MINSK, 30 April (BelTA) – Belarus has conditions for evolutionary decentralization and redistribution of authority among different levels of self-government, Chairman of the Council of the Republic of the National Assembly of Belarus Mikhail Myasnikovich said at a meeting of the Council for Cooperation of Local Self-Government Bodies at the upper chamber of parliament on 30 April, BelTA has learned.
The meeting of the Council, which is attended by representatives of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe, highlights improvements in the Belarusian legislation that regulates issues of local governance for sustainable development. “Today we have conditions for evolutionary decentralization and redistribution of authority among different levels of self-government. These structures need to be strengthened and their activity needs to be improved, including taking into account the best international practices,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.
The Belarusian local government system includes local councils of deputies and territorial public self-government bodies. Their powers are defined by the Law on Local Government and Self-Governance. According to Mikhail Myasnikovich, the provisions of this law, including Article No.3 “Major principles of local government and self-governance” remain relevant but need more practical content. The local councils of deputies have a relatively broad competence in addressing local issues. Under the Constitution, they are in charge of approving economic and social development programs, local budgets and performance reports, local tax assessment, appointment of local referendums and other issues.
According to Mikhail Myasnikovich, there is a need to strengthen the role of local government and self-governance in addressing local tasks so that the rights and powers stipulated by law could be used to the full. “We need to address acute problems more efficiently and, what is more important, do our best to prevent their emergence. We also need to govern the decisions taken for economic and social development of the corresponding areas. This means to build people's confidence in local government and self-governance,” he said.
Real local self-governance is believed to be one of the basic conditions for the development of the modern civil society, its sustainable social and economic evolvement and political stability.
“We have the appropriate legislation, expertise, experience and political will to develop this important area of activities. We respect successes of other states and are interested in adopting them. Belarus has not yet joined the European Charter of Local Self-Government. I believe it is all about timing. We share the fundamental principles of this document in practice,” Mikhail Myasnikovich said.
He added that at the meeting with President of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe Anders Knape on 29 April Belarus President Aleksandr Lukashenko stressed that Belarus is open to adopt the best international practices, appreciates readiness for dialogue and keeps the right to take decisions which meet national interests.
