Exchange of experience and best practices in local governance among the communities of Ukraine and the EU is very important and relevant for our country. This allows Ukraine to integrate more quickly into the European space. Vice Prime Minister/ Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko emphasized in his address at the fifth meeting of the Working Group of the EU Committee of the Regions-Ukraine Task Force on decentralisation.

"We must provide more and more information to the regions, teach communities how to determine priorities, draft development strategies, and effectively use the money transferred. In these issues, the experience of local governance development in European countries is key. European principles - such as decentralization, democracy and a new governance system - are those Ukraine is striving to introduce. And the essential KPI of their implementation is to improve the welfare of Ukrainian citizens", said Hennadii Zubko.

It is noteworthy to remind that the Peer-to-Peer initiative is being implemented within the framework of the Working Group of the EU Committee of the Regions-Ukraine Task Force on decentralisation with the support of the U-LEAD with Europe Programme. It is aimed at developing partnerships between local and regional authorities of the EU and Ukraine, as well as exchange of experience. Five equal partners from two regions of Ukraine and two EU regions were selected, as well as three municipalities - amalgamated territorial communities - from Ukraine and three municipalities from the EU member states. The areas of cooperation include encouraging investment activity, development of tourist potential, energy efficiency, strengthening the staffing, economy of rural territories.