mjesna

Mjesna is a feminine adjective used in several South Slavic languages, including Croatian, Bosnian, Serbian, and Montenegrin, meaning local or pertaining to a particular place. It is most often found in compound terms rather than as a standalone noun, such as mješna/mjesna zajednica, mješna/mjesna uprava, and mješni/mjesni odbor, depending on language conventions.

In administrative contexts, the term commonly refers to sub-m municipal units that organize residents at the neighborhood or local level. The most widely cited example is the mjesna zajednica (local community), a form of local self-government in cities and municipalities. A mjesna zajednica typically has a council and an elected leader (for instance, a predsjednik mjesne zajednice or similar title) and serves as a liaison between residents and the municipal authorities. Its functions can include coordinating local services, communicating community needs, supporting safety and cultural initiatives, and assisting with neighborhood projects. The exact powers and responsibilities vary by country and by municipality, and funding is usually limited and dependent on local statutes.

The concept exists in several Balkan countries with differences in legal status and organization. In Croatia and Serbia, for example, local communities or neighborhood councils operate within cities or municipalities and are described using forms of the term mjesna. In Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro, similar sub-municipal structures may exist in some jurisdictions, with arrangements determined by local or cantonal laws.

See also: local government, neighborhood, municipal administration.