Administrative supervision of local governments in the Western Balkans

This paper examines the system of administrative supervision of local governments in the Western Balkans and assesses its alignment with European standards. It analyses the legislative and institutional frameworks governing supervision, including supervisory procedures, interventions, and sanctions applied in cases of irregularities, with specific regard to the principles of subsidiarity and proportionality. The study identifies key challenges affecting the effectiveness of current supervisory systems and highlights relevant European and OECD practices that may inform future reform efforts. Drawing on selected implementation examples, it identifies both effective approaches and persistent shortcomings across the region. The analysis is grounded in the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government and the SIGMA Principles of Public Administration, which emphasise accountable local governance and effective multi-level governance across levels of government