Asociace krajů České republiky

Association of Regions of the Czech Republic

 

In June 2001, one year after the regional system was put into effect, the establishment of the Association of Regions in the Czech Republic private interest group was initiated at a working meeting held by the newly elected presidents. The main aim of the new organisation is to promote the regions' joint interests, especially overseeing the overall development of the territory and tending to the needs of its citizens.

 

The association represents the collective voice of the regions, represented by the presidents and the Lord Mayor of the City of Prague . The association's highest body is the Council, and its members are the regional presidents and the Lord Mayor of the City of Prague . Although the association has a short history, it is among the most respected organisations in the public sector and mainly due to its ability to carry out a debate on all issues that affect the functioning of the regions, it is a powerful body working intensively to the benefit of the regions.

 

The association offers the regional administrations services ranging from representing regional interests in parliament, the cabinet and European institutions, to drawing up various reports, standpoints and initiatives in a number of functions the region must carry out by law (e.g. in the area of regional development programmes). The association aims to make it easier for its members to exchange experiences in many areas of public administration, from educational systems to health, information technology, social security and reform, the environment and more. The association offers support to the regions in their international activities and support to members of the Czech national delegation in the Committee of the Regions.

 

Since its establishment, the association has markedly influenced political and social events, and supports the joint interests and rights of the regions brought together in the association in accord with the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

 

How is the association organised and who are its members?

 

All 13 regions in Bohemia and Moravia as well as the City of Prague are members of the association. The association's highest body is the Council. According to the association's statutes, members of the Council are the regional presidents and the Lord Mayor of the City of Prague . The Council elects a chairman and three vice-chairmen, and decides on setting up commissions. Commissions serve as advisors to the Council. The Council has set up a number of commissions, such as the Commission for Regional Development, the Commission for Public Administration, the Commission for Regional Financing, the Commission for Education, the Commission for Health Services, the Commission for the Environment and Agriculture, the Commission for Transportation etc.

 

Members of the commissions are for the most part elected regional representatives. Commission sessions create as well as offer working space for monitoring and issuing standpoints on major national and European issues in their area of competence. Recent sessions have focussed on e.g. public administration reform, public financing and regional financing reform, system changes in the network of public health care providers, issues regarding schools and school facilities set up by the regions, road repair and maintenance issues etc.

 

In the ongoing process to decentralise public administration in the Czech Republic , the regions are urging for change to the public financing system that in its present form does not reflect the regions' changing competence nor does it correspond to the extent of new tasks the regions have taken on. The regions advocate a legislative amendment that would support sufficiently financing the performance of these new capacities so that they can be carried out as efficiently and for citizens as practically as possible.

 

When does the Council meet?

 

As a rule the Council meets once every six to eight weeks. The session provides members of the Council with sufficient room to exchange information and carry out a thematically-structured discussion. Talks are mainly aimed at issues connected with government policy towards the regions. As with the commissions, the Council always meets in one of the regions.

 

What is the programme of the Council members' session?

 

The Council session includes essential issues concerning the regions. Notable guests from among the representatives of the central government administration, members of parliament, noted representatives of public organisations and international companies etc. may also be invited.

 

Due to the number of Council members, one of the most important aspects of the session is to offer the opportunity to discuss joint problems and take decisions on these issues. Talks are precisely structured in the programme, yet despite this members may also carry out discussions among themselves in the course of the session.

 

How is the association financed?

 

The association is financed through regular membership dues needed for carrying out administration provided to the Head Office (four employees).

 

What is the association Head Office?

 

The Head Office of the Association of Regions in the Czech Republic is an association body that ensures decisions taken by the associations highest body, the Council, are carried out, and organises and technically secures operations. A director is in charge of the Head Office, and s/he reports to the Council chairman.

 

What is a "region"?

 

In accordance with the law on regions, a "region" is a territorial community of citizens who have the right to self-government. At the same time, a "region" is a public corporation that has its own property that it administrates independently under the conditions stipulated by law and in accordance with its budget. Regional bodies include the Regional Assembly, Regional Council, President and Regional Office. The president can set up additional bodies.

A "region" tends to the overall development of its territory and the needs of its citizens.

The current public administration system includes tasks that the region:

– carries out independently (independent regional competence)

– fulfils on behalf of the state on the basis of delegation (delegated regional competence).

Each region observes protecting the public interest when carrying out independent and delegated tasks.

 

How many regions are in the Czech Republic ?

 

Fourteen greater territorial self-governing units were created in the Czech Republic . Thirteen of these are regions and one, the City of Prague , is both a municipality and a greater territorial self-governing units.

 

Founding members of the association are (from June 8, 2001 ):

– Karlovy Vary Region

– Liberec Region

– Moravian-Silesian Region

– The Pardubice Region

– The Ústí Region

– Vysočina Region

– Zlín Region

 

On September 14, 2001 the following regions joined:

– South Bohemian Region

– Hradec Králové Region

– The Olomouc Region

– The Pilsen Region

– Central Bohemia Region

 

On July 13, 2002 the following became a member:

– Southern Moravia Region

 

And on March 21, 2003 the following joined the association:

– City of Prague

 

All fourteen greater territorial self-governing units are currently members of the association.

 

 

Elections to the Regional Assembly

 

The region is administrated by the Regional Assembly. In connection with legislating the regional system, the system of holding elections to the regional assembly was amended. 

The president of the Czech Republic declares elections to the regional assemblies at least ninety days before they are to take place. Every citizen of the Czech Republic over 18 years of age whose permanent residence is in a town in the region has the right to vote. Foreign citizens permanently residing in the region's territory also have the right to vote.

Each voter can also be a member of the assembly. The assembly is elected for a period of four years based on the principle of proportionate representation. Election wards correspond to the territory of each region. Only political parties, movements and coalitions may be candidates in the elections. Mandates are distributed proportionately to those subjects who received at least five per cent of all valid votes.

Elections to the regional assembly took place for the first time in 2000, and 33.64 per cent of eligible voters took part in the elections.

 

What powers do the regions hold?

 

Within the framework of their own creation of norms, the regions issue:

– commonly binding regional ordinances regarding issues within the region's independent competence

– regional decrees regarding issues within the region's delegated competence

 

Both types of regulations must be in accordance with the law; in addition, decrees must also be in accordance with other legal regulations issued to carry out the law.

The state may interfere in the performance of the region's independent competence only if the protection of the law requires it and only in a manner permitted by law.

 

 

What are the regions' basic powers in the area of independent competence?

 

Within the framework of their independent competence, the regions:

– submit proposals for legal regulations

– submit proposals to the Constitutional Court

– issue commonly binding ordinances

– co-ordinate, approve and secure territorial development programmes

– approve land zoning documentation for the region's territory

– create a concept for developing tourism in the region

– set the extent of basic transportation service in the region

– decide on regional property transactions such as acquiring and transferring real estate, providing subsidies to civic organisations and municipalities, forfeiting rights, forgiving debts, foreclosing on moveable assets etc.

 

Income and Expenditures

 

In the Czech Republic , regions cannot decide on issuing taxes. This power is entrusted to the Czech Parliament.

The system for financing local administrations is continuously developing. During the first two years of the regions' existence only a provisional resolution was chosen; on the basis of this resolution the regions were financed mainly through government subsidies granted for specific purposes. The regions' current duties as imposed by law include the areas of regional development, highway maintenance, transportation, schooling, social care, culture and health care facilities. But finances provided to the regions to cover these tasks independently have proven to be insufficient.

In 2002 the regions became the recipients of a portion of shared taxes, and in 2004 this amount was 3.1 per cent. Public finance reform is currently underway in the Czech Republic , and a part of this reform is expected to be a radical increase in the portion regions receive in shared taxes. The goal of the regions is to implement a system of financing that will allow the regions to undergo complex development in accordance with the needs of its residents.

 

The European Union and International Relations

 

European Union legislation affects the regions in many ways. At present the regions are actively connected to project financing programmes from EU structural funds. The Czech Republic 's share of tapped EU finances is influenced to a great extent by the regions that have the necessary administrative capacity. Some regions have opened a permanent office in Brussels in order to be closer to information regarding current regional policy decisions taken by European institutions.

The Czech Republic has occupied twelve seats in the Committee of Regions. Seven of these seats were named by the association, and the remainder were named by the Union of Cities and Towns. The City of Prague functions as a permanent delegation secretary for all Czech representatives.

The association names representatives to the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, a body of the Council of Europe.