On 11 June, the concept of the draft law ‘On Lviv Agglomeration’ was presented. The document is intended to provide the basis for the effective management of an area with a population of over a million, home to 70 per cent of the region’s enterprises, five industrial parks and two-thirds of foreign direct investment.

This was announced by Roman Kizyma, Executive Director of the Association ‘Lviv Agglomeration’.

‘Today marks an important step towards the further institutionalisation of our joint agglomeration model. Agglomeration is not just a shared geography. It is an economic, logistical, social and humanitarian responsibility that we fulfil every day as the country’s rear region. Being a hub of growth is not only a privilege, but also an obligation,’ said Roman Kizyma.

According to him, the draft law provides for:

• preserving the full independence of communities within their powers;
• recognition of agglomeration as a separate form of inter-municipal cooperation;
• a clear mechanism for the delineation of powers, interaction, and management;
• financial instruments of state support for the implementation of strategic functions.

‘Today, Lviv Agglomeration is a real economic and logistics centre. However, in order to stop being a “temporary union” and become a genuine development institution, we need a clear legislative framework. It is already evident worldwide that more than half of the population is concentrated in agglomerations. In Ukraine, this process is accelerating even faster due to the war. This is why the state has chosen Lviv as a pilot platform for launching a post-war recovery model,’ said Roman Kizyma.

Mr Kizyma also highlighted the key priorities for the agglomeration:

• joint transport links,
• joint spatial planning,
• water and waste management,
• rehabilitation of veterans,
• youth, cultural, and educational programmes.

Representatives of the Council of Europe and MPs joined the discussion.

Following the event, MP Vitalii Bezgin said:

‘Lviv agglomeration is one of the post-war drivers of Ukraine’s economic growth and an unconditional growth pole. I do not support the model of agglomeration functioning exclusively as public associations or associations without management tools. Such practices exist in Europe, but based on my observations, they appear to be ineffective.’

In his opinion, the financial incentive for developing agglomerations should be an approach whereby reverse funds are not withdrawn from the communities that form part of them.

‘Agglomerations are about the balanced and joint development of territories, not the political expansion of the central community. Together with the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine, the Lviv Regional Military Administration, and representatives of local self-government in the region, we must agree on a regulatory model within a short period of time and begin promoting a joint product. However, I emphasise that a common and unified position of all stakeholders must first be established,’ said Vitalii Bezgin.

More news reports on the development of agglomerations in Ukraine.