The Union of Municipalities of Montenegro has published Manual for Drafting Regulations of Local Self-Government Units, authored by Dragan Šoć, is the first document of its kind in Montenegro aimed at improving the quality, consistency, and uniformity of local regulations.
The handbook provides practical guidance for the preparation, drafting and adoption of local acts, including an overview of key legal drafting rules, examples of good practice, and recommendations for improving the normative work of local self-government units. it is intended for employees of local self-government units, council members, and all other stakeholders involved in the preparation and adoption of local regulations.
The Secretary General of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro, Mišela Manojlović, assessed that the Manual will serve as an important tool for local self-governments in the process of improving the quality of regulations and strengthening legal certainty at the local level.
“High-quality local regulations form the foundation for the efficient functioning of local self-government, the provision of better services to citizens, and the successful implementation of European standards at the local level. This Manual was developed in response to the need to further improve and harmonize legislative drafting practices in Montenegrin municipalities, while providing practical support in the day-to-day work of employees involved in the preparation of regulations,” said Manojlović.
She added that, in recent years, the Union of Municipalities has worked intensively to strengthen the capacities of local self-governments through training, expert support, and the exchange of experiences among municipalities.
“The Manual represents a logical continuation of these activities and contributes to the professionalization of local administration. We are confident that it will contribute to greater legal certainty, more efficient work of local authorities, and a better understanding of local regulations by citizens and other users,” Manojlović stated.
The design and printing of the publication were provided through the project “Municipalities for the EU – Empowering Local Communities in Montenegro’s European Integration Process,” which is implemented with the financial support of the European Union, in cooperation with the Ministry of Public Administration and the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro.
Branka Mračević, Team Leader of the “Municipalities for the EU” project, emphasized that the project’s objective is to provide local self-governments with practical knowledge and tools that will help them implement reforms and strengthen their capacities for European integration.
“Through the 'Municipalities for the EU' project, we strive to provide local self-governments with practical knowledge and tools that will help them become stronger partners in the European integration process. We believe that this Manual will serve as valuable support to municipalities in improving their legislative drafting work and delivering higher-quality services to citizens,” Mračević stated.
The Manual is available in electronic format on the websites of the Union of Municipalities of Montenegro and the 'Municipalities for the EU' project platform.
