Interplay Between Deconcentrated State Administration and Regional Self-Government in South-East European Countries

The paper analysis two types of regionalisation: deconcentrated state administration (DSA) as the modest type of intergovernmental change by forming regional structures through deconcentrating state administration on territorial levels above the local self-government system and regional self-government (RSG) by creating regional self-governing institution above local self-government system. It presents the legal regulation, organisation, and functioning of DSA in South-East European countries, particularly ex Yugoslavian countries. The countries are grouped into four different models of performing state administration tasks in territorial units: functionally fragmented model (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Kosovo), personally integrated model (Serbia), organizational integration model (Slovenia), and delegated scope of competence model (Croatia). The paper discusses the role of DSA in territorial governance in ex Yugoslavian countries and their adequacy to incite or facilitate regional decentralisation process and offers some general consideration on the future development of DSA in the context of regional decentralisation.