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Adopted in 1982, the so-called decentralisation law defines a new distribution of responsibilities between the State and the local collectives, including the Region. Meeting in assembly or committee, elected officials define and manage the main orientations of regional action.
Decentralisation: a new deal for the regions
On 2 March 1982, thanks to the so-called decentralisation law, each of the 22 Regions (the territory of which has been delimited since 1956) is administered by a Regional Council, with the President of the Regional Council as executive.
Citizens elected their Regional Councillors for the first time in March 1986 for a term of six years.
Plural and complementary responsibilities
The State handed over various responsibilities to the Regions:
- Education: secondary schools, apprenticeship, vocational training;
- Territorial development;
- Transport: rail, inter-departmental public road transport.
However, the State shares certain of its responsibilities with the territorial collectives and particularly with the Regions.
This partnership is most apparent in the planning, drafting and performance of Project Contracts (formerly plan contract) for the construction of national infrastructures (TGV, Universities…).
Structure and organisation
The Regional Council of Alsace comprises 47 elected members (29 for Bas-Rhin and 18 for Haut-Rhin), organised as follows:
- The Plenary Assembly: made up of all Regional Councillors, it votes once a year on the Region's budget and meets several times a year to determine the broad orientations of regional action.
- The Permanent Committee: elected by the Plenary Assembly and composed of 29 regional councillors, it meets once a month and handles the every day duties of the Regional Council. It debates any questions submitted by the President and tailors the credits registered in the budget to individual needs.
- The Committees: the thematic committees are responsible for the dossiers which fall under the various regional responsibilities and give their opinion to the Region's President.
For more information in the Regional Council of Alsace
Consult the list of Regional Councillors
Consult the composition of the various committees
Consult the budget
last update : 04.12.2010