Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman puts forward a proposal of signing of a Memorandum, which will become a blueprint for further actions within the framework of the decentralization reform kicked off in 2014. The Head of Government voiced a relevant incentive during the II All-Ukrainian Forum of Consolidated Communities Life-Changing Initiatives. The forum was held with the support of the Government of Ukraine with the participation of President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko and Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andrii Parubii.

The Head of Government stressed the first stage of the reform has taken place, and today the local authorities have all powers and necessary financial resource. "Now we have to sign a Memorandum with all the actors (of the decentralization reform) and representatives of local self-government. We also have to shape a clear action plan, which will be not just slogans but commitments", he underlined.

He thanked the President of Ukraine, lawmakers and international partners for their unwavering support for the said reform, and emphasized that changes have already made possible to build another model of state governance based on the implementation of people's initiatives. And further actions include the formation of a normative base on the administrative-territorial system, the creation of a system of full self-government based on the amalgamated communities.

"Our ultimate aim is a widespread local self-government with self-sufficient and strong communities. We have to draw up a sustainable development strategy, based on a strong local self-government, focused on the citizens and their needs. At present, our core objective is to ensure the decentralization reform is included in the reforms’ agenda as well as in the economic sphere," underscored the Prime Minister.

Background

At present, 665 united territorial communities have been formed in Ukraine. The draft state budget for 2018 provides for the allocation of almost 2 billion UAH for the community infrastructure. Also, the revenue part of the local budget starting from 2018 will replenish part of rent payments for the use of subsoil - in addition to existing sources of filling regional estimates. Several legislative initiatives aimed to ensure the further extension of the rights and opportunities of amalgamated territorial communities, including on the disposal of land resources and the transfer of part of lease payments for units and land to local budgets are being discussed in the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine.