UTICAJ EVROPSKIH INTEGRACIJA REPUBLIKE SRBIJE NA SARADNjU I RAZVOJ JEDINICA LOKALNE SAMOUPRAVE

Abstract

The term integration is most often defined as an agreement that creates an organization with the ability to make decisions on issues of vital importance to its members. European communities are based on the so-called functional integration, which practically means that they strive to unify and bring under the control of the community those state activities that achieve better realization of common interests and goals, as well as greater efficiency of cooperation. The paper analyzes two directions of EU action on local and regional authorities: EU law and EU financing - with a special reference to instruments for pre-accession assistance (IPA), which represent a means by which the EU supports reforms in "enlargement countries" with financial and technical assistance. The largest part of the implementation of all European policies rests with local and regional authorities. They are the center, where EU citizens fulfill their basic life needs. Local authorities are represented in the conduct of EU policy through their member of the European Parliament, but their associations still have the status of observers at meetings. The author presents the process of European integration of the Republic of Serbia, the achieved results, what lies ahead, normative and factual changes in the process of European integration and how all of the above affects local self-government units in the Republic of Serbia.