A database of cca 2 thousand of new municipalities that gained autonomy by fragmentation of original municipalities was developed in the framework of the two years project. Almost all new municipalities are smaller than 2 thousand of inhabitants and one half of them are smaller than 200 inhabitants. Identification of inhabitants with an independent and autonomous municipality brought the efficient and initiative elites into municipal government and changed look of rural settlements.
Data on municipalities´ cooperation in units of municipalities were gathered through an electronic questioning of the units´ leaders (512 units addressed, 158 returned) and three case studies were added. Municipalities´ association into cooperative units is related to small municipalities before all. To obtain financial sources for development is a pragmatic reason to cooperate in units; the most frequent activities of the units aim at regional development and tourism. Performance of units is dependent on external actors as region, state and EU. Unit and its organs, similar to organs of municipality self-government, are political platform for negotiation, persuasion and consensus reaching; situation where following only individual interests bring a loss to all, has to be solved. Unit of municipalities is a new political organization of local community. Material conditions should be accommodated to this position. Leaders of units prefer autonomy of municipality and an attainment of public administration effectiveness through cooperation in municipalities unit.
