The Working Administrative Autonomies in Europe- An Overview and Schematic Comparison

• Author: Cristi Iftene
• Position: PhD Student, Researcher. Ovidius University, Law and Administrative Science Faculty
• Pages: 89-99

The working administrative autonomies in Europe- An overview and

schematic comparison

Cristi IFTENE, PhD Student, Researcher

Ovidius University, Law and Administrative Science Faculty, cristiiftene@univ-ovidius.ro

Abstract. Some authors divide the approach of the autonomy into four categories: a group compares

the autonomy with the right to act discretionary in some circumstances. The right is, in this case possessed by an

individual or by administrative organization. Others use the term as a synonym for independence. According to a

third position autonomy is synonymous with decentralization, and a fourth opinion specifies that autonomous

entities are those which have exclusive powers: legislative, administrative and judicial proceedings in specific

areas. The latter is called political autonomy and it is the opposite of administrative autonomy, which is limited

to the power within the scope of the government. The hereby project seeks to answer to several questions such

as: What are the specific elements of administrative autonomy, and what are its benefits? What elements of the

institutes declared autonomous allowed demonstrating their independence? What factors contribute to the brake

down of the existence of the concept administrative autonomy? What factors have slowed down the process of

self-governance and the decision within a certain area? What types of interest groups may affect the

development of such a concept?

.

Keywords: decentralization, institutional autonomy, independence.

Introduction

Some authors divide the approach of the autonomy into four categories: a group compares the

autonomy with the right to act discretionary in some circumstances. The right is, in this case possessed

by an individual or by administrative organization. Others use the term as a synonym for

independence. According to a third position autonomy is synonymous with decentralization, and a

fourth opinion specifies that autonomous entities are those which have exclusive powers: legislative,

administrative and judicial proceedings in specific areas. The latter is called political autonomy and it

is the opposite of administrative autonomy, which is limited to the power within the scope of the

government. 1

Studying different theories and a fairly extensive casuistry, the authors mentioned above suggest a

well defined description of the autonomy. Must however be mentioned that in practice there is a great

difference between different cases; however following definition does not claim to reflect in an

identical way all these different cases. A political territorial autonomy is a way by means of which to a

group is guaranteed the liberty to express their identity, although they differ from the majority

population in a state but at the same time they represent the majority in a certain region. Autonomy is

a way of distributing the powers in order to preserve the unity of the state, while the diversity of its

population is respected: it was a success in some cases and failure in others. 2

1 Ruth Lapidoth, Autonomy, Flexible solutions to ethnic conflicts, United States Institute of Peace Press, Washington, D.C.,

1997, p. 33

2 Ruth Lapidoth, Autonomy, Flexible solutions to ethnic conflicts, United States Institute of Peace Press, Washington, D.C.,

1997, p. 3

89