SK8: Problem Isn't Number of Regions, But Incomplete Decentralisation

Bratislava, 19 August (TASR) - The Slovak Self-governing Regions Association (SK8) has stated that Slovakia's issue isn't with the number of self-governing regions but with the unfinished decentralisation of public administration, TASR reported on Monday (18 August) in connection with SK8's negative response to a proposal by the junior coalition Slovak National Party (SNS) to reduce the number of self-governing regions. According to the association, the number of regions isn't the cause of high public expenditures but rather a pretext to avoid the core issue, which lies in the need for fundamental, systemic reform. The estimated savings aren't realistic, added SK8, citing experience from other countries in which similar changes brought only minimal real savings but at the cost of worsened access to services with functional regional structures dismantled. "Territorial self-governance isn't just a map on paper. It's a system meant to serve people where they live – in regions, towns and villages. For them, reducing the number of regions would mean that the decision-making centres would be moved even further away from them, and the possibility of quickly resolving problems directly in the region would be lost, with regional identity being weakened as well," stressed SK8. A high-quality system isn't built by drawing new borders but by eliminating duplication between central and local government, as well by strengthening the financial autonomy of the regions, while ensuring that decisions are made by directly elected representatives rather than political nominees, said SK8, adding that moving towards centralism is unjustified and runs contrary to the subsidiarity principle and the European Charter of Local Self-Government. SK8 also voiced its concerns that such an important proposal has been presented in the absence of any debate with the self-governing regions. At last week's meeting of the Coalition Council SNS proposed reducing the number of self-governing regions from eight to four. The proposed model would follow Slovakia's historical divisions and create four regions: Bratislava, West, Central and East. According to the party, the reform would generate savings of over €500 million by reducing the number of offices and eliminating redundancy. Premier Robert Fico (Smer-SD) said that Smer-SD is ready to vote in favour of the proposal. He claimed that reducing the number of self-governing regions is one way to save financial resources without jeopardising the functioning of the state. Voice-SD leader Matus Sutaj Estok said that his party is prepared to discuss the proposal as well. jrg/df