Clear government policy and proper planning to afford draw financing for regional development projects

The Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities summoned a meeting with the participation of experts and representatives of central executive authorities to discuss a draft Action Plan for 2015 – 2017 to implement the National Regional Development Strategy.

"Regional development is our joint responsibility. In synergy we have to offer and launch as fast as possible a new system of inter-branch relations and document flow associated with the state regional policy. A clear government policy and proper planning will enable us, first, not to waste funds from our European partners allocated almost a year ago, and secondly, to provide opportunities to extend financing of regional development projects in the future," said Deputy Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Viacheslav Negoda in his address.

He reminded that Ukraine and the EU had signed an Agreement on financing the Sector Policy Support Programme Support to Ukraine's Regional Policy, which entered into force on 27 November 2014. The Agreement envisages granting to Ukraine EUR 55 million for regional development purposes. To receive the first tranche of funding before the first half of 2015, the Government should develop and approve the Action Plan on realization of the National Regional Development Strategy until 2020.

According to the experts of the Ministry of Regional Development, the elaborated Action Plan was designed taking into account methods and experience of the European Union, it envisages stable financing of programs and projects of regional development, including sector budget support.

"The document contains an organizational plan that describes the activities, funding sources, deadlines, responsible authorities and indicators to evaluate the effectiveness of implementation of measures. In addition, we divided all the projects of regional development into five distinct programs to implement on the basis of regional development projects, which determination of appropriate budgetary funding on a competitive basis," explained Director of the Regional Development Department of the Ministry of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities Yelena Kucherenko.

According to her, a format of the document is innovative and differs significantly from the format of such documents traditionally approved in the past, therefore, it requires careful consideration by all executive authorities.

All ministries should offer their recommendations and conclusions regarding the drafted Plan to submit the document to the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine.