Decentralisation in France: A principle in permanent evolution

Abstract

Decentralisation in France was implemented belatedly and gradually. Local government authorities were recognised at the end of nineteenth century, but the confirmation of the principle of decentralisation was enshrined in law in 1982 and then in the Constitution in 2003. In France, decentralisation relies on controversial territorial planning because it is complex, difficult to understand, costly for the state and generating public spending. This is why territorial reform has been underway since 2010 and has led to the adoption of legislation in 2014 and 2015. These measures tend to generalise and modernise consolidated local authorities including the creation of “métropoles”, they have also led to a new territorial division of the now larger regions. Similarly, the reform has sought to redefine the powers of local authorities by removing the general clause of regions and “départements” while modernising local government finances in a context of reduced budgetary resources.