The article aims to analyse the local autonomy in three groups of Member States of the European Union in transitional perspective. The examples of the Member States with experience and administrative tradition could inspire for concrete measures in strengthening local autonomy. At the same time, the states from the ex-socialist space represent a model in overcoming communist regimes and building the local layer and free organisation of the local public administration. In the same context, the particular development path of the Baltic countries become relevant. The experience of different categories of European countries highlights concrete lessons learned or valuable experience that can be treated as good examples for other countries in the region. The local autonomy development process in each country is influenced by certain factors, both internally and externally. For a comprehensive view in research elaboration were applied several scientific methods. The juridicallegal perspective of the topic was ensured due to exploring of legislative, normative and methodological materials regulating local autonomy and local public administration in the analysed countries. Comparative method was useful in terms of analysing the same countries of a certain European groups, but also between different groups. The bibliographic analysis supposed studying foreign scientific literature and the domestic sources. The actuality of the research topic relates to the importance of the local autonomy in the context of local development and the increasing significance of the local public administration. The European models and the lessons learned from their experience are absolutely relevant in the context of the transition systems in the region such as Eastern Partnership countries. In conclusion, the simplicity of the local administrative system in terms of one layer of local administration, allows for a transparent and direct implementation of functional autonomy, as is the case of the Baltic countries. For ex-socialist states concrete reforms and fast measures had worked efficiently. The European countries with administrative tradition apply a hybrid style of local autonomy, regionalisation becoming an increasingly widespread practice.