During 2020, significant progress has been made in creating conditions for the development of communities and regions, as well as the country as a whole. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal stated in his statement, opening the dialogue between the Government and local self-government "Ukraine - modern European self-government!"

"Due to joining efforts in 2020 we have managed to complete the formation of a new territorial basis for the shaping of local governments," said the Head of Government.

In particular, as Denys Shmyhal noted, the Government approved 1,469 territorial communities, and the Verkhovna Rada endorsed a new administrative-territorial structure of the subregional level, as a result of which 136 districts were formed instead of 490. Local elections were also held on the new territorial basis.

According to the Prime Minister, the Government has actively embarked on the implementation of the law, which regulates the organization and activities of local governments and RSAs.

"This law concerns the regulation of the activities of state authorities and local governments in connection with the formation of districts. We are talking about the succession of property, the rights and responsibilities of the liquidated district councils and a number of things related to this," said the Prime Minister.

Denys Shmyhal stressed that one of the main tasks of decentralization is to bring services as close as possible to citizens and increase comfort while receiving them.

"First of all, we are talking about new quality services - updated hospitals, modern schools, interesting and safe leisure. It is critical not to allow any reduction in social infrastructure facilities. Most of these facilities will now be transferred to the consolidated territorial communities, and they will be able to manage them independently," said the Prime Minister, adding that this is especially important in connection with the adopted law on network optimization and CASPs operation.

According to the Head of Government, CASPs can now be established only by local self-government bodies, and each community should have its own CASP providing a wide range of services.

Denys Shmyhal also told about the next steps in the reform, primarily about the improvement of certain provisions of the Constitution, which limit the possibility of completing the decentralization process.

"The following steps of development for each particular community are very individual. But it is important to have a strategic vision for community development in the medium term. And for this purpose, we have a new Regional Development Strategy until 2027," said the Prime Minister.

In concluding statement, the Prime Minister congratulated the representatives of local governments on their professional holiday and wished them fruitful work for the well-being of the people and the strengthening of the country.

The open dialogue was attended by representatives of the Government, MPs, members of the Association of Ukrainian Cities, the Association of Amalgamated Territorial Communities, the Ukrainian Association of District and Regional Councils, the All-Ukrainian Association of Communities and others.