Rule of law.

Complying with Europe - EU Harmonisation and Soft Law in the Member States

The paper presents a framework for determining the optimal size of local jurisdictions. To that aim, we first develop a theoretical model of cost efficiency that takes into account spatial interactions and spillover effects among neighbouring jurisdictions. The model solution leads to a Spatial Durbin panel data specification of local spending as a non-linear function of population size. The model is tested using local data over the 2003-2011 period for two aggregate (total and current) and four disaggregate measures of spending. The empirical findings suggest a U-shaped relationship between population size and the costs of providing public services that varies depending on (i) the public service provided and (ii) the geographical heterogeneity of the territory.

Is there an optimal size for local governments? A spatial panel data model approach

The activities of the poviat are a combination of interrelated factors. The use of natural resources should be carried out in accordance with the principles of sustainable development. The aim of this research was to assess the spatial differentiation of development relationships, the natural environment, and ecology of poviats in Poland, using a synthetic measure. Empirical data were collected in the spatial terms of poviats in Poland. The choice of variables was conditioned by the availability of data of the Central Statistical Office for 2010–2019. The assessment of development of poviats indicates disproportions in terms of development variables, as well as the natural environment and ecology, and the existence of a weak impact of natural conditions for development. Poviats distinguished by a higher level of natural environment are not characterized by a higher measure of development. The reason for the low impact of non-financial conditions on the development of poviats is their dependence on transfer from the state budget and the amount of current expenditure. The results may constitute a source of information for local government authorities on the disproportions existing between units, on the determination of directions of development policy optimization in terms of the natural environment and ecology.

Assessment of Spatial Diversity of the Potential of the Natural Environment in the Context of Sustainable Development of Poviats in Poland

At first glance, defining good administration seems easy to be done, but it is not always like that. As a quite new concept, promoted by the supporters of the new public management, good administration is a fundamental right of the European Union and, at the same time, a principle established by the European Court of Justice or a concept used in the administrative sciences. To characterize the way an administration works, good administration is an indicator of performance in public administration. For this reason, as a concept, it was developed by the doctrine. As a concept, good administration is a model of administration. As a principle, good administration outlines the boundaries inside which the public administration activity should take place, by establishing, on the one hand, a set of ethical rules of behavior, and on the other hand, standards to be taken into account by the public administration activity. Thus, the public administration activity should be developed efficiently, effectively and economically. This article aims to analyze all the three aspects, which the good administration is found in -- concept, principle, and right. In analyzing the good administration, we shall use the experience of the European countries -- Sweden, Great Britain, and other countries in the European Community. At the end, we shall present the results from a study developed in the Brasov City about the way the citizens of Brasov perceive the proper administration of their community.

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/Delivery.cfm/SSRN_ID2384369_code794369.pdf?abstractid=2384369&mirid=3

Good Administration and Performance of Local Public Administration

Decentralization policy schemes (DPSs) in the public sector have been implemented in different ways by Slovakia and the Czech Republic. Both approaches have led to a transfer of competencies from state administration to self-government with the aim of improving the efficiency of the delivery of services. This paper presents a comparative scale efficiency analysis of the units performing services in the building order sector. The analysis is based on two unique regional datasets from two countries, Slovakia and the Czech Republic. The DPS implemented in Slovakia is based on the principle of voluntary cooperation of municipalities. In the case of the Czech building sector, the competencies have been transferred to the newly created municipalities with delegated or extended competencies. This study aims to contribute to the research on efficiency in public administration. We focused on the relationship between two types of DPSs, and units’ scale efficiency. We also tried to determine whether a specific unit scale size could be identified as the most efficient. We employed a two-stage metafrontier approach based on procedures for evaluating program and managerial efficiency. The results show that different DPs have not led to statistically significant differences in performance, and it is not possible to identify the most efficient building office scale size.

https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3387/9/4/89/pdf

Decentralization Policies in Public Administration in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and Their Impact on Building Offices’ Scale Efficiency

The EU vision of sustainable agriculture, land use, forestry and management of natural resources contributes to the balanced exploitation of the environment, taking into account rural development strategy. Whilst the EU directs activities through legislative tools, national systems of public administration are responsible for the implementation of the respective laws. Despite there not being acquis communautaire in public administration, non-formal cooperation has nevertheless emerged and systems of national public administration have to meet EU criteria and ensure the effective implementation of legislation. The paper presents an analysis of how Slovak state administration has converged with EU requirements in the field of sustainable agriculture, land use, forestry and natural resources. Administrative convergence is considered through the internal convergence represented by capacities without legal subjectivity, and through external convergence represented by legal and administrative subjectivi...

EU vision of sustainable agriculture, land use, forestry and management of natural resources – level of the Slovak state administration convergence to the EU requirements

State administration of the Slovak republic is a subject to extensive reform of local authorities with a purpose to simplify access of citizens to the administrative matters at the local state administration as well as for the purposes of public funds savings. The paper reflects current situation in the reforming process in the field of agriculture, forestry, hunting, landscape and cadaster state administration and current situation in the Europeanization of the Slovak administrative law. The ESO (effective, reliable, open state administration) reform transferred local specialized state administration to the general model of district offices with sectorial departments. Thus the reform introduced structural change with transfer of competences to newly established district offices. The reform also introduced horizontal two-instance decision making procedure at the district offices with the seat in the region that is doubtful. The emphasis is on the procedural rules of administrative procedure due to the fact that administrative law is modified under the Europeanization of law. The reform in the field of agriculture, forestry and cadaster state administration expects saving of public sources by 8 664 884 € in 2013 and by 33 013 199 € in 2014.

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The europeanization of the slovak administrative law and current state administration reform in the agriculture, forestry and land sector

Abstract EU agrarian policy is one of the most extensive policies of the EU. The aim of this paper is to analyse the EU agrarian policy legal framework from the point of view of law & development concept. Final remarks are based on an analysis of three topics: (1st) law & development concept, (2nd) agrarian policies and development, and (3rd) EU concept of development. Results show position of the EU agrarian policy legal framework in the EU development practice. The EU agrarian policy legal framework might be labelled as “law in development”. Several instruments have been implemented, but their impact on development is not unequivocal. There is no doubt about role of law in development as well as that the EU agricultural policy is core policy for development of the EU regions. Based on interconnections and justification we can argue that the EU agrarian policy legal framework is a substantial part of internal EU development concept and practice. Abstrakt Agrarna politika patri k najrozsiahlejšim politikam Europskej unie. Cieľom prispevku je analyzovať pravny ramec agrarnej politiky EU z pohľadu konceptu prava a rozvoja. Zhrnutie prispevku je založene na analyze troch tem a to: (prva) koncept prava a rozvoja, (druha) agrarne politiky a rozvoj a (tretia) europsky koncept rozvoja. Vysledky poukazuju na poziciu pravneho ramca agrarnej politiky EU v ramci rozvojovej praxe EU. Pravny ramec pre agrarnu politiku EU može byť označovany ako „pravo v rozvoji“. Napriek tomu, že doteraz bolo implementovanych niekoľko nastrojov, ich dopad na rozvoj nie je jednoznačny. Na druhej strane však neexistuju pochybnosti o tom, že pravo zohrava vyznamnu ulohu pri rozvoji, rovnako ako o tom, že polnohospodarska politika EU je zakladnou politikou pre rozvoj regionov v EU. Na zaklade vzajomneho prepojenia a zdovodnenia možno argumentovať, že pravny ramec agrarnej politiky je podstatnou sučasťou vnutorneho konceptu a rozvojovej praxe EU.

/pdf/eu-agrarian-policy-legal-framework-as-a-part-of-the-eu-2uyqo1grai.pdf

Eu Agrarian Policy Legal Framework as a Part of the Eu Development Practice / Právny Rámec Agrárnej Politiky Eú Ako Súčasť Eú Rozvojovej Praxe

Local public administration contributes to a favorable business environment. Slovak Trade Licensing Administration (TLA) provides public services for traders. Centrally managed policy making without taking into account of local and regional specifics is not fully conforming to the current local needs of territorial units. Innovative administrative interventions from the central tier may reflect territorial needs of these units. Spatial distribution of performance data points out regional differences in the territorial units of the TLA. There are significant regional differences in the numbers of trades per employees and performed administrative actions. It creates conditions for individual approach in policy making. Cluster analysis groups the territorial units of the TLA for suitable tailor-made policy making from the central tier. Based on the findings, there are seven clusters of territorial units with specific local and regional needs. Tailor-made policy making can take into account of territorial specifics and strengthening the role of territorial units of the TLA in regional development.

Tomáš Malatinec

Papers

Decentralization Policies in Public Administration in Slovakia and the Czech Republic, and Their Impact on Building Offices’ Scale Efficiency

EU vision of sustainable agriculture, land use, forestry and management of natural resources – level of the Slovak state administration convergence to the EU requirements

The europeanization of the slovak administrative law and current state administration reform in the agriculture, forestry and land sector

Eu Agrarian Policy Legal Framework as a Part of the Eu Development Practice / Právny Rámec Agrárnej Politiky Eú Ako Súčasť Eú Rozvojovej Praxe

Regional tailor-made policy making in trade licensing administration—case of Slovakia