Decentralization is an incredibly important reform for Ukraine, which empowers people, and raises competition in local authorities. I can frankly say that there is a difference between Eastern and Western Ukraine as there exists a difference between rural regions and cities. However, the decentralization reform enables people to feel like the masters of their region and their city. This statement was made by Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel at the House of Decentralization.

"The decentralization reform improves the financial climate and the tax component in the regions. And Germany in synergy with the European partners supports this striking reform. As far as I can see, now you have a great cooperation spirit and tangible results of the reform," Angela Merkel emphasized.

The German Chancellor thanked Vice Prime Minister Hennadii Zubko and the Ukrainian Government for their efforts to implement the decentralization reform. "And I know that President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko is strongly supporting this reforms," she said.

Angela Merkel noted that the U-LEAD with Europe program, which assists in carrying out decentralization reform, conducts high-level trainings and seminars that give people hope for tomorrow in the regions. Ukrainians have a faith in the future.

In turn, the Vice Prime Minister Hennadii Zubko expressed  gratitude to the Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel for her high appreciation of the decentralization reform and Ukraine's efforts to implement it. "I thank all our international partners, inter alia, Special Envoy of the Government of Germany on reforming Ukraine in the spheres of governance and decentralization Georg Milbradt and Ministry of  Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Utilities of Ukraine for assistance in its implementation," Hennadii Zubko stressed.

During the meeting at the U-LEAD Headquarters, the participants touched upon further legislative blueprint  for the reform shaped  jointly with the Special Envoy of the German Government Georg Milbradt.

Background

Speech of Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Angela Merkel is available on  Vice Prime Minister’s FB page.