Naslov
European Standards in Regulating Public Participation on Subnational Levels: The Case of Croatia

Autori
Dobrić Jambrović, Dana

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Poglavlja u knjigama, znanstveni

Knjiga
Contemporary Trends in Local Governance. Reform, Cooperation and Citizen Participation

Urednik/ci
Nunes Silva, Carlos

Izdavač
Springer

Godina
2020

Raspon stranica
217-239

ISBN
978-3-030-52516-3

Ključne riječi
European standards, local democracy, participatory governance, Croatia

Sažetak
Citizen participation in activities of the public authorities and administrative bodies is condition sine qua non of every democratic government. Transparency, openness, and participation are the key standards in ensuring the efficiency of public policies, quality of decision-making process, and also the strengthening of the citizens' trust in public institutions. In respect of the principle of subsidiarity, the participation can be the most directly exercised on the local level. The above presented theoretical framework raises two research questions: (1) What are the possible instruments for citizen participation in local governance and ways to strengthen local democracy? (2) Is the concept of participatory governance practiced in Croatia? In an attempt to provide answers, the author used the legal analysis and the teleological and linguistic method. By analyzing European legal documents (with an emphasis on the Council of Europe as a leading institution in the regulation of local democracy), we were able to identify the main principles and standards for citizen participation that European states need to promote and regulate: representative and direct democracy, participation of the OCD, new ICT, and engagement of specific groups of citizens (women, young people, national minorities, foreigners, persons with disabilities). The Croatian legislation envisages a large number of civil participation instruments, but in a rather segmented manner, in a number of specific laws. Therefore, Croatia is yet to accede to Protocol no. 207 with the revision of the fundamental law on local self-government to establish participatory practices.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Politologija

POVEZANOST RADA