Voluntary Associations of Municipalities as One of the Technical Infrastructure Development Instruments in the Czech Republic

The aim of the article is to present findings gained from the specific research focused on the activities of voluntary associations of municipalities in the Czech Republic which ensure operation and development of technical infrastructure. Voluntary associations of municipalities represent one of the forms of interregional cooperation through which municipalities provide public services to their citizens. Similarly to municipalities, voluntary associations of municipalities are public corporations that can be created by municipalities for the purpose of mutual co-operation, environmental protection and promotion of their common interests. Associations of municipalities provide both fulfilment of public administration tasks in the sphere of education, social care, healthcare, culture, fire protection, public order and environmental protection and the needs of self-government in the areas of transport services, promotion of the region, development of tourism, municipal waste management, construction of water supply, sewerage systems including wastewater treatment plants and other technical infrastructure facilities. The article introduces the insight in the number of voluntary associations of municipalities as well as the analysis of voluntary associations of municipalities in the Czech Republic with focus on their impact on the development of technical infrastructure in the regions.