VI. Local and Regional Self-Government
Article 128
Citizens shall be guaranteed the right to local and regional self-government.
The right to local and regional self-government shall be exercised through local and/or regional representative bodies, composed of members elected in free elections by secret ballot on the grounds of direct, equal and general suffrage.
Citizens may directly participate in administering local affairs, through meetings, referenda and other forms of direct decision- making, in conformity with law and statute.
The rights specified in this Article shall be exercised by European Union nationals in compliance with law and EU acquis communautaire.
Article 129
Municipalities and towns shall be units of local self- government, and their areas shall be determined in the way prescribed by law. Other units of local self-government may be provided by law.
Counties shall be units of regional self-government. The area of a county is determined in the way prescribed by law.
The capital city of Zagreb may be attributed the status of a county by law. Larger cities in the Republic of Croatia may be given the authorities of a county by law.
Forms of local self-government may in conformity with law, be established in localities and parts thereof.
Article 129a
Units of local self-government shall carry out the affairs of local jurisdiction by which the needs of citizens are directly fulfilled, and in particular the affairs related to the organization of localities and housing, area and urban planning, public utilities, child care, social welfare, primary health services, education and elementary schools, culture, physical education and sports, technical culture, customer protection, protection and improvement of the environment, fire protection and civil defense.
Units of regional self-government shall carry out the affairs of regional significance, and in particular the affairs related to education, health service, area and urban planning, economic development, traffic and traffic infrastructure and the development of network of educational, health, social and cultural institutions.
Affairs of local and regional jurisdiction shall be regulated by law. At the allotment of the affairs, priority shall be given to the bodies which are closest to the citizens.
At the determination of the local and regional self-government jurisdiction, the scope and nature of affairs and the requirements of efficiency and economy shall be taken into account.
Article 129b
Units of local and regional self-government shall have the right, within the limits provided by law, to regulate autonomously by their statutes the internal organization and jurisdiction of their bodies and accommodate them to the local needs and potentials.
Article 130
In performing the affairs within their jurisdiction, units of local and regional self-government shall be autonomous and subject only to the review of the constitutionality and legality by the authorized governmental bodies.
Article 131
Units of local and regional self-government shall have the right to their own revenues and have them on their free disposal in performing affairs within their jurisdiction.
Revenues of local and regional units of self-government shall be proportional to their authorities provided by the Constitution and law.
The State shall assist financially weaker units of local and regional self-government in conformity with law.
