Spanish Federation of Municipalities and Provinces (F.E.M.P)

1
Spanish Federation of Municipalities and
Provinces(F.E.M.P)

• The National Association of Local Authorities in
  Spain

2
Membership and status

• Established in 1980, by the iniciative of a
  number of Mayors from different political
  parties, as a private and voluntary association
  of local entities.
• Membership 6900 local entities (Municipalities,
  Provinces and Islands)
• Recognized by the Local Government Law of 1985 as
  the sole representative organization of local
  authorities at nation-wide level.
• Granted status of Association of public
  interest in June 1985
• Spanish section of CEMR

3
Objectives

• Promotion and defense of autonomy
  (self-government) of local administrations.
• Representation and advocacy of the common
  interests of local authorities vis a vis other
  public administrations (particularly national and
  European)
• Provision of services to local authorities and
  their staff
• Promotion of a European concept of local
  administration, based in principles of autonomy
  (self-government) and mutual solidarity among
  local authorities accross Europe.
• Promotion of friendship and co-operation
  relationships with local authorities and their
  association world-wide
• Mnagement of Government programmes addressed to
  local authorities

4
Organizational structures

• General Assembly
• Decision-making body. All member local
  authorities
• Ordinary meetings every 4 years (6 months after
  local elections)
• Federal Council
• Decision-making body between meetings of General
  Assembly
• 119 members (25 EB, 61 elected by GA, 32 from
  Regional Associations Secretary general)
• Meets twice a year
• Executive Board
• 25 members, elected by GA (including President, 2
  Deputies and SG)
• Territorial Council
• Consultative body
• Presidents of all Regional Associations
  (Chairmanship rotatory)

5
Specialised (Working) Committees

• Research studies proposals
• President, Deputy, Members (all of them mayors or
  members of elected executive boards of local
  authorities)
• Supported by technical staff from FEMPs General
  Secretariat (10 sectoral areas)
• At present, 27 Committees, in the following
  areas 1) Social affairs 2) Economic affairs 3)
  Municipal infrastructures and services 4)
  Inter-municipal co-operation and rural
  development 5) Social welfare and governance 6)
  Education, culture, youth and sport 7) Public
  service and hman resources 8) Urban planning,
  housing, environment and security 9)
  International relations 10) Economic development
  and employment

6
Capacity-building services

• Information and research
• 1 electronic newsletter
• 3 printed regular publications (informative,
  technical, internat.)
• Authoring, co-authoring and publication of books
  and studies
• Training activities
• FEMP organizes, co-organizes and sponsors a wide
  range of training courses and activities, for
  both elected representatives and
  managers/technical staff
• Nation-wide Training Plan based in assessment of
  needs carried out by the specialised committees
• Life-long training committee (CFCAL), supported
  by a Trainins Department in the Secretariat

7
Institutional representation

• FEMP holds the institutional representation of
  all Spanish local authorities in a number of
  consultative and decision-making bodies,
  established by the central (state)
  Administration.
• Examples
• Standing Commission for long-life training (M. of
  Labor)
• High Council of the Public Service (MAP)
• National Commission of Local Administration (MAP)
• Consultative Council of the Data Protection
  Agency
• Working group for the updating and maintenance of
  the national survey on local infrastructures and
  services (MAP)

8
National Commission of Local Administration

• Chaired by the Minister for Public
  Administrations and with an equal number of
  representatives of central administration and
  local authorities. These latter ones designated
  by FEMP
• Structure and rules of procedure/decision-making
  regulated by Decree of Council of Ministers.
  Plenary and Committees.
• 8
• Functions mandatory and formal consultation on
  draft bills, draft Government regulations and
  other governmental-administrative decisions on
  economic and financial issues with a potential
  impact in local administrations.

9
Upcoming reforms (new law on local government and
administration, currently under parliamentary
discussion)

• Local authorities will seat as full-fledged
  members of the so-called Sectoral Conferences,
  which gather representatives of central and
  regional administrations and co-ordinate policies
  in various areas. Representatives of local
  authorities will be designated by FEMP
• Government to adopt specific measures to ensure
  an efective participation of local autthorities
  (through FEMP) in the process of formulation of
  Spains positions towards EU policies and
  decisions under preparation which are related to
  the scope of responsibilities of local
  authorities
• More effective involvement of local authorities
  and their associations in the planning,
  programming and formulation of other
  administrations projects on public
  infrastructures and services.