Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko in Brussels presented the results of the decentralization reform "Process of decentralization in Ukraine".

"The decentralization reform launched in Ukraine in 2014 is a similar to European reform and  was greatly supported by our European partners. We apply the best European  practices in implementing reform: Sweden - the creation of a system of administrative services, France - the Institute of Prefects, Estonia - the e-governance system, Austria and Poland -  development of mountain areas. Through opportunities offered by decentralization we are creating a European quality of service and life in Ukraine and we have the result. Today, this is the most successful reform in Ukraine, and I sincerely thank our European partners for their support and powerful assistance in implementing this reform", Hennadii Zubko stressed.

"The international community has already recognized the success of the decentralization reform. All donor projects have been united around this reform, a donor council has been formed - and this is an unprecedented case. The Federal Chancellor of Germany Angela Merkel EU Commissioner Johannes Hahn acknowledged that over the past four years Ukraine has made a huge leap forward. And we have all chances to go through the reform much faster than many European countries", the Deputy Prime Minister said.  

The Deputy Prime Minister briefed European colleagues that due to the resources and powers transferred to the regions over the past four years local budgets have grown from UAH 68.6 billion UAH to UAH 234.1 billion and already amount to 52% of the consolidated budget of the country. 878 consolidated communities were created, 72 of which are waiting for the decision of the Central Election Commission to appoint the first elections. State support for the development of territorial communities and their infrastructure increased 41.5 times as compared with 2014. The institute of the prefect was established, steps have been taken to bring services closer to the people - in education, medicine, and administrative services.

"Today we are entering a new stage of decentralization. In 2019, we will continue to facilitate further accession of consolidated communities, in particular, cities of oblast significance. We have to shape all roadmaps of the regions with full coverage of the consolidated communities throughout the territory of Ukraine. In 2020, local elections should take place upon condition that the entire territory of Ukraine will be covered by the consolidated communities and on a new territorial basis of Ukraine. This is the main task for the implementation of the key phase of the reform. And we count on further support of our European colleagues", Hennadii Zubko stressed.

It should be noted that on February 26-27, Deputy Prime Minister/Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko is staying  on a two-day working visit to Brussels.