NALAS has published a new report addressing an issue of central importance to the social, economic and institutional development of local governments in South-East Europe. Challenges of regularisation of informal settlements of thirteen entities with diverse backgrounds in terms of economic management and political structure were assesed. Almost all are currently at different stages of a major socioeconomic transition which imposes new challenges for all sectors of economic management. Rapid urban growth has generated a dramatic increase in the need for land, services, credit and livelihood opportunities. Understandably, local governments have found it difficult to keep pace with the complexity and scale of these needs. As a result, people have resorted to self-help and various types of informal settlements have emerged in all the countries as observed by the local government associations that participated in the Study.