The Netherlands: presentation  Population:16,6 millions  Area: km²  density 396 hab/km²  Amsterdam: political and economical capital  The Hague: seat of government  3 levels of administration: the state, the provinces and the municipalities  Parliamentary democracy and constituional monarchy  Bicameral parliament « the States General »  The upper house(Erste kamer): 75 members  The Lower House(Tweede kamer): 150 members

LOCAL GOVERNMENT IN THE NETHERLANDS A unitary and decentralized state

An unitary and decentralized state  An unitary state governed by the central government based in The Hague  Two levels of decentralization - The Provinces (12) - Municipalities (<400)  A fonctional decentralization

The provinces  Institutional organization  a bicephalous executive - The commissioner of the Queen - The « Member States »  Statements provincial (provincial council) - elected in proportion to 4 years - Appointing members of Senate

The provinces  Competences  A general clause of competences - Local interest - Anything not expressly within the jurisdiction of the state  Autonomus competences - A few - main body of co-administration  shared competences with Municipalities - housing, social services, culture, tourism, sport, etc..

Municipalities  Institutional organization  a bicephalous executive - The « Mayor » - The Aldermen  The municipal council - From 9 to 45 councilors elected by direct universal and proportional suffrage for 4 years - May include foreign concilors

Municipalities  Competences  A general clause of competences  Autonomus competences - Many: police, firefighter, waste management, education, health  shared competences - State (a few) - Provinces

The waterboards  An institution dating from the Middle Ages  A fonctional decentralization all over the state - System Management Regulatory Polders - Water Quality - Maintenance of waterways (competence unsystematic)  Organization - the executive and its chairman are appointed by the government - An assembly elected by the owners of land and houses in the territory

Intercommunality  Growing phenomenon  Different forms  Regions of intermunicpal cooperation

Means of implementation  In compliance with the two principles: - Autonomy - Comanagement  The legislative power of communities - The legislative bodies are entitled to publish regulations - Plans - Individual decisions  The power of sanctions - Violation of self-regulation can be punished - Administrative sanctions

Budget (2006)  Provinces : 4.2 billion euros - Own resources : 38% - Overall allocation of the state (algemene uitkering) : 24% - Specific grants (specifieke uitkering) : 38 %  Municipalities: 43.5 billion euros - Own resources: 17% - Responsible municipal (State) : 29% - Specific grants : 54%  Waterboards - Taxes (1.9 billion)

Notable features of the local public service  Approximately 210,000 officials - Feature : Local Public Service down while state civil service is up - Recruitment by maintaining motivation  Major Officials - The clerk for the provinces - The municipal secretary  Influential trade unions  An association : "the association of provinces and municipalities

DANK U VOOR UW AANDACHT ! / THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION !