While constitutional changes to finally enshrine decentralisation irreversibility are being prepared and approved, the laws elaborated to strengthen the role of local self-government should be adopted, said Oleksandr Slobozhan, Executive Director of the Association of Ukrainian Cities.

According to him, the Parliament is expected to adopt several important draft laws:

• Draft Law No. 8051 “On the Principles of an Administrative-Territorial Structure” is intended to accelerate the reform implementation and streamline its measures at its final stage.

• Draft Law No. 6403 “On Amendments to the Law "On Urban Development Regulation” aims to regulate territory planning and development for AHs as well as relations in the course of development and approval of spatial planning documentation. The uniform spatial planning documentation will open the way for AHs to manage their territories.

• Draft Law on amendments to the Law of Ukraine “On Service in Local Self-Government Bodies” (No. 8369). If adopted, the law will become an important driver of decentralisation and local self-government reform, as well as will implement a number of essential provisions of the European Charter of Local Self-Government. Local self-government bodies will be able to form a professional permanent teams of employees with proper remuneration conditions.

According to Oleksandr Slobozhan, the basic Law “On Local Self-Government in Ukraine” needs to be amended as well. After all, it was adopted more than 20 years ago and now needs to be improved to avoid contradictions with other laws.

Full interview text – on the AUC’s website.