TY - JOUR
T1 - Challenges of the Implementation of the European Charter of Local Self-Government in Finnish Legislation
AU - Jäntti, Anni
AU - Vakkala, Hanna
AU - Sinervo, Lotta-Maria
PY - 2019/1/26
Y1 - 2019/1/26
N2 - In this article, we focus on the challenges for local self-government in Finland. Finnish legislation follows the Articles of the European Charter of Local self-government rather closely. We illustrate how the role of local government as service provider has led to a situation where municipalities are strictly steered by and financially dependent on the national government. Besides this, the burden of public services exposes local government to reforms. Current local government reform by national government challenges local self-government by establishing a regional level of governance. However, it can also bring opportunities for municipalities to focus more on local tasks and decrease the need for strict steering by the state.
AB - In this article, we focus on the challenges for local self-government in Finland. Finnish legislation follows the Articles of the European Charter of Local self-government rather closely. We illustrate how the role of local government as service provider has led to a situation where municipalities are strictly steered by and financially dependent on the national government. Besides this, the burden of public services exposes local government to reforms. Current local government reform by national government challenges local self-government by establishing a regional level of governance. However, it can also bring opportunities for municipalities to focus more on local tasks and decrease the need for strict steering by the state.
KW - Local self-government
KW - Municipality
KW - Local Governance
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U2 - 10.4335/17.1.23-33(2019)
DO - 10.4335/17.1.23-33(2019)
M3 - Article
SN - 1581-5374
VL - 17
SP - 23
EP - 33
JO - Lex Localis - Journal of Local Self-Government
JF - Lex Localis - Journal of Local Self-Government
IS - 1
ER -