H. whereas the key feature of emergency rule by Commissioners is their authority to derogate from regulations and controls, including for example, exemption from environmental impact assessment and public procurement legislation, and a seemingly uncontrolled access to public funds; whereas they were given the authority to decide the location of plants, landfills and incinerators, and the contracting companies, free from obligation to inform local authorities and inhabitants about the decisions taken; whereas the Commissioner system ...[+++]itself has come under heavy criticism and several judicial enquiries are under way and whereas the management of waste by emergency commissioners is actually seen by much of the population as part of the problem, rather than the solution,

H. whereas the key feature of emergency rule by Commissioners is their authority to derogate from regulations and controls, including for example, exemption from environmental impact assessment and public procurement legislation, and a seemingly uncontrolled access to public funds; whereas they were given the authority to decide the location of plants, landfills and incinerators, and the contracting companies, free from obligation to inform local authorities and inhabitants about the decisions taken; whereas the Commissioner system ...[+++]itself has come under heavy criticism and several judicial enquiries are under way and whereas the management of waste by emergency commissioners is actually seen by much of the population as part of the problem, rather than the solution,

points out that the lack of any clear delimitation of responsibilities among local and central authorities is preventing the decentralisation process from moving forwards, and the overlapping responsibilities of different levels of public administration are having a negative effect on the quality of public services; hopes that the reforms in this area will ensure that resources are proportionate to the powers assigned; highlights ...[+++] that the delegation of powers to local authorities can only take place under conditions of equality between the parties, with full coverage of costs and legal protection of local autonomy; considers that the administrative oversight of the implementation of powers delegated to local authorities by the State should not degenerate into the surveillance of local authorities by the central government;

Member States and local and regional governments have also acted across the board, for example to address social exclusion, to prepare for the impact of an ageing society, reduce greenhouse gas emissions and improve the quality of local public transport[2].

1. The cooperation partners eligible for financial support pursuant to this Regulation shall be decentralised cooperation agents in the Community or the developing countries, such as: local (including municipal) authorities, non-governmental organisations, organisations of indigenous peoples, local traders' associations and local citizens' groups, cooperatives, trade unions, economic and social actors organisations, local organisations (including networks) which are active in the area of regional decentralised cooperation and integration, consumer organisations, women's and youth organisations, teaching, cultural, research and scientific ...[+++] organisations, universities, churches and religious associations or communities, media and any non-governmental associations and independent foundations likely to contribute to development.

The cooperation partners eligible for financial support under this Regulation shall be decentralised cooperation agents in the Community or the developing countries, namely: local authorities, non-governmental organisations, local traders' associations and local citizens' groups, cooperatives, trade unions, women's and youth organisations, teaching and research institutions, churches and any non-governmental associations likely to contribute to development.