The article deals with the issues of radical constitutional reforms in the countries of Europe, among which an important place is given to the reorganization of power in the field, which is connected with the revival of the institution of local self-government; the factors influencing the formation of municipal systems are analyzed and the general tendencies of development of local self-government are revealed; the degree of correlation of self-governing mechanisms with state administration on the ground is determined, the peculiarities of the organization of local self government of the countries of the European Union and its adaptation to Ukrainian realities are clarified