The dissertation devoted to the systematic analysis of theoretical and methodological principles of the process of decentralization of public administration. The author determined that decentralization of public administration is a way of defining and differentiating tasks and functions, in which most of them are transferred from the level of central government bodies to a lower level and become their own tasks and powers of the lower level bodies. The constituent elements of the system of decentralization of public administration are the administrative-territorial system, state authorities and local self¬government bodies, as well as the mechanism for implementing the principle of territorial division of the country.
The research substantiated that the current regulatory framework is non-systemic, there is a problem regarding the regulation of real mechanisms for the implementation of decentralization in Ukraine. The adopted legislative acts are of a formal or subjective nature and can only be implemented under conditions of political support for reforms, harmonization of all normative acts among themselves, changes in the budgeting system, etc.
The author proved that the main problems of decentralization as a principle of organization of public administration should include the following: lack of a unified system approach to the implementation of reforms; the process of transformation of local self-government bodies gradually becomes a forced form; problems associated with budget decentralization; the problem of the mechanism of decentralization itself; the problem of the reform of the administrative-territorial structure of the state.
The study summarized the experience of European countries on the problems of decentralization of public administration, which allowed to highlight the following prerequisites for the successful implementation of decentralization processes to create an effective model of governance in the system of decentralized power: the establishment of the rule of law principle; recognition and guarantees of local self-government; equal legal protection of all forms of ownership; democratic and effective electoral law; independence, efficiency, accessibility and transparency of the judicial system, functioning of the institutes of administrative legal proceedings; perfect budget process and high financial discipline; availability of adequate social standards; a developed public sector or a steady trend towards its development.
The author analyzed six models of decentralization of public administration, in particular: Anglo-Saxon, Continental, Iberian, Scandinavian, Soviet, and mixed. The author analyzed the model of decentralization of the Scandinavian countries. The research studies the experience of Scandinavia, which can be taken as the basis for determining the criteria for consolidation of basic administrative-territorial units, namely: territory and population; functions (tasks, competence) performed by authorities of different territorial levels; degree of political and financial autonomy of territorial bodies; the mechanism for
23
providing public services (through public or municipal services or with the involvement of the private sector). Applying the experience of decentralization of power in the Scandinavian countries, taking into account the peculiarities of the administrative- territorial reform in Ukraine, will enable to ensure both the national and local interests of the united communities.
Among the areas of improvement of the system of public administration in the field of decentralization can be separated, firstly, providing unconditional and maximum "transparency" in the activities of the municipal government, holding on its part a regime of constant dialogue with the population, the use for these purposes of the whole arsenal of forms and means that provide publicity of local government. Secondly, it is extremely necessary to improve the mechanisms for realizing the rights of the citizen on the ground. Third, comprehensive measures should be taken to transform the territorial organization of power in accordance with the Constitution of Ukraine and the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government.
Key words: public administration, local self-government, decentralization, models of decentralization of European countries, administrative-territorial structure, state authorities, local self-government bodies, mechanism of implementation of the principle of territorial division of the country.
