The article defines the influence of European principles on the formation of social responsibility of local self-government. In accordance with international documents, seven basic principles of social responsibility of local self-government bodies have been developed, namely: 1) transparent provision of quality services that meet the demands of the territorial community as much as possible; 2) compliance with the norms of national legislation and international principles that ensure sustainable development and well-being of the territorial community; 3) active participation in the development of civil society through the implementation of "community-government-business" partnership programs, social and charitable projects; 4) development of comprehensive and accountable interaction with all stakeholders; 5) implementation of proactive leadership in solving environmental problems, formation of environmental responsibility; 6) creation of jobs with appropriate remuneration, appropriate level of occupational safety, social benefits, promotion of comprehensive development and improvement of competence of employees; 7) effective counteraction to any forms of corruption. It is proven that the effective activity of local self-government should be based on those values that guarantee the development of a democratic, legal and social state, and at the same time ensure the maximum involvement of society in state management, foreseeing potential conflicts of personal and public interests and requests. Such basic factors in the implementation of local self-government should be: 1) the principle of the rule of law; 2) priority of human rights (maximum guarantee of their observance and protection); 3) development of human potential. They are able to serve as the basis of harmonious relations between the state and people. In order to introduce a management model based on the principles of the rule of law and the modern concept of New Public Management, a single paradigm for guaranteeing the observance and protection of human rights at the local level should be introduced. Implementation of the concept of social responsibility in the system of local self-government is an urgent need of modern society, compliance with which will solve the problems of modernization of local self-government in accordance with European values, guaranteeing every person protection from violation of his rights by the state.