The reform of local government and territorial organization of power is of strategic importance for Ukraine. Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal dwelled on that during a meeting with the Special Envoy of the Government of Germany on Decentralization, Good Governance and Reforms in Ukraine Georg Milbradt.

The Prime Minister underlined that reform is based on the provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government and the best world practices of public relations in this area.

"The reform has already yielded its effectiveness in improving the quality of public services and bringing them closer to the people of the community," the Head of Government said.

The Prime Minister briefed Mr. Georg Milbradt on the fact that in June last year the Government at a public meeting with the participation of heads of regional state administrations approved the renewed administrative-territorial structure of Ukraine and endorsed the territories of communities in 24 regions. The PM also added that local elections amid a difficult year were held in a pandemic.

"Amendments to the Constitution should  cement the transition from a centralized to a decentralized model of the state, which is based on the community," Denys Shmyhal stated.

The Head of Government stressed that the decentralized model should encapsulate new relations between local self-government and public authorities on the basis of partnership, mutual trust and responsibility.

"Transformations should be targeted primarily at guaranteeing the material and financial basis of local government, the possibility for local self-government bodies to create their own executive bodies at the district and regional  levels. Also, the changes should transform local state administrations into prefectural bodies, the main task of which will be to perform only state functions, not self-governing ones," Denys Shmyhal underscored.

 The Prime Minister stressed that the amendments to the Basic Law should cement the irreversibility of decentralization and its results.

Denys Shmyhal also spoke about the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities under the President of Ukraine, which was established for better cooperation between state bodies, including local executive bodies, and local self-government bodies.

In turn, Mr. Georg Milbradt noted that Ukraine amid all difficulties has demonstrated good results in implementing decentralization reform.