INSTITUTIONAL FORMS AND SHAPES IN THE IMPLEMENTATION OF REGIONAL DEVELOPMENT IN THE REPUBLIC OF MACEDONIA

Abstract

Regional development is a current issue not only for the Republic of Macedonia but also for the whole European Union. This problem has just started to attract the attention in the Republic of Macedonia. Europe urges and favours the idea that the development should not be addressed only locally, within the municipality, but from another higher level, that is, regionally. In this paper the authors will specifically explore the institutional forms for implementation of the regional development in the country. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to explain the institution in charge of implementation of the regional policy of the Republic of Macedonia. Thus, the legal status of Bureau for Regional Development as the body having separate legal entity within the Ministry of Local Government and the Centres for Regional Development will be in particular presented. Macedonia is, namely, divided into 8 statistical regions on NUTS 3 level as well as the same number of centres responsible for development and promotion of development of separate regions. There will be special emphasis toward legal position and status of these centres under current legislation (2007 Law on Balanced Regional Development and other regulations concerning the regional development of the Republic of Macedonia). Also, the legal position and status of the Bureau for Regional Development as administrative body which takes care for regional development and should be understood as a chief implementer of regional policy in Macedonia will be specifically presented.