The decentralisation is one of the major political steps of Ukraine thus laying the foundation for democratic, flourishing country with powerful communities capable to ensure the high quality services for its residents and facilitate the development of Ukrainian economy. It was stated so at the meeting of the Board of Sponsors for Decentralisation Reform Implementation by Vice-Prime Minister - Minister of Regional Development, Construction and Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine Hennadii Zubko.

"We should draw attention not only to the amalgamation of communities but to the enhancement of quality of services provided. First of all, it refers to administrative services, education, health care, social protection, and territory planning. Today, due to the decentralisation, the enlarged financial capacity of local self-government means a realistic way to the enhancement of quality of everyday life of residents of those communities", Hennadii Zubko noted.

The Vice-Prime Minister thanked international partners and organisations for their active involvement in the implementation of the decentralisation reform in Ukraine and in the establishment of the Coordination Board of Sponsors for Decentralisation.

"Our cooperation passed into a new quality level of partner relations. There are already 10 working groups established, which deal with separate areas. And continuous communication between the participants of the process is very important for us not only with respect to the tasks but, first of all, regarding the results of the implementation of the decentralisation reform", the official underlined.

According to Hennadii Zubko, the further success of the decentralisation reform depends largely upon further enhancement of the legislative and regulatory framework. "From the beginning of the seventh session, the Parliament has adopted judicial and education reforms. Health care reform and a number of draft laws on decentralisation required to be adopted as soon as possible are pending consideration by the Members of Parliament. It is required by the society and, first of all, by communities", he noted.

According to the Vice Prime-Minister, the international community provides substantial technical assistance for the decentralisation reform implementation, as well as other reforms, and it intends to continue providing such support. This refers to the programmes for Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts (Regions), support for forced migrants and economic revival of the Eastern Ukraine, energy efficiency reform and, in particular, the Energy Efficiency Fund.

At the event, Hennadii Zubko presented the monitoring of the decentralisation of power and local self-government reforming process, the brand book, and the reform single logo, as well as the options of changing the administrative-territorial system to international partners