Creation of new municipalities in Slovenia

The survey collected and analysed objective indicators on the functioning of new municipalities in Slovenia, e.g. the functioning of municipal authorities, human resources, the content of the work of municipal authorities, inter-municipal cooperation, etc. Through a written survey among mayors, deputy mayors, presidents, vice-presidents of municipal councils, secretaries of municipalities and representatives of major local communities, the survey gathered opinions on the problems of setting up new municipalities. The analytically regulated database provides an insight into the way new municipalities are established, the objective problems that arise. The survey shows, among other things, that the process of formation of new municipalities will continue. A comparison of opinion differences between municipal public office holders has shown that municipal reform is most critically assessed by representatives of “small” municipalities. These are also the most vigorous advocates of inter-municipal cooperation as well as reuniting. On the other hand, the representatives of the new municipalities are rather reluctant about this. In their view, the increased participation of the population in the work of the new municipalities is evidence that, despite some obvious difficulties, the reform has succeeded.