Abstract
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I do researches into networking of local governments, which means, the different types of building connections between local authorities. The actuality of the topic can not be disputed because, in Europe, as around the world, the number of city networks grows rapidly. Some are established merely to influence decision making in the European Union, other networks are established predominantly to exchange information and best practices in a certain policy area. As a result of this, local governments need to become more and more “international”. I examine these co-operations in the context of the local governments’ of the Central and Eastern European countries.
I also would like to explore that what kind of circumstances and processes had been led to the shaping of European local authority networks. The connection building of the different countries' local governments in Europe has begun after the Second World War. The town-twinning movement was the first station of this process, which aimed that Europe, should never be torn apart by war again. Nevertheless, during the communist period, in the CEE countries, the twinnings between local governments were regulated by the state.
Since the 1980s the European Union has been played substantial role in facilitating the formation of the co-operations between local governments. These co-operations have motivated by economic issues, in contrast with the cultural character of the twinnings.
The following important step was the Treaty of Maastricht in 1994, which established the Committee of Regions, the official institutional representation of the local and regional authorities.
Concerning, the local governments of the post communist CEE countries, it can be related, that they are still not able to push advantages following from their membership in European local authority networks, in the fullest possible measure. In my opinion, this is the result of the communist past and the inherited political culture. It is obvious, that the local authorities of the CEE countries have already been realised the opportunities of the European local authority networks, since they, and their associations have became members of several European Network. I would like to examine, that what kind of influence has the past on the networking potential of local governments. In my opinion, the effects of the past, concerning European networking of local authorities has manifested in the way, of local governments use these kinds of collaborations.
After the trends mentioned above, I would like to speak about the Hungarian local governments’ involvement into European local authority networks. I consider whether Hungarian local government associations are able to achieve an efficient interest representation at European level.
UPDATED VERSION
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