Luxembourg Unitary state

Reforms

There has been a movement in recent years in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg pushing for the merger of certain municipalities.

An independent unit has been set up to put together recommendations regarding the merger of municipalities in Luxembourg and aims to encourage such unions. The Grand Duchy today has 106 municipalities and wishes to see this number reduced to 70 over the next few years. Municipalities with less than 3 000 inhabitants are particularly concerned by the measure.

The resulting new municipalities should enjoy increased autonomy. The new size of these municipalities should in fact make them more capable of better carrying out certain local public services connected to particular competences under their remit. Inter-municipal cooperation is also being encouraged and the grouping of inter-municipal services is fairly common.

Lastly, the competences of local governments in the country might undergo modifications although it is unlikely that any radical changes would be introduced. Discussions along these lines have been ongoing for several years with nothing to indicate that a final resolution is forthcoming.

Local self-government in Luxembourg:

The national association of cities and municipalities is actively associated in government decision-making and is represented on the unit dealing with the mergers of municipalities. It appears that the European Charter of Local Self-Government is properly respected and that the municipalities have not been subject to budget restrictions or negative effects from the crisis.

KEY REFORMS

2009: local government reforms:

• Encouragement for inter-municipal cooperation
• Municipal merger programmes, with input from the affected authorities and citizens
• Grouping of inter-municipal services