Decentralisation is progressing. The regions received a number of important tasks, most of which they have to fulfill by 1 April 2018. The urgent tasks of the reform were discussed today in Kyiv at the meeting with the leadership of the regions chaired by Hennadii Zubko, Vice Prime Minister – Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services.

First of all, the oblasts should ensure the development, maintenance, approval and submission of perspective plans for the formation of capable hromadas to the Government for approval within the limits of 100% of the territory of the region. Along with this, Oblast State Administrations, together with the Rayon ones, were given the task of intensifying awareness-raising work at the rayon level regarding the advantages of hromadas’ amalgamation. This mainly applies to those areas where AHs are not established, and those where the process of voluntary amalgamation continues.

MinRegion paid attention to the fact that in some oblasts the deadlines for submitting conclusions on the compliance of the hromadas’ decisions with the existing legislation, as well as the deadlines for submitting appeals to the Central Electoral Commission regarding the appointment of the first local elections in the territories of AHs, were violated. The Oblast State Administrations should correct these violations already by 15 February.

The essential tasks include ensuring delimitation and transfer of facilities of joint communal ownership of rayons into the communal ownership of amalgamated hromadas. Currently, there are more than three thousand such objects.

In addition, Oblast State Administrations need to consider optimising the structure and maximum number of employees of Rayon State Administrations (RSA) in the rayons fully covered by amalgamated hromadas. Besides, the local executive authorities should analyse the structure and maximum number of employees of the RSA and formulate proposals for a transitional stage for the rayons covered by AHs by more than 50%.