Local Self-Government Concept approved by Government

The Government approved the Local Self- Government and territorial organization of authority Concept at the Government session of April 1. This was started by Vice Prime Minister, Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services Volodymyr Hroisman.

For its preparation and submission for the session of the Government a month was enough. Developments, which were carried out since 2009, but because of the lack of the political will to begin the process of reform, were taken for the basis.

The basic idea concept is the decentralization of power in the country and a significant empowerment of local communities. It is at the community level we can provide the maximum quality and affordable administrative, social and other services, the establishment of democratic institutions, meet the interests of citizens in all spheres of life in the territory, reconciling the interests of the state and local communities.

It is also provided the change of the system of management at regional and district levels. "Today the regional state administrations assume all executive functions. In fact, this is the monopoly of central authority on territories. Heads of administrations are appointed and community can't affect the decision. We say that the appointees of Kyiv - it is not an effective model to which we aspire. We want the executive authorities in region, districts would be formed thought the election process," Volodymyr Hroisman said. He said that the executive authorities at regional and district levels now will be formed by the elected board members and the administration (or prefectures) will have only control functions.

To implement the Concept is proposed in two stages. In the first phase (during 2014) it is expected to complete the formation of all necessary legislative framework of the activity of local self-government bodies with the definition of powers, including the question of resources. The second stage envisages institutional reorganization of local self-government bodies and local authorities and holding local elections on the basis of the reformed system of local self-government.

The Concept is a consensus decision. It has been previously agreed with all regional councils of Ukraine, city councils, associations of local authorities, internal and external experts and it also was approved by the Council of Europe as a first step towards the reform of local self-government in Ukraine. The concept also meets the principles of the European Charter of Local Self-Government.

"Now we have a basis for further actions, and we will present the bills that correspond to the Concept to a Government session soon," Volodymyr Hroisman promised.