The Government is launching a new phase of decentralisation to bring all the reform benefits to 100% of Ukrainians, said Prime Minister of Ukraine Volodymyr Groysman on “Inter” TV channel.

He noted that the very idea of ​​the reform, that appeared in 2014, concerned the change of the situation at the local level.

“At one time, I initiated the changes, primarily to change the situation on the ground and give mayors and local councils an opportunity to have funds and powers to solve problems of people and develop the territory. All that we now see in hromadas – new schools, kindergartens, roads, new transport, lighting, new clubs, stadiums – is the result of decentralisation. The reform was intended to improve the lives of people in a particular hromada,” said Volodymyr Groysman. “68% of Ukrainian citizens live within the reform conditions, while 32% are not yet able to get all the benefits of decentralisation – for various reasons. We need to make sure that 100% of Ukraine, 100% of citizens receive new opportunities, new funds.”

The Head of Government stressed that protection of the reform – including through its enshrining in the Constitution – is also important. “The second task is to protect the reform. This is a new phase. The Government approved a new action plan of this phase by 2020.”

Background

On Wednesday, 23 January, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine, in the framework of strengthening local self-government capabilities, initiated the transition to a new stage of the decentralisation reform, which envisages strengthening of already achieved successes and formation of capable hromadas, change in the territorial structure, clear differentiation of powers and control functions at various governance levels, as well active development of forms of local democracy, where residents can always express their opinions on various issues, and not just from elections to elections. The goal of the new phase is to introduce and enshrine the changes by 2020 – to hold local elections already on a new legislative and territorial basis. There are currently 876 capable hromadas in Ukraine, local budgets have substantially increased to almost UAH 234 billion. 1,5 million hectares of agricultural land are transferred to hromadas’ ownership.

The new phase involves formation of 100 capable rayons and 1600-1800 capable hromadas, consolidation of financial self-sufficiency of local self-government, establishment of an effective management system, and streamlining of the system of state control without duplication of functions.