Initiative on Fiscal Decentralisation: The Sub-group for Local Government and Public Administration Reform of the Civil Society Forum proposes to CORLEAP to launch a common initiative

It is seen as a common priority and a strong lobby for a flagship initiative, programme or project proposal, within the framework of the Eastern Partnership. Fiscal decentralisation remains a difficult and political issue, which might be perceived as a long-term objective. The sub-group LGAPR proposes to work jointly with CORLEAP on the definition of this initiative and on setting up targets.

In particular, fiscal decentralisation could be oriented to develop possibilities for local authorities to access the capital market, strengthen competences of local authorities with consequent budget allocation, identify possibility of local taxes, and improve a transfer system from the state budget to local budgets.

The CSF is a permanent observer of the established CORLEAP and participated in its launch in September 2011 in Poznan. A particular priority of the LGPAR sub-group is to make sure the reforms will fully engage citizens and will take into account their participation in decision-making and implementation of future policies.

The outcome of the assessment and monitoring are available in the following document here.

The main elements of the assessment are:

minimal and un-coordinated commitment of national policies towards the strengthening of local government development and autonomy;
a low level of involvement of civil society in practical terms;
a lack of local government autonomy in Belarus;
improvements in this sphere to be consolidated in Moldova, Ukraine and Georgia;
a lack of financial decentralisation as a common feature shared by all the EaP countries, which prevents any development of autonomy by local governments.