The decentralisation reform is Ukraine’s absolute success, emphasised Bastian Veigel, GIZ Programme Director of U-LEAD with Europe, during the press conference of Hennadii Zubko, Vice Prime Minister – Minister of Regional Development, Construction, Housing and Communal Services of Ukraine.

“I am proud to see the leaders of local initiatives. Human resource is the most important asset of the reform that requires careful attitude. It is necessary to support programmes to promote human potential development,” he said. 

In his view, an important task of decentralisation is to use the possibilities of the reform to support regional development and local leaders.

In his turn, Johannes Baur, Head of Operations Section 3 "Development related to infrastructure (energy, transport) and environment" of the EU Delegation to Ukraine, highlighted the support to the governmental policy on energy independence and energy efficiency. “It is necessary to lower the level of energy consumption in Ukraine to European standards. An important decision is the adoption by the Verkhovna Rada of four important laws. This is a step towards the implementation of the European energy efficiency policy in Ukraine. This year our priority is the EE Fund. The EU supports this project and will allocate EUR 100 million for it,” Johannes Baur said.