The Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe at its 47th session adopted recommendations on the application of the European Charter of Local Self-Government by Iceland, Latvia and Malta.
The Congress called on Iceland to integrate local self-government into national law. It concluded that Icelandic municipalities led the world in terms of voting and representation of women and welcomed the high level of fiscal autonomy of local self-government in the country. However, despite previous recommendations from Congress, Iceland has not incorporated the principles of local democracy and self-government into its legislation to ensure a clear division of responsibilities between central and local authorities.
Latvia should strengthen financial autonomy at the local level, the Congress recommended. It calls for an increase in revenue potential at the local level, by aligning local financial resources with local skills, simplifying control and clarifying the distribution of skills.
As for Malta, the Congress welcomed it because Malta welcomed the 2019 local administration reform, the lowering of the minimum age for local elections to 16 years and Malta’s ratification of the Additional Protocol to the Convention. European Charter of Local Self-Government on the right to participate in the affairs of a local authority. However, the powers of local authorities should be increased and administrative control limited.
Originally published in The European Times.
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