CONSTITUTIONAL AND LEGAL ROLE OF LOCAL AUTHORITIES IN ECONOMIC AND INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT OF MUNICIPALITIES AND CITIES IN BOSNIA AND HERZEGOVINA

Abstract

Basic aim of this article is to present constitutional and legal role of local authorities within economic and infrastructural development of municipalities and cities in Bosnia and Herzegovina. Hence, it presents two models. Basic hypothesis that will be verified in this article is: local authorities, based upon their legal jurisdiction, are able to provide important contribution to the local economic and infrastructural development. Methodology consists of case study method in two cases. The first case study is Municipality of Gracanica in Federation of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the second case study is City of Bijeljina in Republic of Srpska. Time period of this research is post Dayton period, with distinctive focus on the period 2008– 2012. Territorial frame of this research is Bosnia and Herzegovina. Also, in the process of verification of this research, other relevant methods have been used. This article is systematized in six chapters: introductory approach on local community and local self-government; political-legal concept of local self-government in the regulations of European Charter on Local Self-Government; legal and statutory concept of municipality and city jurisdiction in the area of local economic and infrastructural development; main aspects of the role of local self-government unit in the local economic and infrastructural development; model of local economic and infrastructural development in the local communities: case study of Municipality of Gracanica; model of local economic and infrastructural development in the local communities: case study of City of Bijeljina and conclusion.