Parliamentary committee to support the reform of local self-government at all phases of its implementation

Concept of reforming of local self-government and territorial organization of power in Ukraine approved by the Government was presented at a meeting of the Committee of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine on State Building and Local Self-Government.

During the presentation, the Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine, Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services Volodymyr Hroisman has expressed readiness to cooperate with all political parties to reach consensus on legislative changes that will form the basis for the practical implementation of the reform.

"There are three things to achieve them I came to work in the Government: it is the decentralization of power, the establishment in Ukraine of European system of self-government, professional and high-quality regional policy. All political parties are partners for me, as it's the question of the success of Ukraine," Vice Prime Minister said.

He stressed that the reform, which provides transferring of significant powers to local self-governments in cities, villages and towns, will enable communities to develop their territories, and from taxes, which will remain in places, to invest in infrastructure, education, public health and solute urgent problems. This will increase the efficiency of public spending and promote gradual revival of regions. This is supported by successful experiences of countries that implemented similar reforms in particular it is the experience of Poland.

For his part, the head of a group of Polish experts who collaborate with experts from Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services to develop legislative changes on local self-government reform, the deputy of the Polish Sejm and a former President of Warsaw Marcin Svyentsytskyy stressed that Ukraine has good initial conditions for the implementation of reforms.

Head of the Parliamentary Committee on State Building and Local Self-Government Davyd Zhvania promised to support reform of the Committee at all stages of its implementation, although it noted that MPs will have to try to reach a compromise in a difficult period of elections.