ZELS met on utility fees and young people - what it decided, it didn't say

The Board of the Association of Local Self-Government Units (ZELS), the body that speaks for Macedonia's municipalities, held a regular session at which, according to its press release, a number of current issues relevant to the functioning of municipalities and the advancement of local self-government were reviewed.

The most concrete item on the agenda was the Chamber of Commerce's request for changes to the Law on Utility Fees. At the session, the statement says, "opinions were exchanged on issues of importance for municipalities and the local economy". What changes the Chamber wants, what the municipalities think, and whether ZELS backs them - not a word.

The board also reviewed the text of a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Ministry of Social Policy, Demography and Youth and the National Youth Council, as well as preparations for the ZELS General Assembly, scheduled for mid-December.

Utility fees are money paid by citizens and businesses and collected by municipalities. When business asks for changes and the municipalities "exchange opinions", the public has a right to know whose side ZELS will take. Or will we only find out once the law lands in Parliament?