Association of Towns
Association of towns in the Republic of Croatia is a national, nonpartisan and nongovernment organization of towns, made through voluntary joining of towns with a purpose of cooperation and promotion of common interests as the local self-government units.
The Assembly is the highest body of the Association, and consists of mayors, or other authorized representatives of towns in accordance with the Statute regulations. Every member of the Association has one vote in the Assembly. Tasks and authorizations of the Assembly are: delivering the Statute and its alterations and additions; delivering the Association’s work-plan; confirmation of the Presidency constitution; election and dismissal of the president and vice-president of the Assembly from the lines of Presidency members; election and dismissal of the president, vice-president and members of the Supervisory board; consideration of the Presidency reports on work and activities of the Association as well as deciding on the termination of Association activity. Assembly conferences are held according to need, but at least once a year. The President of the Assembly is also the president of the Association and the Presidency.
The Presidency is the executive body of the Association and governs the work of the Association between two Assembly sittings. The Presidency has 41 members, and is consisted of two mayors from every municipality plus the City of Zagreb mayor. Presidency determiners the Statute motion and its alterations and additions; determines the content of the Association’s work-plan and recommends its adoption to the Assembly; gives suggestions, opinions and support to the Croatian Parliament and state bodies related to questions important to towns; implements conclusions and other acts of the Assembly; submits the annual work-plan and activity report of the Association to the Assembly; establishes the annual financial budget, determines the balance sheet and supervises the financial business activities of the Association; decides on membership fee rate; establishes expert working groups or committees; decides on joining of the Association to international associations of local units. Assembly conferences are held according to need, but at least once in three months.
The President represents and stands for the Association in a 4 year mandate. He/she is responsible to the Presidency and the Assembly.
Supervisory board has a president and two members and its assignment is to monitor the compliance of Association’s business activities with the Statute of the Association. Supervisory board conferences are held according to need, but at least once in six months.
Expert working groups or committees can be set-up by the Presidency to examine the situations and questions of significance to towns, and give opinions and recommendations in the law and policy making process. Members of expert working groups or committees are recommended by the representatives of towns that are members of the Association. Other distinguished experts and scientists can also be involved in the work of these special committees.
Administrative office of the Association performs expert, legal, organizational and administrative tasks relevant for regular meetings and events of all Association’s bodies. The office is responsible for preparation and drafting of proposals for laws and other regulations that apply to local self-government; preparation and drawing up the Association’s budget proposal; monitoring of changes and the amendments of relevant legislation; providing organizational support to working groups and/or committees; briefing of Association members and publishing of the Association’s newsletter; organization of various seminars, conferences and round tables; maintain the Association’s web page, as well as coordinating international cooperation of the Association. The Office is led by the Association affairs coordinator determined by the Presidency.
Organizational scheme:
