CRO LOWER HOUSE ON AMENDMENTS TO LAW ON SELF-GOVERNMENT

ZAGREB, Oct 20 (Hina) - The Croatian parliament's House of Representatives on Wednesday discussed amendments to the Law on Local Self-Government and Government. Prior to an integral reform of local self-government, the Croatian government has suggested amendments to the said law in order to regulate transborder cooperation between local self-government units from Croatia and those from other countries, Antun Palaric, head of the State Management for Government and Local Self- Government, said. The aim of the amendments is to separate the former function of the prefect, who was simultaneously the representative of state authority in the county and the bearer of executive authority and the self-government functions of the county. In the future, the prefect would be appointed by the President of the Republic at the suggestion of the government, to which the prefect would answer. The prefect would account for the implementation of government tasks in the county, and as a high- ranking state official, he would be entrusted with certain authorities in supervising the lawfulness of the work of units of local self-government. Executive authorities would be carried out by an official whose title would be the president of county authorities. A number of MPs today endorsed a Legislative Committee motion for the adoption of the amendments in first reading, provided that the possibility of submitting a new, integral law on local self- government and government be evaluated prior to the drafting of the final text. (hina) ha mm