Decentralization is a transfer of power and decision-making by the periphery of an organization:

Transfer power to a central government authorities that are not hierarchically subordinate. The local government is given more power, such as making his own decisions for its area of competence.

The state has a single authority over the various entities.

Decentralization has strengthened the democratic nature of the Spanish State.

Local authorities, with legal personality which is the basis of administrative organization.

Skills : Skills shared :

- Hygiene - Education- Welfare - Culture- Transport - Tourism- Local police - …- The living- Planning- Assistance

Municipalities are subject to control of legality exercised essentially a posteriori.

Spain comprises 50 provinces that form the core of the country.

Skills :

- Coordination of municipal services between them.

- Assistance and legal cooperation, economic and technical assistance to municipalities.

- Delivery of supra-municipal character.

- Development and administration of interests in its own territory.

Spain is divided into 17 regions called autonomous communities, each with a certain independence and exclusive importance.

Skills :

- Local government institutions (parlement, government, administration, schools).

- Spatial Planning - Environmental Protection - Railways and roads - Agriculture and forestry, hunting and fishing - Economic development - Culture, education and language use - Health and welfare - Tourism and leisure - The police.

The Autonomous Communities and have broad powers that allow them to govern locally.

The Constitution of 1978 marked the end of a model of centralized organization, there has been continuous and substantial transfer of powers of the General State Administration to the Autonomous Communities of Spain being one of the most decentralized countries in Europe.

Distinguished :

- Exclusive jurisdiction in which the State or the Autonomous Community has the legislative capacity and performance on a given matter.

- Shared competences, which involve the State and the Autonomous Community with the legislative or executive shared.

- Concurrent skills for areas where the state as the Autonomous Communities may intervene indiscriminately.

The law plays a strong role in the institutional organization of the country, particularly through its implementation. Thus "the enforcement of Community law, belongs to whoever has jurisdiction," according to Spanish law. So European economic aid must be received and managed by the entity that has the jurisdiction. The internal management of European funds to ensures Autonomous guaranteed autonomy in the exercise of their powers.