A kis települések fejlődési lehetőségei a településszövetségek rendszerén belül

A kötelező tagság mint lehetséges reformút

Absztrakt

This study examines the development opportunities of small settlements in Hungary and the role of municipal associations in ensuring their long-term viability, administrative capacity and public service provision. The research focuses on the limitations of the current Hungarian local government framework, particularly the inability of voluntary municipal associations and joint local government offices to adequately address depopulation, fragmentation and the increasing burden of public tasks in small settlements. The paper applies a dogmatic legal and comparative methodology, analysing Hungarian local government regulation alongside selected European models, including Austria, Germany, France, Spain, Italy and several Visegrád countries

The study demonstrates that in several European states mandatory or strongly institutionalised inter-municipal cooperation has become an effective instrument for maintaining administrative efficiency and preserving rural communities. In contrast, the Hungarian system remains largely fragmented due to the predominance of voluntary cooperation and the centralisation of public services following the reforms of the 2010s. The paper distinguishes between municipal associations, joint municipal offices and associated representative bodies, while highlighting the overlapping functions and structural inefficiencies of these institutions.

Based on the comparative analysis, the study proposes the establishment of a new mandatory association model through the integration of joint municipal offices and municipal associations into a single legal institution. The proposed structure would combine administrative and public service functions, reduce parallel operational costs, strengthen development capacity and improve the efficiency of local governance while preserving municipal autonomy and local identity. The study argues that mandatory cooperation, if accompanied by adequate legal guarantees and financing mechanisms, could contribute significantly to sustainable rural development, the retention of population in small settlements and the modernisation of Hungarian local government administration.