Czechia is divided into 14 regions (kraje), which form the country's primary administrative level above the district and municipal tier. Established in 2000 as part of post-communist administrative reforms, these regions serve as self-governing territorial units responsible for managing secondary healthcare, secondary education, regional transport infrastructure, and strategic regional development. Each region operates through an elected regional assembly and governor, maintaining considerable autonomy in budgetary and policy matters within their jurisdiction. The regions coordinate between national government priorities and local municipal needs, overseeing matters too extensive for individual municipalities but not requiring centralized state control. This administrative structure aligns Czechia with EU standards for regional governance and provides the framework for distributing EU structural funds and implementing regional development programs.