Improvements in Local Self-Government Reform in the Western Balkans

Director General of the Directorate for Local Self-Government, Nina Blažić, participated in a conference dedicated to improving local self-government reform in the Western Balkans, organized by SIGMA/OECD and NALAS in Tirana. On the panel "Local Self-Government Reform in the Western Balkans and Beyond," she presented key solutions from the new Law on Local Self-Government of Montenegro, with a special focus on enhancing decentralization and good governance principles at the local level. "Our goal is not decentralization for its own sake, but bringing decision-making processes closer to citizens and creating conditions for local self-governments to respond more quickly and efficiently to the needs of their communities. At the same time, a higher degree of decentralization must be accompanied by clear accountability, as well as appropriate financial, administrative, and staffing capacities. Therefore, it is important to emphasize that the decentralization process in Montenegro is carefully designed to ensure alignment with the real capacities of each local self-government. Only then can the transfer of additional competencies bring tangible benefits to citizens and contribute to more efficient and higher-quality functioning of local self-government in Montenegro," stated Blažić.