This thesis examines intermunicipal cooperation among the Istrian municipalities, namely the City Municipality of Koper and the municipalities of Izola, Piran, and Ankaran, with a particular focus on the functioning of the Intermunicipal Administration of Istria. Local self-government represents an important part of public administration, and due to limited human, financial, and organizational resources, municipalities increasingly engage in various forms of cooperation. Intermunicipal cooperation thus represents a key mechanism for ensuring more efficient performance of public tasks, higher levels of professionalism, and a more rational use of public resources.
The main purpose of this thesis is to examine whether intermunicipal cooperation among the Istrian municipalities contributes to greater efficiency in the performance of municipal tasks, a more coordinated administrative practice, and increased legal certainty for residents. Two hypotheses are formulated: the first assumes that such cooperation contributes to greater efficiency in the execution of municipal tasks, while the second assumes that it leads to a more unified and coordinated administrative practice among the participating municipalities.
The research is based on a quantitative approach, using data from the 2023 annual report of the Intermunicipal Administration of Istria. The analysis includes data on the number of employees, the scope of work performed, and comparisons among individual municipalities. Descriptive and inferential statistical methods are applied to assess operational efficiency and the level of uniformity in administrative practice.
The results of the study are expected to provide a better understanding of the actual role of intermunicipal cooperation in practice and to contribute to the formulation of recommendations for improving the organization and functioning of joint municipal bodies. The thesis thus contributes to the development of more efficient local self-government and the optimization of public service delivery at the intermunicipal level.
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