special-purpose association
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special-purpose association
An association of municipalities or other public bodies for jointly carrying out a specific public task, such as water supply or waste disposal.
Mehrere Dörfer haben einen Zweckverband für die Abwasserreinigung gegründet.
Several villages founded a special-purpose association for wastewater treatment.
The word is composed of 'der Zweck' (purpose, aim) and 'der Verband' (association). A 'Zweckverband' is therefore literally a 'Vereinigung für einen bestimmten Zweck' (association for a specific purpose).
Der Zweck dieses Verbandes ist die gemeinsame Müllentsorgung.
The purpose of this association is joint waste disposal.
'Zweckverband' is a term from administration and public law. You find it in official documents, news reports, or legal texts, but rarely in everyday colloquial language.
Die Gründung des Zweckverbandes wurde im Amtsblatt bekannt gegeben.
The founding of the special-purpose association was announced in the official gazette.
The specific purpose of the association is usually given with the preposition 'für' and the accusative. Sometimes it is also placed directly before the noun as a compound noun.
Der Zweckverband für den öffentlichen Nahverkehr plant neue Buslinien.
The special-purpose association for public transport is planning new bus routes.
merger / union
'der Zusammenschluss' and 'der Zweckverband' both have to do with several bodies acting together. 'Zusammenschluss' is general and can be used for companies, associations, organizations, or groups. 'Zweckverband' is much more specific: it refers to municipalities or other public bodies that jointly carry out a specific public task, for example waste disposal or water supply. When speaking generally about a union or merger, 'Zusammenschluss' fits. When it is about administration and a specific public task, 'Zweckverband' is more precise.
Der Zweckverband kümmert sich in mehreren Gemeinden um die Wasserversorgung.
The special-purpose association handles the water supply in several municipalities.
Der Zusammenschluss der regionalen Kliniken soll die medizinische Versorgung verbessern.
The merger of the regional clinics is intended to improve medical care.