Consultations between State and Municipalities
- in Norway and Denmark

The Norwegian system with consultations between state and municipalities has existed since 2001. The Norwegian Association of Local Government Authorities (KS) wishes to develop the consultations with the state in a more binding way. In this context, the Danish Institute of Governmental Research (AKF) and the Norwegian Institute for Urban and Regional Research (NIBR) have researched into the experience and attitudes of Norwegian and Danish municipal leaders as regards consultations and agreements with the state. The survey shows support among KS’ members for the continuation of the work towards a more binding consultation system. In this connection a series of suggestions for strategies are made in order to improve the rooting of KS’s negotiating position among the members, the implementation of possible agreements and the reciprocity in relation to the state.