1. Robert Kovács, Hungary www.localmonitoring.eu office@localmonitoring.eu International Seminar of the Lisbon Observatory on Poverty - Lisbon - 26th FEBRUARY 2008

2. What is LRMI? LRMI is a brand new non-profit Ltd. Scientific Strategic Board: warranty for following public goals It is funded from projects: LRMI is using LGs funds to finance its main activities Independence from the politics: credibility Helping good governence: influencing politics It is organized at national level but acts locally

3. Goals of LRMI? Its short term goals concentrates around 1.regional science’ achievements, 2.data collection and publication on LGs 3.development of a comprehensive index Our long term goals are 1.realize regular comparative analyzes in CEE countries using the same methodology 2.by developing network of interrelated organizations in the region

4. LG indexes of LRMI? Two fold indexes is under production:  LCI – Local Competitiveness Index LCI is measuring LG’s from outside with objective and some subjective indicators to show their relative positions compaired one to the other  LGCI – Local Government Confidence Index LGCI is aimed to measure the confedence of LGs is their surroung: from national to local level. It is mostly based on subjective factors.

5. Main Focus of LRMI 1. Local democracy and the degree of social inclusion. 2. Local public services and the public finance sector. 3. The satisfactory index of citizens and local economic trends. 4. Partnership, expertise and strategic planning of local and regional developments. (for example the process of utilization of subsidies provided by Hungary and the European Union 5. Consultancy work for enterprises and public administration.

6. The Objectives of LRMI Increase transparency of local governments Develop a comprehensive comparative methodology for local governments able to make international comparisons Generate international cooperation between local governments to increase effective, the quality of service delivery, spread up innovations

7. Who are making LRMI? Founders are 1.high level academic people, member of the Hungarian Academy of Science specialized for regional sciences 2.High status public servents, and 3.High officials of the biggest Hungarian LG association The size of LRMI 1.Scientific Board: 9 members 2.Research assistants: 5-9 3.Large network of partners

8. The Present and Future of LRMI Recent activities  Three projects on LG system reform for the National Federation of Local Governments in the 2nd half of 2007  Effect of LG’s payments default on SME sector for the Ministry of Economy and Transports  Colaboration aggrement with all professional LG’s associations in January 2008  Conference local finance with participation of government representant, LGs associations and banks Strate gic activities  Indeeped colaboration with LG associations  International cooperations  Publications, workshop, conferences

9. Thank you for your attention! More information: www.localmonitoring.eu Robert.kovacs@localmonirtoring.hu