Delivering Public Services

This week the Governing Council of UN Habitat, which represents 58 national governments, is due to adopt a new set of guideline on access to basic services.

The Council of European Municipalities (CEMR) has welcomed the draft guidelines, which emphasise the important role of decentralised local authorities in delivering public services. CEMR also believe the Guidelines complement the previous Guidelines on the Strengthening of Local Authorities, which were agreed two years ago at the last Governing Council meeting.

Writing the preface to the Guidelines Dr. Bernhard Vogel stated: “With the adoption of the “Guidelines on decentralisation and the strengthening of local authorities” draft resolution in April 2007, the United Nations sent a clear signal that local democracy needs to be strengthened.

“The Guidelines underline on the one hand the significance of political decentralisation, ie, the involvement of citizens into decision-making processes in various forms at the local level.

“On the other hand, they highlight the principle of subsidiarity. Subsidiarity in this sense means that public responsibilities, which need not necessarily be exercised at the central level should be performed at the decentralised or local level.”

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Last Updated: 03-04-2009 10:52:30 By Charlotte Jacques