Association of the Units of Local Self Government of the Republic of Macedonia (ZELS)

Address:
Zenevska bb
p. fah: 32
1000 Skopje
Macedonia
Tel.: +389 2 30 99 033
Fax: +389 2 30 61 994
E-mail: contact@zels.org.mk
Web site: http://www.zels.org.mk

History and missions of the organisation

The focus of the interest of ZELS has naturally evolved from the process that supports the current courses of the decentralization into a process that directs the activities towards complete implementation of the regulation which regulates the local self-government system. ZELS was an initiator of the process for strengthening the capacities of the local self-government in order to meet the immediate needs of the citizens, and for providing qualitative services for the local community. In the course of the past period, ZELS has successfully implemented numerous trainings, some of them realized individually, but most of the trainings were realized with the support provided from partners. ZELS provided assistance for the initial organization of the municipal administration regarding the functional and efficient operation at the stages when new units of local self-government were established or during the establishment of the new units out of the existing ones. ZELS has been working on the incomes management in order to create transparent and restrained local institutions. It also fought for qualitative education, for efficient and qualitative urban planning and spatial arrangement, for qualitative communal services, for the protection of the cultural heritage and for the cultural development of the municipalities.

With the purpose of efficient functioning, ZELS has recently (2004) adopted the new bylaw which reduced the scope of the structure of the bodies, by establishing the Governing Board which is composed of 19 members, the General Assembly which is composed of all mayors in the Republic and Supervisory Board, composed of 5 members. ZELS has established 11 committees - each committee is responsible for separate area, in charge of the municipalities as subject of work.

ZELS will keep on with the foreseen objectives for the affirmation of the local democratic values, deepening the collaboration which has been already established with numerous entities. ZELS will continue to be the leader in solving the actual issues for the municipalities. There are challenges in front of us which are important for the continuation of the democratic environment where the processes are implemented on a local level, particularly the necessary additional energy and commitment regarding the processes of euro-integration. ZELS will keep the tradition to work under the principles of depoliticization, equality of the members, loyalty, and political independence and, working professionally according to the European standards, ZELS will contribute to the development of the Macedonian democratic society with strong local self-government.

Team

 President: Mr Koce Trajanovski, Mayor of the Municipality of Gazi Baba
 Vice-President: Mr Nevzat Bejta, Mayor of the Municipality of Gostivar
 Vice-President: Mr Ljubomir Janev, Mayor of the Municipality of Kocani
 Executive Director: Mrs Dusica Perisic
 Deputy Executive Director: Mrs Ardita Dema
 17 staff at ZELS are working on developing ZELS mission