About NALAS
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NALAS is a network of associations of local authorities of South East Europe. The Network brings together 15 Associations which represent roughly 4000 local authorities, directly elected by more than 80 million citizens of this region. The NALAS Secretariat, based in Skopje, is responsible for the overall coordination and the implementation of the activities.
NALAS was created in 2001 following the first Forum of Cities and Regions of South-East Europe (Skopje, November 2000), organised by the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe. The Network was established under the auspices of the Stability Pact for South Eastern Europe (Working Table 1) and the Council of Europe. During the first years, NALAS functioned as an informal organisation with regular meetings, seminars and training programmes. In July 2005 NALAS became an officially registered association with its seat in Strasbourg. The NALAS Secretariat was established in March 2007.
Objectives
NALAS promotes the process of decentralisation in cooperation with
central governments and international organisations, considering local
self-government as a key issue in the current process of transition affecting
the various countries in South-East Europe. NALAS builds partnerships in order
to contribute to the reconciliation and stabilisation process in the region and
henceforth contributes to the process of the European integration of the
whole region.
NALAS initiates and carries out regional
initiatives for its members and helps the associations to become viable
representatives of local authorities vis-à-vis central government. NALAS aims to
provide services to local governments for the benefit of the citizens in
the region and wishes to develop itself as the knowledge centre for local
government development in South-East Europe, recognised among all relevant
stakeholders.
Activities
In line with its action plan, the NALAS Secretariat organizes task forces on specific themes important to local government in South-East Europe. NALAS focuses primarily on local finances, urban planning, waste management, institutional development and energy efficiency. The task forces on each of these topics develop the different projects and concrete activities.
Click here to learn more about the NALAS Task Forces
International support
In its efforts to strengthen local governance in South-East Europe, bringing it in line with the European standards, NALAS operates in accordance with the principles set forth in the European Charter of Local Self-Government and works with a wide array of international partners and donors. NALAS is closely affiliated with the Congress of the Council of Europe, but NALAS has also acquired observer status to the Committee of the Regions (EU), and has good working relations with FEDRE, LGI, the Council of European Municipalities and Regions, the Austrian Städtebund and the Council of Europe’s Centre of Expertise for Local Government Reform.
From the start, NALAS received substantial funding from the Swiss Development Centre (SDC). The German Technical Assistance (GTZ) contributes predominantly to the many concrete projects developed by the NALAS task forces. The Open Society Institute also provided funding for NALAS.