On November 19, the Prime Minister of Ukraine Denys Shmyhal held an online meeting with the Executive Vice President of the European Commission Valdis Dombrovskis. Among other things, the parties discussed the progress of reforms in Ukraine as well as trade and economic cooperation between Ukraine and the European Union.

Denys Shmyhal told the Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis that week the Verkhovna Rada had passed a law on the reorganization of communities and districts, thereby, in fact, winding up the decentralization reform.

"We have already transferred to local governments agricultural lands and an independent budget - more than UAH 500 billion. This week, the second round of local elections will take place, so along with the land and money, the power will be devolved to the regions," the Prime Minister stressed.

The PM added that with the adoption of the law on the reorganization of districts, all the district state administrations, i.e. of the subregional level, will be reformed. "And from January 1, the decentralization reform will be fully operational in our country," Denys Shmyhal accentuated.

The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the European Union, which has made significant efforts "to ensure that this reform is successful and complete, despite all the difficulties."

During the meeting, the Prime Minister of Ukraine and the Executive Vice-President of the European Commission discussed issues of bilateral trade and economic cooperation. In particular, the Head of Government proposed to hold a meeting with trade experts to devise joint initiatives.

Denys Shmyhal thanked Vice-President Valdis Dombrovskis and the European Union for Ukraine's consistent support in the fight against Russian aggression, in the implementation of reforms, and in the European integration and Euro-Atlantic aspirations. The Prime Minister also expressed hope for a successful meeting of the EU-Ukraine Association Council scheduled for December this year.