The Netherlands: presentation

Population:16,6 millions

Area: 41 526 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- 600 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 !