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Overview of European Experiences of the Decentralisation Process

Overview of European Experiences of the Decentralisation Process. Chris Game Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV) The University of Birmingham, ENGLAND ( c.h.game@bham.ac.uk ) I Conference of European and African Assemblies Florence, 17-18 September 2004. UK DEVOLUTION STORY No.1.

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Overview of European Experiences of the Decentralisation Process

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  1. Overview of European Experiences of the Decentralisation Process Chris Game Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV) The University of Birmingham, ENGLAND (c.h.game@bham.ac.uk) I Conference of European and African Assemblies Florence, 17-18 September 2004

  2. UK DEVOLUTION STORY No.1 • Opening of the new ScottishParliament building in Edinburgh • €633 million! • Catalan architect – Enric Miralles • “a public space as original and unpredictable as anything in Europe”

  3. UK DEVOLUTION STORY No. 2 • November 4th – 1st referendum on the establishment of ELECTED REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES in England • in North East region only • by all-postal ballot • “the gap in the UK’s post-1997 regional devolution settlement”

  4. THE UK’S NEW AND VARIEDREGIONAL ASSEMBLIES • SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT – pop: 5.1 million; referendum 1997, first elected 1999 • Primary legislative + income tax-varying power • Devolved functions – transport, economic development, housing, education, social services, agriculture, health, local government, the environment, culture, sport, etc. • 129 elected MSPs; Labour-Liberal Democrat administration • NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF WALES – pop: 2.9 million; referendum 1997, first elected 1999 • Executive and secondary legislative powers over similar range of devolved functions • No independent tax power • 60 assembly Members; 1-party Labour administration since 2003 • NORTHERN IRELAND ASSEMBLY – pop: 1.6 million; referendum 1998, first elected 1998 • Primary legislative powers over more limited range of functions • Devolved functions – education, training, agriculture, trade and investment, social services, the environment • 108 Members of the Legislative Assembly, BUT suspended since October 2002 • GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY – pop: 7.1 million; referendum 1998, first elected 2000 • Local/regional strategic powers over limited range of responsibilities: transport, policing, economic development, fire and emergency planning • Directly elected executive mayor (the UK’s first) +25 Assembly Members

  5. WHAT’S MISSING –ELECTED ASSEMBLIES IN THE ENGLISH REGIONS Plenty of regional ‘governance’: • Government Offices • Single-service bodies • Regional Development Agencies • Unelected Regional Chambers/Assemblies ….. BUT no electorally accountable regional government

  6. ELECTED REGIONAL ASSEMBLIES – THE CRUCIAL CONDITIONS • For regions choosing directly elected assemblies: • A ‘YES’ vote will be needed in a region-wide referendum • The local government structure in that region will have to become 100% unitary – i.e. retaining no more than a 2-tier structure of sub-central government

  7. AT PRESENT, THOUGH, BRITAIN REMAINS … … the only large Western European state without a SYSTEM of elected regional government

  8. LOCAL and REGIONAL GOVERNMENT in the LARGER EUROPEAN STATES Population Number of basic Average pop. States/regions (million) authorities per authority FRANCE 60 36,750 Communes 1,600 22 Régions AUSTRIA 8 2,360 Gemeinden 3,500 9 Länder SPAIN 40 8,100 Municipios 4,900 17 Communidades GERMANY 83 13,860 Gemeinden 6,000 16 Länder ITALY 57 8,100 Comuni 7,100 20 Regioni GREECE 11 1,030 Koinotetes etc. 10,300 BELGIUM 10 590 Communes 17,500 3 Regions SWEDEN 9 310 Kommuner 28,400 NETHERLANDS 16 500 Gemeenten 32,300 UK (1994) 58 540 Districts etc. 107,000 UK (2000+) 59 468 Districts, etc. 126,000 3 Regions

  9. A SPECTRUM OF REGIONAL DEVOLUTION IN WESTERN EUROPE • FEDERAL STATES – Germany, Austria, Belgium • Full constitutional sharing of powers and a wide range of functions and discretions • REGIONALISED STATES – Spain (‘asymmetrical regionalisation’), Italy • No constitutionally protected sovereignty, but elected regional government with wide-ranging autonomy and legislative powers • DEVOLVING UNITARY STATES – Netherlands, Portugal, Finland, France + UK?? • Recent establishment of some elected regional authorities, enjoying some degree of constitutional protection and autonomy

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