Delegation of State Powers to Local Self-Government Bodies: Foreign Experience and Ukrainian Realities

This article is devoted to the study of the problems of the delegation of state powers to local self-government bodies. The paper reveals the pluralism of approaches to the organization of models of such interaction in the countries where various doctrines of the organization and functioning of local self-government prevail (the state-oriented doctrine, the community-oriented doctrine, and the doctrine of municipal dualism). Using the example of various European states (grouped on the basis of the prevailing doctrines presented above for convenience), we reveal specific schemes for the legal regulation of interaction within such relations, their positive features, and drawbacks. The obtained data presented in a compressed form in the paper also features an in-depth analysis of the constitutional and legal regulation of the delegation of state powers to local governments in Ukraine. An important element of the novelty of the study was the projection of modern Ukrainian problems in the field of delegated powers through the prism of the existing European systems and relevant experience, thereby complementing this study with a comparative dimension.

Conclusions made by the authors feature a set of recommendations based on the conducted comparative research and on formal and logical analysis of compliance of the domestic model of the delegation of powers with the provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. Taking into account the fact that European standards in the sphere of the delegation of powers (depends on the adoption of amendments to the Constitution of Ukraine and the Law ‘On delegation of separate powers of executive authorities to local self-government bodies’) are not yet implemented in Ukraine, we believe that this research will not only be useful in the context of theoretical and scientific research of the issue but also has the potential to contribute to the development and implementation of relevant legislation.