In September 2025, the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine is launching a series of regional consultations on the topic of ‘Specifics of implementing the Concept of reforming local self-government and territorial organisation of power in the context of military challenges and preparations for Ukraine’s accession to the European Union’ (hereinafter referred to as the ‘Draft Specifics of Implementing the Concept’).

The first consultation is scheduled for 12 September 2025 from 11:00 to 13:00 in Odesa for five regions: Vinnytsia, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Odesa, and Kherson.

Representatives from local governments at all levels, civil society institutions, and experts, academics and practitioners are invited to participate in the event. Online participation is possible upon prior registration.

The registration form is available at: https://forms.gle/v3By29VeDkLpA81B6 (registration is open until 21:00 on 10 September).

The ‘Concept of Reforming Local Self-Government and Territorial Organisation of Power in Ukraine’ (adopted by the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine on 1 April 2014, No. 333-r) became the key vision document that launched the decentralisation reform. It has provided communities with new opportunities for development and demonstrated the effectiveness and sustainability of local self-government in the context of a full-scale invasion. The reform has been highly praised by international partners and Ukrainian citizens alike.

Decentralisation reform remains one of the Government’s priorities and needs to be completed. The ‘Draft Specifics of Implementing the Concept’ uphold the ideology, objectives and principles of the reform as defined in 2014. However, in light of the military challenges and prospects for European integration, it clarifies tasks and identifies new measures necessary for completing the reform and further developing local self-government and territorial organisation of power.

Regional consultations will be an important step in developing updated approaches to continuing the reform and ensuring its irreversibility.

As previously reported, the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine has published the ‘Draft Specifics of Implementing the Concept’ for public discussion. Comments and suggestions can be submitted until 24 September 2025 by emailing mlg33minhromad@gmail.com.

Regional consultations are organised by the Ministry for Development of Communities and Territories of Ukraine with the support of the Council of Europe as part of the project ‘Strengthening Multilevel Governance and Local Democracy to Support Ukraine’s Recovery’, implemented by the Centre of Expertise on Multilevel Governance at the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe within the framework of the Council of Europe Action Plan for Ukraine ‘Resilience, Recovery and Reconstruction’ for 2023–2026.