An experts’ seminar on local authority took place on 19 of February in Moscow.

The seminar was held in the network of the creation of The Second World Report on democratization and decentralization of local self-government and was dedicated to local authorities’ financing issues. Distinguished experts from Eurasian counties like Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Ukraine, Russia and many others participated on this seminar. Every expert introduced its presentation about the financing state of the local authorities in the country he presents, showed advantages and disadvantages of applied system and also made amendments to the World report.  There were revealed common for all municipalities of Eurasian countries problems and its origins. In the end of the seminar all experts carried out common recommendations on improvement of local self-government system, which can be applied everywhere in Eurasia. They are:

•    Fiscal autonomy provision , real introduction of local self-government
•    Elaboration and introduction of criteria  valuation  and “better practice” standards of budgetary policy of local authorities
•    Development of alternative income sources as off-budgetary funds, funds of local communities development and fields of economic growth
•    Development of the institute of local tax, administration and local tax collection

•    Provision of municipalities’ access  to the capital market
•    Improvement of transfers mechanism; transparent transfer system
•    Introduction of inter-municipal  interest-free lends
•    Liquidation of non-financial mandates (delegation of authority only with money).


 The main result of the seminar is an affirmation of final version of the chapter on Eurasia of the Second World report on decentralization and democratization. A book “The Second World report on decentralization and democratization” will be presented on the World Summit of Local and Regional Leaders in November 2010 in Mexico City.

20.02.2010

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