Macedonia (Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia) Unitary state

Structures and competences

Local level :

81 municipalities (opstina) and the capital city of Skopje

The local council (sovet na opstinata) is elected by direct universal suffrage for a period of four years. The number of municipal councillors is determined by law and depends on the demographic size of the municipality.

The mayor (gradonacalnik) is the municipality’s executive body and is elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year mandate. He/she executes decisions made by the municipal council and submits draft municipal acts to the local council. The mayor represents the municipality, acts on its behalf and is responsible for the organisation, performance and quality of services of its administration. He/she cannot be a local councillor at the same time as mayor.

The country’s capital, the city of Skopje, is a special unit of local self–government made up of ten independent municipalities. The capital’s independent municipalities have individual competences, some of which are shared with Skopje, and which set them apart from the country’s remaining 74 municipalities. Examples of these shared competences include property tax, road maintenance, urban planning and building permits.

COMPETENCES

• Urban and spatial planning
• Environment
• Local economic development
• Water supply and treatment
• Road maintenance
• Culture
• Sports and leisure
• Tourism
• Social services
• Health care
• Child care
• Elementary and secondary education
• Fire services
• Disaster protection and assistance