Austrian Association of Cities and Towns

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Austrian Association of Cities and Towns

• Thomas Prorok

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Content

• Austrian Association of Cities and Towns
• KDZ Center for Public Administration Research
• Daughter Company

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Key data Austrian Association of Cities and
Towns

• 8 Mio Inhabitants
• 2,358 local authorities in Austria
• Two Associations
• Austrian Association of Cities and Towns
• Austrian Association of Municipalities (smaller
  local authorities)
• 248 members - 55 of the total population of
  Austria.
• Funded through contributions of the member
  communities.
• Set up 1915 with a permanent secretariate.
• Since 1887 regular General Assemblies of the
  Cities.

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Legal Basis

• Austrian Constitution
• Article 115, subsection 3.
• functions and tasks consist chiefly in
  representing the interests of local government.
• Art. 23 c d ? Membership in the European Union.
• takes part in the information and decision-making
  process both on the domestic and the European
  level.
• Association under private law.
• Membership on a voluntary basis.
• Embedded in the general political context of
  Austria.
• Office in Brussels which is connected with
  Austria's diplomatic representation at the
  European Union.
• Committee of Regions and Local and Regional
  Authorithies at the CoE.
• Member of CEMR and UCLG (United Cities and Local
  Governments).

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Austrian Association of Cities and Towns -
Objectives

• Representation of Interests
• preparation of legislation and comments from the
  point of view of local government.
• Fiscal Equalisation
• sharing of budgetary funds and taxing (revenue
  sharing).
• Exchange of Experience
• Some 30 technical committees.
• Österreichische Gemeinde-Zeitung (ÖGZ)
• publishes a monthly journal for its members.
• Statistical Yearbook
• International Activities

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Executive Bodies

• General Assembly of the Cities (Städtetag)
• supreme body.
• each member community has seats and votes
  according to its size. The Städtetag is held
  every year.
• Executive Committee ( Hauptausschuss)
• in charge of all work.
• some 60 representatives from 39 towns and cities.
  
• Committees
• In charge of specific topics (environment,
  revenues, e-government, spatial planning).
• City experts.
• General Secretary / Secretariate
• Coordination.
• Preparation of comments on legislation.

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KDZ Centre for Public Administration Research

• Daughter company of the Austrian Association
• Founded 1970
• Non profit association
• Board of directors with leading representatives
  of the founding partners
• Austrian Association of Cities and Towns, City of
  Vienna, Bank Austria. City of Graz.
• 4 employees
• ? Research in social sciences in relation to
  local authorities
• ? Collect all kind of documents and establish
  library
• ? Transfer know-how from abroad from academic
  world to local government
• Consulting
• Training

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Thank you

• Thomas Prorok
• KDZ Center for Public Administration Research
• www.kdz.or.at
• prorok_at_kdz.or.at