Na podlagi petega odstavka 75. člena Zakona o zunanjih zadevah (Uradni list RS, št. 113/03 – uradno prečiščeno besedilo, 20/06 – ZNOMCMO, 76/08 in 108/09) izdaja Vlada Republike Slovenije

Ratificira se Memorandum o sodelovanju med Službo Vlade Republike Slovenije za lokalno samoupravo in regionalno politiko in Ministrstvom za lokalno samoupravo Republike Makedonije, podpisan v Skopju 16. julija 2009.

Besedilo memoranduma se v izvirniku v slovenskem in angleškem jeziku glasi(*):

Ta memorandum je podlaga za sodelovanje med Službo Vlade Republike Slovenije za lokalno samoupravo in regionalno politiko in Ministrstvom za lokalno samoupravo Republike Makedonije ter za spodbujanje medsebojnega sodelovanja lokalnih oblasti.
Služba Vlade Republike Slovenije za lokalno samoupravo in regionalno politiko in Ministrstvo za lokalno samoupravo Republike Makedonije (v nadaljevanju pogodbenika) sta se
ob upoštevanju prijateljskih odnosov med državama;
ob upoštevanju notranje zakonodaje in mednarodnih pravnih obveznosti obeh držav;
ob zavedanju pomembnosti in prednosti medsebojnega sodelovanja in čezmejnega sodelovanja;
ob upoštevanju Memoranduma o soglasju med Vlado Republike Slovenije in Vlado Republike Makedonije o strokovni pomoči na področju evropskih zadev

1.1 Namen sodelovanja je spodbujati dejavnosti pri krepitvi medsebojnega sodelovanja pri uveljavljanju lokalne samouprave s posebnim poudarkom na regionalnem razvoju.
1.2 Pogodbenici razvijata sodelovanje pri vprašanjih v zvezi z:
– delovanjem lokalne samouprave in decentralizacijo,
– fiskalno decentralizacijo,
– javno-zasebnim partnerstvom pri financiranju občinske javne infrastrukture,
– udeležbo državljanov,
– spodbujanjem usklajenega regionalnega razvoja,
– čezmejnim sodelovanjem s sosednjimi državami,
– izmenjavo politik z interesnimi skupinami,
– vlogo lokalne samouprave pri pristopanju k Evropski uniji in
– črpanjem sredstev EU za regionalni razvoj.

2.1 Sodelovanje med pogodbenikoma vključuje strokovno pomoč in izmenjavo informacij ter izkušenj, objav, strokovnega znanja in osebja v okviru možnosti in v skladu z veljavnimi predpisi.
2.2 Pogodbenika izmenjavata informacije, predvsem o zakonodaji o lokalni samoupravi, ter na ta način zagotavljata izpolnjevanje obveznosti iz tega memoranduma.
2.3 Pogodbenika izmenjavata izkušnje pri uveljavljenih oblikah čezmejnega sodelovanja s sosednjimi državami in pri pripravi in načinu izvajanja skupnih projektov.
2.4 Za izvajanje tega memoranduma pogodbenika pripravita posebne dveletne programe sodelovanja.
2.5 Pogodbenika tega memoranduma omogočata organiziranje seminarjev in akademskih konferenc o vprašanjih skupnega interesa.
2.6 Na podlagi medsebojnega dogovora pogodbenika krijeta vse stroške za dejavnosti iz tega memoranduma, ki potekajo na njunem ozemlju.
2.7 Ob obisku delegacij pogodbenik krije stroške svoje delegacije za prevoz v drugo državo in nastanitev v njej, medtem ko pogodbenik gostitelj krije stroške prevoza v obiskani državi.

3.1 Lokalne oblasti na podlagi tega memoranduma so občine v Republiki Sloveniji in občine v Republiki Makedoniji.
3.2 Regionalne oblasti v Republiki Sloveniji se nanašajo na pokrajine, ko bodo ustanovljene.
3.3 Združenja lokalnih uprav se nanašajo na reprezentativna združenja občin v Republiki Sloveniji in Zvezo enot lokalnih samouprav (ZELS) v Republiki Makedoniji.
3.4 Pogodbenika se o spremembah v organizaciji lokalnih in regionalnih oblasti obveščata po diplomatski poti.
3.5 Pogodbenika spodbujata sodelovanje občin in njihovih združenj z medsebojnim dogovarjanjem in prizadevanji za zagotavljanje možnosti in zahtev za vzpostavitev sodelovanja in neposrednih stikov med občinskimi organi, in sicer vsak pogodbenik v okviru svoje notranje zakonodaje.
3.6 Pogodbenika si prizadevata za izmenjavo in uporabo izkušenj kakor tudi za strokovno pomoč pri javnih in komunalnih storitvah na lokalni ravni.

Sodelovanje pogodbenikov na področju skladnega regionalnega razvoja lahko vključuje:
a) pomoč Službe Vlade Republike Slovenije za lokalno samoupravo in regionalno politiko Ministrstvu za lokalno samoupravo Republike Makedonije pri ustrezni organizacijski strukturi, potrebnih človeških virih, usposabljanju osebja in pomoči osebju pri pripravi in doseganju skladnega regionalnega razvoja;
b) pregled pravne ureditve za delovanje strukturnih skladov, zlasti ustavne in zakonodajne podlage za financiranje programov in projektov, ter regionalne zakonodaje;
c) uveljavljanje načela partnerstva med državnimi in lokalnimi partnerji s posebnim poudarkom na izvedbenih strukturah regionalne razvojne politike.

5.1 Za izvajanje tega memoranduma pogodbenika ustanovita skupno komisijo, ki ima šest članov, po tri iz vsakega pogodbenika, in se izmenično sestaja v obeh državah.
5.2 Komisija se sestane vsaj enkrat v dveh letih in ob tem se izmenjajo ustrezne informacije o izvajanju memoranduma in pripravijo posebni programi iz točke 2.4.

6.1 Ta memorandum se sklene za nedoločen čas.
6.2 Pogodbenik lahko memorandum odpove po diplomatski poti. Odpoved začne veljati 90. dan od dneva, ko drugi pogodbenik prejme obvestilo o odpovedi.
6.3 Pogodbenik lahko preneha izvajati ta memorandum deloma ali v celoti. O prenehanju izvajanja in morebitnem ponovnem začetku izvajanja pogodbenik takoj obvesti drugega pogodbenika pisno po diplomatski poti.
6.4 Ta memorandum v nobenem pogledu ne spreminja obsega in vrste pooblastil lokalne oblasti, kakor je določeno z notranjo zakonodajo v obeh državah.
6.5 Ta memorandum ne vpliva na pravice in obveznosti pogodbenikov, ki izhajajo iz drugih mednarodnih sporazumov, ki zavezujejo obe državi.
6.6 Ta memorandum začne veljati z dnem prejema diplomatske note, s katero se pogodbenika obvestita, da so izpolnjene notranjepravne zahteve, potrebne za začetek veljavnosti tega memoranduma.
6.7 Vlada Republike Slovenije o podpisu tega memoranduma obvesti generalnega sekretarja Sveta Evrope.
Sestavljeno v Skopju 16. julija 2009 v dveh izvirnikih v slovenskem, makedonskem in angleškem jeziku. Vsa besedila so enako verodostojna; pri različni razlagi prevlada angleško besedilo.

This Memorandum shall be the basis for cooperation between the Government Office for Local Self-Government and Regional Policy of the Republic of Slovenia and the Ministry of Local Self-Government of the Republic of Macedonia, and for the promotion of mutual cooperation of the local authorities.
The Government Office for Local Self-Government and Regional Policy of the Republic of Slovenia and the Ministry of Local Self-Government of the Republic of Macedonia (hereinafter: the Parties)
considering the friendly relations between the two states;
respecting the national legislations and international legal obligations of the two states;
being aware of the importance and benefits of mutual and trans-frontier cooperation;
and taking into account the Memorandum of Understanding between the Government of the Republic of Slovenia and Government of the Republic of Macedonia on the Technical Assistance in the Area of European Affairs

1.1 The purpose of the cooperation is to encourage the activities enhancing mutual cooperation in implementing local self-governance with a special emphasis on regional development.
1.2 The Parties shall develop cooperation on issues relating to:
– functioning of local self-government and decentralisation,
– fiscal decentralisation,
– public-private partnership in the financing of municipal public infrastructure,
– citizen participation,
– encouraging harmonised regional development,
– achieving trans-frontier cooperation with neighbouring states,
– exchanging policies with the stakeholders,
– the role of the local self-government in the European Union accession process, and
– the utilisation of EU funds for regional development.

2.1 The cooperation between the Parties shall entail technical assistance and exchange of information and experience, publications, expertise and staff, within their possibilities and in compliance with the applicable regulations.
2.2 The Parties shall exchange information, primarily on legislation related to the local self-government, thereby providing for the fulfilment of the obligations pursuant to this Memorandum.
2.3 The Parties shall exchange experience on the established forms of trans-frontier cooperation with neighbouring states and on the preparation and implementation of joint projects.
2.4 For the purpose of implementing this Memorandum, the Parties will establish specific two-year cooperation programmes.
2.5 The Parties shall facilitate the organising of seminars and academic conferences on issues of mutual interest.
2.6 Upon mutual agreement, the Parties shall bear all expenses for any activities pursuant to this Memorandum which take place in their territory.
2.7 In case of a delegation visit to the other Party, each Party shall cover the transportation costs to the other country and accommodation expenses of its delegation there, while the hosting Party shall cover the transportation costs within the visited country.

3.1 Under this Memorandum, local authorities shall refer to the municipalities in the Republic of Slovenia and the municipalities in the Republic of Macedonia.
3.2 Regional authorities in the Republic of Slovenia refer to the regions once they are established.
3.3 Associations of local authorities refer to representative associations of municipalities in the Republic of Slovenia and the Association of the Local Self-Government Units (ZELS) in the Republic of Macedonia.
3.4 The Parties shall inform each other, through diplomatic channels, about the changes in the organisation of the local or regional authorities.
3.5 The Parties shall encourage the cooperation of municipalities and their associations through consultation and mutual effort to create conditions for cooperation and foster direct contacts between the municipal authorities, each Party within the frame of its national legislation.
3.6 The Parties shall endeavour for the exchange and use of expertise, as well as for technical assistance in public and communal services at the local level.

The cooperation of the Parties in the field of coherent regional development may encompass:
a) Assistance of the Government Office of the Republic of Slovenia for Local Self-Government and Regional Policy to the Ministry of Local Self-Government of the Republic of Macedonia on appropriate organisational structure, required human resources, capacity building and support to the staff in the preparation and realisation of a balanced regional development;
b) Overview of the legal framework on the functioning of the structural funds, especially of the constitutional and legislative basis for financing the programmes and projects, and the regional legislation, which is being prepared;
c) Implementation of the principle of partnership between national and local partners, with special emphasis on the implementing structures of the regional development policy.

5.1 For the purpose of monitoring the implementation of this Memorandum, the Parties shall establish a joint commission consisting of six (6) members – three (3) members from each Party, who will meet alternately on the territories of the two Parties.
5.2 The Commission shall meet at least once in two years; any relevant information on the implementation of the Memorandum shall be exchanged and the programmes referred to under item 2.4 above shall be drafted.

6.1 This Memorandum shall be concluded for an indefinite period of time.
6.2 Each Party may withdraw from the Memorandum by notification through diplomatic channels. Such withdrawal shall enter into force three months after the date the other Party has received the notification of withdrawal.
6.3 Each Party may discontinue the implementation of this Memorandum partially or fully. If the implementation of the Memorandum has been discontinued, as well as if its implementation has resumed, the other Party shall be immediately notified in writing through diplomatic channels.
6.4 This Memorandum shall in no respect alter the scope and types of empowerment of local authorities as defined in the national legislations of the two Parties.
6.5 This Memorandum shall have no influence on the existing rights and obligations of the Parties relating to other international agreements binding upon the two states.
6.6 This Memorandum shall enter into force on the date the diplomatic note is received, by which the Parties notify each other of having fulfilled the national legal requirements for its entry into force.
6.7 The Government of the Republic of Slovenia will inform Secretary General of the Council of Europe of the signing of this memorandum.
Done at Skopje on 16 July 2009 in two original copies each in the Slovenian, Macedonian and English languages. All texts shall be deemed equally authentic; in case of differences in interpretation, the English version shall prevail.

Za izvajanje memoranduma skrbi Služba Vlade Republike Slovenije za lokalno samoupravo in regionalno politiko.

Ta uredba začne veljati naslednji dan po objavi v Uradnem listu Republike Slovenije – Mednarodne pogodbe.

(*) Besedilo memoranduma v makedonskem jeziku je na vpogled v Sektorju za mednarodno pravo Ministrstva za zunanje zadeve Republike Slovenije.