Collaboration between small municipalities has become a necessity in order to cope with municipal difficulties such as emergency services. Collaboration has also been mentioned as a possible solution to the challenges facing the public sector in light of economic and demographic developments that will continuously increase the demands on these municipalities. Inter-municipal collaboration is therefore something that is sought after and strived for. This essay will analyse the process surrounding the formation of this inter-municipal association, and to help understand and explain this process I will use the following theories: framing theory and public choice theory. The results show that the primary motivation for establishing Räddningstjänsten Väst was to create a robust and efficient emergency service, not just an economical one. A significant factor in its success was the tradition of trust and cooperation between these two municipalities. Another factor was the hiring of an experienced and objective consultant. The analysis indicates that those responsible for the process acted rationally based on the set goals, with shared ideas and values serving as a framework for their collaboration. Thus the focus of the essay is on municipal collaboration structures, particularly inter-municipal associations, highlighting the process and ideas behind the formation of these associations, as well as who has taken the initiative for their establishment.  In 2011 the municipalities Falkenberg and Varberg began planning their municipality association, Räddningstjänsten Väst, and in 2013 it began its operations.

Allmännyttigheter, så som el- och vattennäten, skola och polis, vägnätet och lokaltrafik har en essentiellroll i vårt välfärdssystem. Frågan om hur finansieringen och förvaltningen av dessa allmännyttigheterorganiseras och struktureras har varit väsentlig inte bara för allmännyttigheterna i fråga, utan även variten inblick i hur vi organiserar och strukturerar hela vårt samhälle. Denna studie bygger vidare på tidigareforskning om allmännyttigheter, partnerskap och kommunal samverkan vid undersökningen av Stor-Stockholms avloppsreningshantering, där en lösning växte fram under mitten av 1900-talet. Enkvalitativ fallstudie av den nordöstra intressentgruppen, sed mera Käppalaförbundet, utfördes för attbesvara frågorna varför, och på vilka sätt, samverkan var viktigt för att lösa avloppsproblemet iStockholm, hur kommunalförbund kan ses som ett partnerskapsnätverk, samt vilka fördelar somkommunalförbundet gav, som ej kunde förses av strikt kommunala lösningar eller lösningar pålänsnivå? Fallstudien avgränsades till perioden 1945-1969, och syftade till att analyserahanteringen av allmännyttigheter i Sverige genom just kommunalförbund, en specifik typ avinter-offentligt samverkanssystem. Perioden valdes då det under 1950-talet både genomfördesen kommunalreform och den kommunala lagstiftningen ändrades. Genom att utnyttja Elanderspartnerskapsmodell, baserat på karaktärsdrag, tendenser och effekter av partnerskap, framgårdet att kommunalförbund kan analyseras med samma krav och villkor som ett offentlig-privatpartnerskap. Studien gör klart att samverkan varit ett nyckelord för skapandet av lösning föravloppsproblemet i Stockholm, vilket framgår i både i den regionplaneutredning somgenomfördes samt den generalplan som lades fram av länsstyrelsen. Partnerskapsmodellen gavett möjligt svar varför, då den visade att samverkan förväntades utöka de ekonomiska resursernaför de deltagande aktörerna samt skapa en synergieffekt hos aktörerna. Det framgår även attmedan en läns-täckande regionallösning möte flexibilitetsproblem, var förbundet tillräckligtlitet för att förhandlingar skulle övervinna problemet. Till sist framgår förbundet som ettutmärkt sätt att upprätta finansiell stabilitet, så väl som demokratiska värden, vilket är önskvärtför policynätverk inom den offentliga sektorn. / Public utilities, such as the electricity and water networks, schools and police, the road network andlocal transport, have an essential role in our welfare system. The question of how the financing andmanagement of these public utilities is organized and structured has been essential not only for the publicutilities in question, but also becomes an insight into how we organize and structure our entire society.This study builds on previous research on public utilities, partnership and municipal collaboration in theinvestigation of Greater Stockholm's sewage treatment management, where a solution emerged duringthe mid-20th century. A qualitative case study of the North-East stakeholders group, later known as‘Käppalaförbundet’, was carried out to answer the questions why, and in what ways, cooperation wasimportant to solve the sewage problem in Stockholm, how municipal associations can be seen as apartnership network, as well as what advantages the municipal association gave, which could not beprovided by strictly municipal solutions or solutions at a county level? The case study was limited to thetime-period 1945-1969 and aimed to analyze the management of public utilities in Sweden throughmunicipal associations, a specific type of inter-public cooperation system. The period was chosen since,during the 1950s, both a municipal reform was conducted, and the municipal legislation was changed.By using Elander’s partnership model, based on character traits, tendencies and effects of partnerships,it becomes clear that municipal associations can be analyzed using the same requirements as a public-private partnership. The study makes it clear that cooperation was a keyword for the creation of asolution to the sewage problem in Stockholm, which is evident in both the regional investigation thatwas conducted and the general plan that was put forward by the county board. The partnership modelgave a possible answer why, as it showed that the collaboration was expected to increase the financialresources of the participators and create a synergy effect among the actors. It also appears that while acounty-wide regional solution faced flexibility problems, the association was small enough fornegotiations to overcome this issue. Finally, the municipal association appears as an excellent means ofestablishing financial stability, as well as democratic values, which is desirable for policy networks inthe public sector.

This thesis is concerned with the issues of spending leisure time by the seniors within The Municipal Association of pensioners CZ, České Budějovice, which unites seniors and accordingly to its possibilities offers them activities for spending leisure time. The thesis explains basic concepts and specifics concerning old age, introduces demands on spending leisure time in the old age and also brings a more detailed look at the leisure time activities which the mentioned organization offers. The thesis includes a research focused on active members of The Municipal Association of pensioners CZ, České Budějovice and deals with the question whether the leisure time activities provide the seniors self-realization and necessary social integration. By the carried out research it was confirmed that the organization brings the seniors natural relationship network and friends. The research also proved that the offer of leisure time activities allows universal spending of leisure time and helps to keep the seniors active. As a result of evaluation of the research the thesis offers suggestions on improving or extension of the leisure time activities so that they better correspond to the needs of the members of The Municipal Association of pensioners CZ, České Budějovice.

Submitted by Marcio Emanuel Paixão Santos (marcio.santos@ucsal.br) on 2017-02-18T13:11:23Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_PARA_DEFESA.docx: 6320654 bytes, checksum: 776cc0763ce0531772006ce174044699 (MD5) / Rejected by Maria Emília Carvalho Ribeiro (maria.ribeiro@ucsal.br), reason: Correções on 2017-02-22T18:21:29Z (GMT) / Submitted by Marcio Emanuel Paixão Santos (marcio.santos@ucsal.br) on 2017-02-22T23:27:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_PARA_DEFESA.docx: 6412125 bytes, checksum: d690e4e3dd0109971707b612dfeb6b42 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Maria Emília Carvalho Ribeiro (maria.ribeiro@ucsal.br) on 2017-03-02T22:51:28Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_PARA_DEFESA.docx: 6412125 bytes, checksum: d690e4e3dd0109971707b612dfeb6b42 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-03-02T22:51:28Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao_PARA_DEFESA.docx: 6412125 bytes, checksum: d690e4e3dd0109971707b612dfeb6b42 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2014 / O presente trabalho apresenta um projeto de Consórcio Intermunicipal voltado para pequenos municípios existentes no estado da Bahia, na região sudoeste, inseridos no território de identidade da mesorregião de Itapetinga e na região sudoeste de Vitória da Conquista: Nova Canaã, Iguaí, Ibicuí, Firmino Alves, Santa Cruz da Vitória e Itajú do Colônia, com o objetivo de solucionar um grave problema de ordem ambiental – a deposição inadequada do lixo, bem como encaminhar o aproveitamento de parte significativa dele, através da coleta seletiva, para a venda e para a reciclagem, ao lado da geração de emprego e renda para as populações carentes, que representam cerca de 50% da população destes municípios. Para tanto, foram feitas visitas técnicas aos municípios que compõem o presente estudo, onde os respectivos secretários do meio ambiente foram entrevistados e responderam a um questionário sobre seus conhecimentos a respeito do meio ambiente, Agenda 21, bem como sobre o transporte utilizado e a logística empregada para o descarte do lixo, além de questões relativas às Leis da Política Nacional de Resíduos Sólidos e das normas gerais para contratação de Consórcio Público. A pesquisa mostrou quanto deficiente é o conhecimento por parte dos governantes municipais a respeito do meio ambiente e das regulamentações existentes sobre o tema, bem como das oportunidades existentes para o município que investe nessa área. Apesar do problema do lixo ser a grande preocupação das populações e dos gestores nestes municípios, não havia, no início da pesquisa, nenhuma proposta em estudo para a solução do problema. Foi feita também uma pesquisa através de dados do IBGE e do IPEA, para traçar o perfil sócio econômico e cultural desses municípios, como ferramenta para auxiliar na composição da realidade de cada um deles. Esses dados foram transformados em gráficos, para melhor visualização e análise dos mesmos e para comparar as realidades existentes, entre si. A pesquisa evidenciou que, desde que seguidos os princípios estabelecidos para a criação do Consórcio, o desenvolvimento das estratégias e programas de esclarecimento e participação das populações, será possível torna-lo realidade e, posteriormente construir o aterro sanitário consorciado, seguindo o cronograma de atividades estabelecidas anteriormente à criação do mesmo, beneficiando a região nos seus diversos aspectos. / The following work presents an Inter-Municipal Associate project, consisting of small existing municipalities in southwest Bahia state including the Itapetinga territory and the southeast region of Vitória da Conquista: Nova Canaã, Iguaí, Ibicuí, Firmino Alves, Santa Cruz da Vitória and Itajú do Colônia, with the objective to generate a solution to a serious environmental problem: inadequate disposal of garbage, as well as the lack of implementation of benefits such as the creation of more jobs and income for communities in need, which represent almost 50% of the population within these municipalities. Therefore the municipalities included in this study were visited, where the respective environmental secretaries were interviewed and answered a questionnaire pertaining to their knowledge of the environment, Agenda 21, as well as the transportation used and the applied logistics of garbage disposal. Moreover, the study presented questions pertaining to the Political National laws on solid waste and the norms generated for contracting Public Associates. The research showed that there is a great lack of knowledge on the part of the municipal governments concerning the environment and environmental regulations regarding waste disposal, as well as existing opportunities for the municipality to invest in this area. Despite the waste disposal issue being a big concern among the populations and managers within these municipalities, in the beginning of this study there had been no solicitations of such a study to resolve the issues. Another questionnaire was handed out that called for information regarding expenses, distances covered, and the quantity of garbage collected to verify how much these municipalities spend annually on waste disposal without generating any benefits for the community. A study was conducted using informational data from IBGE and IPEA to trace the socio-economic and cultural profile of these municipalities as a tool to aid in developing an understanding of the reality of each one. This data was turned into graphs to better visualize, analyse, and compare the realities. The research proved that since the followed principles established for the creation of associates, the development of strategies, clarification programs, and participation by the population would make it possible to turn them into reality and later build a sanitary landfill. This landfill would be created by intercropping and by following the previously established activities. It would benefit the region in various ways.

Cross-border cooperation (CBC) influenced the regional development of the border regions. CBC is very much supported by the European Union and its funding policy. Cooperation between border regions is considered as a key to the joined Europe. Since 1989 there is a special programme supporting CBC within the member states of EU. A new programme supporting cross-border cooperation between the member states and the candidates' countries "Phare CBC" was developed in 1993. This paper is focused on selected issues of cross border cooperation of Euroregion Šumava, Pilsner region and South Bohemian region. Euroregion Šumava was established in 1993. It is a voluntary association of cities, villages and other joined organizations intent on the cross border cooperation with similar association on Bavarian and Austrian site of border. These three associations established trilateral Euroregion Šumava{--}Bayericher Wald{--}Mühlviertel. Together they implement the principles of European regional policy. Cross border activities of Euroregion Šumava were analyzed on followed issues: 1. Euroregion budget and its development between 1998{--}2006 2. Projects supported by Small Projects Fund realized by Euroregion 3. Projects realized under the financial support of Small Projects Fund Phare CBC and Interreg IIIA (focusing on the projects´ holders, priority areas and districts) Pilsner and South Bohemian regions were established in 2001 as regional authorities. They provide national and regional service partly financed by their own resources (mainly tax income) and partly by grants received from central authorities. Together they constitute the cohesion region of NUTS 2 "Southwest". Pilsner and South Bohemian regions create joint regional development policy and strategic documents because of implementing Regional operational programme. So far CBC was not part of their common regional policy. Cross border activities are analysed on the projects realised under the Interreg IIIA programme, which was managed by the Secretary of Cohesion region. Special focus is put on the projects´ holders, priority areas and regional aspects. Results of analysis are summarized in graphs, tables and maps.