development ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Local Community ◽  
Rural Settlements ◽  
Socio Economic Development ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Negative Effect ◽  
The Republic ◽  
The Impact

AbstractThe objective of this work is to analyze the impact of seasonality on the socio-economic development of rural areas of the southern part of Karelia. This study is based on the field data obtained via semi-structured in-depth interviews with experts from the local community. The results show that the influence of seasonality is rather indirect, being a constituent of other factors: economic, infrastructural, institutional, social, etc. Although seasonality is most often perceived as a negative phenomenon regarding socio-economic development, modern types of economic activity characterized by a peak of activity in different seasons of the year mitigate the effect of seasonality and even benefit from being seasonal. Based on the materials collected, a typology of rural settlements of the southern part of Karelia based on the nature of the effect of seasonality has been developed (with a predominantly positive and predominantly negative effect).

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